Alie Benge, a writer, and David Coffey, a mental health worker, were browsing apartment listings in Barcelona and dreaming of a getaway when it hit them. The couple, both 33, had been planning an overseas trip for some time. When they looked at long term accommodation, they realised it was more affordable than what they were paying for shared flats in Wellington – a city with a reputation for chilly, ageing housing stock and soaring rents.
“We were looking at places to stay on Airbnb – this is in Barcelona – and it’s cheaper than what I would pay here in Wellington,” David says. If they were paying so much, why not do so in one of the world’s biggest cities?
