Living in Spain: Pros & Cons
Last Updated on February 5, 2025
After living in Spain for seven years, I’m sharing what it’s really like to live in Spain and some tips for those who want to move to Spain.
Living in Spain is the dream for many. Most people imagine romantic strolls on beautiful cobblestoned walkways with flamenco music playing in the background, sipping sangria at al fresco bars. Spend your days wandering through thousand-year-old churches as the bells chime, and watching sunset over the Mediterranean Sea.
There are so many great places to visit in Spain: from spectacular cathedrals to beaches, medieval castles to charming towns — it’s no wonder Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world. The cost of living is also fairly low and the weather, in many parts of Spain, is extremely appealing. Plus, it’s rather easy to get residency in Spain; for instance, Global Residence Index provides citizenship by investment and golden visa services.
While it can be pretty dreamy, living in Spain might not always be what you imagine. In this article, I’ll share with you what I like and dislike about living in Spain.
Table of Contents
- The Reality of Living in Spain
- Great quality of life — but not everyone gets to enjoy it.
- Cost of living is very low — but so are salaries.
- Life in Spain is relaxed — sometimes a little too relaxed.
- Spanish language is beautiful — but it’s actually pretty vulgar!
- Climate in Spain is great — but it’s not always warm.
- Spanish houses are beautiful — but they’re not built for winters.
- Are You Planning to Live in Spain?
- Inspired? Pin it!
The Reality of Living in Spain
There are times when you’ll be puzzled by Spanish traditions (trust me, they have a lot!), annoyed by waiters who seem to prefer chatting with their colleagues than getting your order, or get frustrated with the crazy amount of Spanish bureaucracy.
I’m not trying to burst anyone’s bubble, but I just want to show both sides of the story. Your experience of traveling Spain for 2 weeks is not quite the same as living here. For those considering moving here, here’s what you need to know about relocating to Spain.
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Great quality of life — but not everyone gets to enjoy it.
In my past life (before becoming a travel blogger), I climbed the corporate ladder, working long hours and leading the big city life — but that’s not the kind of life I want anymore. It is precisely why Alberto and I chose to live in Granada. The quality of life here is great, with much more emphasis on living life rather than work. People work to live, not live to work.
We try to spend as much of our time outside than at work. I set my own working hours and Alberto finishes work by 5pm everyday, so we usually have quite a lot of time to hang out with Kaleya, go to the park or meet friends in the evenings.
In summer particularly, the sun doesn’t set till 10pm, so it feels as though we have extra hours in the day to have fun. On weekends, we take day trips around Spain and always enjoy exploring the countryside.
However, not everyone is as lucky as us. Contrary to what most people think, most Spanish people actually work long hours — they have two-hour lunch breaks from 2 to 4pm (which sounds amazing, I know) BUT they end up working until 8 or 9pm everyday. That’s a long day of work and it’s much more exhausting than the usual 9-to-5 schedule.
And not everyone has a job here. The unemployment rate in Spain is still relatively high, at 18.75% in 2017 (compared to 4.7% in UK and 4.4% in US). Some of our friends are still jobless after months of searching, despite having university qualifications and plenty of work experience.
The job market in Spain is terrible, so think twice if you’re planning to look for work in Spain.
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Cost of living is very low — but so are salaries.
Spain, and Granada specifically, is very cheap to live as compared to other parts of Europe. An apartment in Granada costs between 300 – 600 euros to rent per month; even a three-storey house in the suburbs like the one we lived in costs around 700 euros per month to rent.
Food wise, it’s really affordable to eat out in Granada, a city famous for its Spanish tapas tradition. Almost every restaurant and tapas bar serves a free plate of food, such as patatas bravas or carne con salsa, with a drink (beer and wine costs only 2 to 3 euros). A menu del dia (lunch set) costs around 10 euros and raciones (mid-sized dishes) go for 5 to 8 euros in an average restaurant.
Sadly, the average salary in Granada is just as low as the prices. Most professionals earn around 1,500 to 3,000 euros a month. That translates to an annual income of around 20,000 to 40,000 euros after taxes.
Thankfully things are so cheap in Granada that it is possible to live comfortably on very little money. With what we’re making, we can afford to have eat out at tapas bars, go explore on the weekends and travel often without much worry for our finances.
Life in Spain is relaxed — sometimes a little too relaxed.
Granada has a small town feel and it has bohemian, hippie vibes that lots of travellers (including us) love. It’s very chilled and laid-back; Nobody is in a rush to go anywhere and everyone’s just enjoying the beauty of the city.
