To the OP: it's most definitely doable if you dive in. I'm 33 and recently came back from 2 months in South America; didn't know any Spanish before going. We did two weeks of private lessons at a language school in Lima before heading out: well worth doing as you need both real world experience mixed with some proper tuition. In Peru and Bolivia, and to some extent Chile, they speak Spanish quite clearly and rather slower than your typical Spaniard. Argentina is different; bit more flamboyant and different pronunciation.
But the point is, you absolutely have to immerse yourself, read all the signs, newspapers, listen to the radio, talk to people, and you'll surprise yourself with how much you learn. By the time we left I was understanding airport announcements, for example, without really noticing they were in Spanish. Obviously that's a long way from work standard but half the battle I think is having the confidence to give it a whirl and stick with it.
We'd have a better country if people did vote with their feet more often. Enough people leaving, citing housing costs, might impact policy eventually. Failing that, we'd leave the country impoverished enough to hurt the greedy who remain and wonder why they have no NHS or pension.