When we first moved to Granada, I felt my pace of life completely slow down and I embraced the relaxing, care-free way of living. It’s all very charming for a tourist, but it’s a different story when you’re living here. Everything comes to a stand-still at siesta time (after-lunch nap) and on Sundays; everything is closed and you’ll find Granada turning into a zombie town at those hours.
Things also move slowly in Spain, especially when it comes to government-related stuff. Spanish bureaucracy is notorious and funcionarios (civil servants) seem to take advantage of it and work at the speed of sloths.
Whether you’re going to the bank or post office, expect to wait… because nobody’s in a rush. Customer service at shops or restaurants are the same — you’ll often find yourself waiting for the staff to finish chatting before attending to you. I guess this is something I’ll never get accustomed to, as a foreigner.
Spanish language is beautiful — but it’s actually pretty vulgar!
I know I sound like a prude, but it’s true that the Spanish language can be quite shocking for a foreign ear. The Spaniards have an alarmingly rich vocabulary of swear words and vulgarities – ranging from one-word cusses to full-sentence chants like “me cago en todo lo que se menea!” (which translates to “I shit on everything that moves”).
If you get to know the Spaniards, you’ll come to observe that they tend to use palabrotas (Spanish cuss words) openly in their daily conversation. Words like “coño’”(cunt) don’t contain extremely vulgar connotations, and so are used commonly by people in Spain.
Mind you, I adore the Spanish language: combined with expressive hand gestures, it’s full of vigor, passion and emotions. They have a word to describe everything — a word in Spanish can be used to translate whole sentences in English. I also find myself much more animated and energetic when I speak Spanish.
Spanish is not a hard language to learn; you can start with a natural Spanish immersion online before moving there and there are also lots of intensive Spanish courses you can take in Spain. Once you’re fluent, you will be warmly welcomed and treated like one of them. Check out my language-learning tips!
Climate in Spain is great — but it’s not always warm.
Mention Spain and most people think of bright sunshine and warm beaches. In reality, only the southernmost areas and the Balearic and Canary islands are blessed with warm climate all year round. Islands like Mallorca see sunshine even in December, but it also gets slightly chilly in winter months.
Most parts of the country experience all four seasons, and it can get quite cold in winter. We get sub-zero temperatures in Granada and even snow sometimes.
But it is true that you can count on the sun to always be there, whether in winter, spring or autumn. It’s always sunny in Granada, making it possible to sit under the sun and enjoy a meal regardless of the season.
While it can get ridiculously hot in summer (temperatures of above 40 degrees Celsius), we’re just a 40-minute drive to the beach and there are plenty of swimming pools in town to cool off.
Spanish houses are beautiful — but they’re not built for winters.
I’m sure you’ve seen photos of beautiful rustic, white-washed houses perched on hilltops in the medieval villages of Spain. There are plenty of those here in Granada, particularly in the Albayzin area, right in the city centre. These houses have so much history and charm to them but sadly they aren’t built for the cold.
It’s not just these older houses — most apartments, old or new, have single glazed windows and very little insulation, and marble or tiled flooring that makes the interior feel just as cold as the exterior.
It’s great for summer, as it’s much cooler in the house than outside, but terrible for winter. I usually put on thick layers and sweaters at home in winter, even with the heating on.
Are You Planning to Live in Spain?
To clarify, I love Spain — otherwise I wouldn’t be still living here after 7 years! There are good and bad to living anywhere in the world. I just wanted to show you both sides of the picture and hopefully get you prepared for what it’s like living in Spain.
Let me know if you have any questions below!
Here are more of my articles on Spain to help you with your trip planning:
- My Detailed Guide to Spanish Cuisine
- 2-Week Spain Itinerary
- Where to Find the Best Tapas in Barcelona
- Weekend in Madrid
- Weekend in Malaga
- Best Things to Do in Granada
- Things to Do in Mallorca Beyond the Resorts
- My Guide to Hiking the Camino de Santiago
- 30 Countries with Digital Nomad Visas
- Portugal with Kids
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links i.e. I earn a small commission from any purchase you make through my links, at NO EXTRA COST to you.
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The Comments
Spaniard
I am an spaniard living in the UK, I have lived and worked in the Basque Country, Navarre, Madrid, andalusia and now in London. Although many things you say might be applicable to Granada, or Andalusia in general, it’s not applicable to Spain as a whole. It is a very extense and diverse country, with different autonomous comunities that do not fit in this mould. For example, galicians, basques or catalans. You might be surprised that the most succesful cooperative in the world is basque. Burocracy is different depending on the community you are on.
Come on, I don’t feel London too different from Madrid ex.g. It’s as stressful.
The international image of Spain (the one you are describing, bulls, flamenco, white houses) only applies to Andalusia. Don’t get me wrong, I love Andalusia, but if someone is looking to come to live to Spain, he needs to know that it will be a whole different story depending on the exact place he is choosing.
Nellie Huang
Spaniardhi Spaniard, what you said is very true and I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I should probably change the title of this piece to “What it’s really like living in Granada.” Spain IS a diverse country and each region and community is different. I have lived in Madrid, so I know how different life is there. It can be very hectic and stressful — Alberto used to drive two hours to go to work and back, because of the horrible traffic. Life in Granada can be very different to life in Madrid, Asturias, or Santiago for example, or even just in the city vs a pueblo. I just wanted to compare the general stereotypical idea of what people from the outside world think of Spain (hot, sunny beaches) vs the reality.
Joseph Sniadek
Nellie HuangI’m interested that you believe that 20-40k euros after tax is a low wage. The average wage in the UK is £27k before taxes so pretty much equivalent I’d say even allowing for currency differences. Of course if your making comparisons between London salaries and Spain then there may be a larger difference, but I’d have hoped that an article that seems t be written as all encompassing would be aimed at the whole of the UK population rather than a handful of young London bankers and estate agents.
Nellie Huang
Joseph Sniadekhi Joseph, my article is not aimed at the rich and wealthy. I’m comparing it to the average income in other parts of Europe as well as USA (where most of my audience come from) and Singapore (where I’m from). The average income in Netherlands for example is 50k euros, for a professional role like programmer or accountant. Most people in the US also generate a lot more than 40k a year. I used to live in London as well, and the income there were definitely higher than what you would make than in Spain (considering same job and same experience).
Tikva
Interesting read sometimes after a holiday somewhere you feel you can live there. But actually living in this place will be a lot different. And those unemployment rates wow so high.
Nellie Huang
TikvaYes, living in a place can be different from traveling there. I hope I haven’t scared you off from moving to Spain though. I just wanted to show both sides to it. Despite its flaws, Spain is still a great place to live, with year-round sunshine, great people and low prices.
Lexi
Spain is the only country (so far) that I’ve visited twice, so I completely understand why you moved there. The culture is just completely intoxicating. Early mornings with fresh market goods for your meals of the day, siestas (as long as the king hasn’t disbanded them yet!), tapas & sangria, stunning architecture and festivals with the gypsy tribes until the wee hours of the morning.
“Work to Live” is a perfect way to portray it, or so I thought. I’m surprised about what you said on the work schedule making people feel like they neglect their families. … I mean, I suppose I never thought about how it would translate to corporate business where your children can visit you in ye ole family shop at the end of the day. Do you the majority still feel Siestas are worth the longer hours? Or was your friend you mentioned becoming the new attitude of Spain?
Nellie Huang
Lexihi Lexi, yes you totally nailed what I love about living in Spain. As for the work schedule, it’s a dilemma that more of people in my generation face. Most people of my age don’t really feel that siestas are worth the longer hours. I’m also saying that based on people I know here in southern Spain. Those who live in bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona don’t really have the privilege of having long lunch breaks, so perhaps there’s a different attitude there.
Yesenia
Omg! I’ve been thinking of actually moving to Spain for months & now I feel convinced especially moving to Granada. My only question is what documents do I need to make the move from the US to Spain? I do plan on working there as well. & I’ll be saving money within this following year but how much would be a reasonable amount to have on hand if & once I make the move? A break down would be helpful! Please & thank you!
Nellie Huang
Yeseniahey Yesenia, thanks for dropping by. I’m glad this article has convinced you to move to Granada! To be honest, I’m not sure how easy it would be for citizens of the US to move to Spain. I’m married to a Spaniard so it’s easy, but I’m not sure about other cases. It’s best to do some research and find out how to get a work permit in Spain. We actually moved to Granada after traveling around Latin America for five months, so by the time we got there, we didn’t have without much money in our savings account. Thankfully it was easy to find teaching work back then. I would say it all depends on what type of lifestyle you’re looking at, what type of job you’re looking for and if you’re ready to take up any opportunity given to you. I think you’ll need at least $3000 just to make sure you can pay for the deposit of an apartment and the first few months’ rent. It might also take you a while to find a job, so of course the more savings you’ve got the better.
Helen
Hi there, we are looking at potential European countries to relocate to from South Africa due to the unstable political climate here. Our main concern is that we own 3 dogs which are on the “dangerous breed” list: They are a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and two Pit Bulls. Can anyone assist with the import legislation of ‘dangerous’ breeds. Most of the info I am finding on the web is old and outdated.
Nellie Huang
Helenhey Helen, thanks for dropping by! I didn’t know it was so difficult bringing dogs over to another country. Are you definitely thinking of moving to Spain? Let me ask around and see if anyone I know can help.
ALEJANDRO MONTEL
What’s the best city in Spain in terms of wages/ratez/jobs?
Thank you
Nellie Huang
ALEJANDRO MONTELhi Alejandro, I would say the best city in Spain in terms of job opportunity and salary is Madrid, followed by Barcelona. We used to live in Madrid and it was the easiest place to find a job in Spain. Even though salary is higher in Madrid than other parts of Spain, the cost of living is also higher. Apartment rental is lot more expensive – e.g. a one-bedroom apartment usually costs around 800-1500 euros per month in Madrid. Hope this answers your question! Let me know if I can help!
Ron DiMicco
Hi,
Thank you for your very honest presentation of life in Spain. I am 61 and in the USA now and working as an Engineer. I am thinking of getting a Master in Biblical Studies and want to teach high school in Europe when I retire. Will I be making a decent salary doing that and can I even get a job in Spain doing that?
Thanks.
Ron
Ezra Fleishman
What do you do for a living in Spain?! I’m from the US, and after studying abroad in Malaga for 3 months, I really want to come back and live in Southern Spain for year…I’m looking for good job opportunities for someone like me that has a Bachelor’s Degree and conversational spanish – Any ideas would be super helpful!
Nellie Huang
Ezra Fleishmanhi Ezra, I’m a full-time travel blogger and writer now (read my story here), but I used to teach English when living in Madrid. Finding a teaching job is the easiest way to live in Spain – almost all my friends who moved here is an English teacher. You can easily find teaching jobs online, or through facebook groups. One friend worked as an au pair. Here are some ideas on how to find work abroad if you’re interested.
Marjie
Nellie HuangWhat qualifications do you need to obtain a job teaching English? Bachelor’s Degree? Special certifications for TESOL?
Nellie Huang
MarjieHi Marjie, back when I was teaching English in Spain (that was at least 10 years ago), only certain companies asked for a TEFL certificate. I didn’t have one and the companies I worked for didn’t require that. A Bachelor’s Degree would definitely be important. To get higher chances of getting an English teaching job in Spain, you can also start by gaining experience back at home and finding part-time teaching gigs or tuition jobs. Hope this has been helpful!
Jill
i was wondering what iff one needs legal representation of any kind for anything, and not being a citizen of spain where does one stand, will help be available in all ways legally or not, or only part of it? an inportant factor which has not been spoken about.
Robert
I´ve lived in Spain, in various stages, for over 25 years. I first came to live and work in Spain in 1965. (I know – seems impossible. 1065?!!. We lived in a cave and had dinosaur for lunch most days.)
I´ve lived in Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Guadix, Pozo Alcon. For some time now, Velez Rubio (Almeria).
A cliche, i know, but Spain was so very different then. All countries were, of course, but Spain far more than most. Seen from outside, it was a mysterious place, ruled by a dictator. They took long siestas every day, ate lots of ham and drank wine out of a funny bag-like thing. The national sport was bull-fighting. Etc etc etc.. From a Spanish point of view, things were dire then, but improving quite fast. As a foreigner, Spain was more interesting than it is now. Now, most of the world is on its way to being very similar. “Am I really in Bilbao? Or is this Bolton?”
I have mixed feelings about Spain. The agreeable things here are well-known. The people, the climate, the food and the sheer space and variation in the landscapes. History, artists and writers. Also, the ex-colonies in south America, in one of which I was born. Yipee! I also lived 10 years in Italy and people always ask me which I prefer. It´s a hard question to answer.
But there are some more disagreeable aspects to Spain than the ones you mention. Come to think of it, I won´t mention them either.
Hector
Hello Everyone!
I live in Washington D.C, and I am planning to move abroad next year, and Spain is my top location. How can I prepare – I am fluent in Spanish and plan to take a course this fall to sharpen my writing skills. I am a bit scared, but willing to take the risk. Can you give me some positive sound advice?
Thank you,
Hector
Nellie Huang
Hectorhi Hector, thanks for the question! Don’t be nervous – try to think about what is causing your anxiety. Do you have enough savings to tide you through the first few months? Are you planning to find a job there? If yes, in what field? It’s great that you’re fluent in Spanish – that already is a big help in your move. Which part of Spain are you planning to move to? I’d say that the best thing is to do as much research as you can, on what courses you want to take. You can also start looking for apartments online. Sites like segundamano.es, idealista.es, and milanuncios.com have apartment listings. These sites also have job boards, so look around and see if you can find anything that suits you. Hope this helps!
Sean
Nellie HuangHi Nellie.
I am thinking hard about leaving the uk and settling in or around Valencia, a place that i have visited several times and have fallen completely in love with. Circumstances at home have sped up my thinking on the timing of this move. I am late forties not needing to work full time though ideally would like maybe a part time job in the construction industry to maybe keep me active. Not sure how achievable that side of things would be. Would probably look to but in an urbanisation first of all so to gain a bit of confidence with the culture etc etc. Whilst i am certainly not fluent in spanish i do try and get by, i studied for two years but am a bit rusty and not of the age for learning all that quickly now, though am still very keen !! If you have any tips or pointers for me regarding this i would be extremely grateful.
Best wishes
Sean
JILL
HectorHi Hector. Did you move to Spain. I am in Washington, DC and am planning in moving to Spain too
martine
HectorHello, Hecctor.
Did you make it to Spain? Let me know since I am seriously thinking about moving to spain or Portugal.
Anne
Hi Nellie,
I love all your post about Spain and Granada.
My husband and I with our 9 year old son will be moving to Granada for a year at the end of August.
We want our son to attend public school and live in an area with lots of kids.
It would be great if you can recommend some area…
Regards,
Anne
Nellie Huang
Annehi Anne, thanks for dropping by! Great to hear that you’re moving to Granada. We’ve just moved to Amsterdam 6 months ago, otherwise would have loved to connect with you in person. I’m more than happy to help here though. Most expats/foreigners live in the Albayzin area, with historical, white-washed houses with cobblestoned alleyways. It’s very quaint and charming, but not a practical area to live considering how many tourists there are on a daily basis. A good area to live is Realejo in the city centre, walking distance from all the restaurants and shops, and still a residential area with locals and kids. Another area to consider is Zaidin, which is slightly further from the city centre but still close enough. You’ll definitely be living amongst locals here. We used to live in Armilla, a 15-min bus ride from the city centre, and my kid went to a private daycare in the neighborhood. Do you and your son speak Spanish? If you don’t then it’s definitely advisable to start learning it. Very few people speak another language in Granada, and it can be very difficult for your son to adapt to the new school if he doesn’t know the language. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Holly
AnneDid you end up moving to Granada with your son? I want to do the same in a few years so my daughter can solidify her fluency as she is in a bilingüe escuela.
Christian
Hey Nelli. Thank you for writing this blog. My wife and I (and our ?) are moving to Granada in 2 weeks from the US. We will be living there for a few years at least. So I was really excited to find that you have quite a few blogs on Granada specifically. We would love to meet up with you guys and hear more about your experience in Spain. We will be looking for housing as well so would love to pick your brain about the best neighborhoods.
Nellie Huang
Christianhi Christian, thanks for the comment! So cool to hear that you’re moving to Granada! We would have loved to meet up with you guys – but we just moved to Amsterdam six months ago. Shame! We were living in Granada for around 8 years, so am happy to share with you our experience. Most expats live in Albayzin, the charming historical part, but it can get quite touristy and you’ll find yourself being annoyed by the noise and crowds. I recommend Realejo, which is still in the city centre and is historical, but a bit more residential and less touristy. Zaidin is another neighborhood that is near the city centre but very residential. We used to live in Armilla, just a 10-minute bus ride from the city centre.
Ivana Turanska
Hi Nellie, I’m living in UK right now and being here for last 11 years. Now thinking to move to Spain with my partner and my little daughter. I’m a dog groomer and would like to do that for living there. Do you know if it’s possible to survive based on the business like this? Also the schools, nurseries there are free or if not, are they expensive like here in UK? We’re thinking about Alicante for the beginning and then to find something in Santa Pola
Nellie Huang
Ivana Turanskahi Ivana, thanks for the comment! I think that might be a viable business in Spain as many people have dogs. Public schools are free, but keep in mind they only speak Spanish there so you need to get your daughter ready for that. How old is she? Nurseries are cheap – I used to pay just 400euros for my daughter to go to daycare Mon-Fri all day. Alicante is a great city to live in for sure! Good luck with the move and hope this has been of help to you.
Peter
Hi Nellie, I’m a 57 year old recently divorced guy seriously thinking of relocating to Southern Spain. Here in the U.K. I’m a market trader, how easy would it be for me to continue doing this in Spain?. I absolutely love your article.
Pete
Nellie Huang
Peterhi Peter, thanks for dropping by! Do you speak any Spanish? You need to have a good level of Spanish to begin with. Southern Spain has very limited work opportunities, so I wouldn’t say your chances of finding work in market trading will be high. I recommend starting with Madrid or Barcelona if you’re determined to work in market trading. Hope this helps!
michelle
Peterim recently divorsed too and planning later in year to hous sit in spain and other parts also ……..looks like fun but house sitting seems a great alternative whilst exploring options
Jihane
Did you need some sort of teaching license / experience to get a teaching job in Spain? I plan on going for a Working Holiday Visa early next year, and I just want to know how hard it’ll be for me to find a decent source of income asides from what I’ve saved for the move. I am currently learning Spanish so that would help, but I hope Barcelona has English speaking jobs.
Marlene Fletcher
Hi Nellie – thank you for such a wonderful article. I a naturalized BRitish citizen living in South Africa. This beautiful country has become a nightmare, politically cost of living and safety. I too, have lost a lot if my courage but I need to find it again. I would love to look into living in Spain z- the thought of fiestas is just up my street – much prefer working on evenings. My problem : one I hope you can help me with – I do not have a.professional qualifucation – I have been in the prepping world for over 30 years one that I desperately want to get out if. Had way too much of it – I love people, I love travel, very communicative except donby know onwme word in Spanish. Would love to teach English and am willing to work in any field. My fear is I turn 60 next year and I travel alone with my dog. Am I employable? would really love your input here.
Johana
Loved your article! My husband, my daughter (1 yr old), and I will be moving to Spain next year due to his work.
What would you advice someone to prepare for such a big move?
Thank you!
Louie Diab
Hello! Thanks for your article about Spain! I’m a 19 year old College student that wants to study abroad in Spain but I also want to live there in the future! Should I wait until I’m a little bit older or can I move there a little after 19? I’m also taking Spanish classes and I’m finishing my second semester of Spanish 102 (2nd level Spanish for beginners) Thank you! ¡Muchas Gracias!
Nellie Huang
Louie DiabHi Louie, it all depends on your living/financial situation. Do you need residency or work permit to live in Spain (i.e. do you have an EU passport?)? Looking for a job that will pay for your work permit isn’t easy.
Nigel
Hi Nellie
Thanks for the very honest article my wife and are seriously considering moving to Spain location wise we are open to suggestions. When we move both of us will be retired so no need for work, but both of us are very active and need to keep bodies and brain working.
Hopefully the brexit questions will be answered by then giving everyone a clear indication over health etc.
I am sure the Spanish still need people to buy houses there.
Regards
Nigel
Julie Gurski
Hi! Thanks for this article and for also opening the dialogue between other curious minds on how to live in Spain. I too am looking into moving to Spain from the US. I am able to do my current job remotely but we really haven’t had anyone try to live internationally. I don’t know how that works to live legally in Spain as an ex-pat. Does anyone know how that process works and what (if anything) does my company need to do or apply for me to be able to do my US job while residing in Spain?
pete
does anyone know of how to vercome the health insurance requirement with a non lucrative visa. My problem is that my wife is to old to get health insurance in spain (74 cut off) are there any insurance companies that actually provide insurance to seniors. I have looked at ameeican companies but they want the equivalent to a deposit on a mansion just for one year
Nellie Huang
petehi Pete, I’m afraid I have no idea about health insurance as my husband is Spanish and healthcare is covered in social security for the whole family. I did get personal health insurance after having a baby. Check out Adesla, that’s the company I use. https://www.segurcaixaadeslas.es They probably have a special health insurance plan for seniors. Do you know Spanish? English is not commonly spoken here so it’s best to do your search in Spanish. Sorry I can’t be of more use.
mandy
Hi and thank you for your time taken to respond to each of us :)
We are from South Africa, however, my worry is learning a new language….
is it worth it at our age 40/50?
We have a software business that allows us to live remotely
We are also in the food industry (i am a chef)
Is it an idea to buy a small farm to make artisianal products
for the market and export?
What can we import from South Africa into Spain as a
hedge against the Rand for its an idea to keep a
base in South Africa …or not
We just want to feel safe.
Create artisanal products
grow organic (bio-dynamic herbal products)
oils for medicines
We provide online market place for buyers and suppliers
Thanks for helping we hope you can advise us
we only have access to is 8M enough to move/buy a small place
iain wylie
mandyit is certainly worth learning a new language. all through your life, learn. iaiIt has many obvious and less obvious benefits, Iain Wylie, sheffield
Joe Metzner
I just came across your article. Me and the wife would like to find a place to live in Spain for the 90 day. We draw approx. 4000 USD a month. We are also interested and seeing surrounding countries. What would be a good city like Granada that would allow us to travel and still return to.
sahit
Hello:
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. I enjoyed it a lot, and it is very informative. I have one question: How do you deal with the 40 degree (or near) heat during summer months? I understand that the pretty white-washed adobe houses with tiled – marbled floors are much cooler than the outside, but surely that cannot be the only solution. Or, was it? Many thanks again.
Nellie Huang
sahitHaha yes the houses are much cooler inside, as compared to the temperature outside. The temperature also drops quite a lot at night in Granada and by the coast. Many people just use a fan at home, very few people would actually have air-conditioning at home. Hope this helps!
Zadok Olinga
love this article on Spain, certainly wiped away some of the rosey unrealistic views I held
Daria
What do you mean when you say you still haven’t mastered the language? Does it mean you can speak it but it’s not perfect or do you mean that it’s still hard to catch on? I’m curious because I would really like to study in Spain for college and learn the beautiful language and hopefully live there as I progress in my future career but I’m trying to figure out if it’s really worth leaving America. Nothing really draws me to stay over here other than my family and I figured Spain would be a great idea considering that I am so interested in the way of life and language and all that.
Nellie Huang
DariaI mean I can speak it fluently and have no problems having conversations with locals, but it’s not perfect and not native level. I wouldn’t be able to work in a business environment in Spanish. That said, I know many expat friends in Spain who can speak perfectly. As long as you work hard and put your mind into it, it is possible.
Hannah
Hi,
I would love to live in Spain and have been told Alicante is the place to be for a young family. My partner is a dentist and I work from home as a beautician. Would these same job opportunities be available for us in Alicante? We also have a little boy who has autism and is non verbal. He is 3 in July so isn’t due to start school for a while yet. Do you know if the schools there would be able to cater for our child’s special needs? Any insight or help will be greatly appreciated
Nellie Huang
Hannahhi Hannah, thanks for dropping by! I’m afraid I’m only familiar with Granada and can’t advise on the situation in Alicante. In general, I think there are more job opportunities and variety of schools in Valencia, which is a bigger city near Alicante. I personally really like Alicante, and agree that it’s a great place for young families. There are also plenty of beautiful coastal towns in the area that are great to live in, my favorite being Denia. Hope this helps!
Zoila Maughan
I have read all the great information on this blog and more than ever I am interested in moving to Spain at the latest next year, I want to live in a small town near Granada. I am a retired person with no need for work I just want a peaceful quite town that doesnt cost much to live in. My income is modest . What town or city would you say is the best for a single older woman to live in/ Any suggestions would be very much appreciated by the way I do speak Spanish fluently. Thank you very much.
Nellie Huang
Zoila Maughanhi Zoila, thanks for the comment! And good to hear that this post hasn’t deterred you from moving to Spain! :) It sounds like you would love Granada since you’re looking for a small town that’s quiet and not too expensive. Good that you speak Spanish fluently. Granada would be really suitable for you, but it is a university town and the population is rather young. You can also try Ronda which is a beautiful town perched on top of a cliff. There are many small towns in the Malaga province that are not too touristy and still within easy access to the airport. Check out Mijas and Frigiliana.
Bob
Great article.
This may have already been asked and forgive me if I am asking it a second time. Here is my scenario – I am American. I want to move to Spain, but do not want to give up my American citizenship for taxation reasons. Can I live in Spain (if you know) without obtaining a visa there?
Tom Watts
Hi Nellie,
While on active duty in the US Navy, I was fortunate to live in Spain for 10 years (3 tours). Now that I am retired I feel the need to move back there. Southern Spain in the province of Andalucia is most familiar to me. After reading your blog on Granada, its seems to be the perfect place to retire with a retirement income. Do you think I could live there comfortably on an income of 40K annually?
Thanks much,
Tom
Nellie Huang
Tom WattsHey Tom, good to hear from you. Thanks for sharing your story. It sounds like you’re very familiar with Spain already. Yes you should be able to live comfortably, especially if you plan to live in the countryside and away from the touristy areas. Granada for example would be a great place for you to retire with that amount of money. Just avoid staying in Albayzin and opt for the more local residential areas like Zaidin and your rental will be much cheaper.
Annie Morts
Hi Nellie,
We are living for a year in Puerto Vallarta Mexico right now. We have traveled to Spain many times and would love to come and live for a year. But, I am in the starting phases of the paperwork. Can you give me any advise about getting pass the Schengen issues. I have read so many different views on it.
Love your honesty of what it is like living in Spain. It is a lot different than being a tourist here in Mexico too. You find that you are still living life just like any where else.
Thanks for any input you might have,
Happy Holidays.
Annie
Ibanez
I work remotely. I want to go to a city in Spain that I can go to concerts and art shops. In Florida I spend 3000 dollars only to maintain. So My budget is 3000 dollars. What city would you guys suggest?
Tom Simsen
Hi and thanks for replying. I am thinking of moving to Spain. I am retired and can support myself. What I have heard is that it is easy to buy a house and live in Spain and live there. Is this true and can you offer some advice. Thanks, Tom
Alan Mitchell
Hello everbody, I am new to this web site but for quite a while now I have though & dreamed of moving to Spain. Been watching the usual TV program a place in the sun. Tell me what is the cost of good private health care. Please could you give me the top realistic costing, thanks, alan
Andy
Nice review!! Really interested in moving to Spain with my partner . Working as a boatbuilder currently is there much boat work in spain?
Should I become competent as Spanish before I choose toove and work out there?
So many questions haha
Nellie Huang
Andyhi Andy, thanks for dropping by! Honestly I’m not sure about how easy it is to find work in boatbuilding. Of course that depends on where in Spain you’re looking at, but I’m guessing your chances of finding work in that field will be higher in Spain than elsewhere in Europe just cos there’s so much coastline here. Your partner’s chances of finding work might be higher in the Balearic Islands or in coastal cities like Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, San Sebastian etc. As for Spanish speaking skills, yes I have to say it is essential to speak/understand Spanish if you want to work in Spain. Best to start learning some now! :)
Bill
Hi, what about someone who would like to split their time between the USA and Spain, say 6 months in each country? I speak Spanish and French.
Nellie Huang
BillThat’s a nice arrangement! It shouldn’t be an issue if you can work remotely or if you are retired. Some nationalities are allowed to stay in Spain for up to 6 months without any visa (like mine before I got my residency).
Cindy Garcia
How’s wheelchair access in Spain? I’m seriously considering moving to Spain next year. I use either a four wheel walker or power wheelchair to get around. Buying isn’t something I want to do so I’d look for an accessible apartment that’s either renovated or new and well insulated. Location isn’t first priority, my preference would be accessibility and good transportation since I’ll be selling my car. I’m fluent in Spanish, been speaking, reading, writing all my life. I’m from California, living in San Diego currently, and a comparable climate would be good. Do you know where I can start inquiring? If the current administration is re-elected I’ll get out ASAP! Thanks so much!
Nellie Huang
Cindy Garciahi Cindy, thanks for reaching out! It really depends on where in Spain you want to move to. In general, there is wheelchair access in the public transport system and government buildings, but I would advise moving to a city rather than rural area if you don’t want to be using a car. If you’re looking for weather and conditions abit similar to San Diego, you might like to check out Valencia or Barcelona. Both are coastal cities with beautiful beaches, nice atmosphere and good public transport system. Valencia in smaller than Barcelona, which I like, but is big enough that it has more wheelchair access than in a small town. Both cities have trams perfect for wheelchair access. The metro system in Madrid and Barcelona don’t really have wheelchair access (with lots of stairs and no lifts). You can also check out Malaga in southern Spain, which can be an easier place to live because of its bigger international population. Another thing you might like to take note: apartments in cities tend to be really small and compartmentalised. Definitely avoid older apartments as those have tiny old-school lifts and no ramps whatsoever. You might prefer to spend a bit more to stay in a house or ground-floor apartment.
Ruby Baker
Hi Nellie!
I am a retired person considering spending some time in Spain. I am thinking of the northern part of Spain since a spent some time there on the Camino. I’m considering a year long rental in a small village and then I’ll decide from there. One of my main questions is a car. Since Im planning on being in the country I’m sure I will need one. Can I lease one for a year? I know Spain has very extensive mass transit in more urban areas. Thanks for your help!
Nellie Huang
Ruby Bakerhi Ruby, thanks for dropping in! I love northern Spain and I can definitely see why you’d like to move there. Yes I agree that a car will be great for exploring more rural areas like Picos de Europa. Yes you can lease cars in Spain for long periods. My in-laws just started leasing a new car in Granada last month and they’re happy with it. The lease lasts for 1 year I believe and can be renewed or you can get another car after that.
Ruby
Thanks Nellie!
Wish I coulld leave soon but of course with Covid so rampant here we are uninvited to travel anywhere (LOL).
Kate
Hi all ;)
I am planing to move to Spain (around May, June) but I have a problem with which place to choose. I am 30+ software developer with my own contract (so I do not need to look for a job). I want a place where I can live peacefully but have things to do. Can you suggests some cities?
Nellie Huang
Katehi Kate, thanks for the comment! Perhaps you’d like to check out my post on living in Granada. I lived there for almost 8 years and previously 1.5 years in Madrid. It really depends on what type of person you are, what kind of lifestyle you enjoy. It’s great that you don’t have to worry about finding a job. I would recommend Granada of course, but I’m biased since I lived there. It’s a small-sized city right near the mountains, so lots of hiking and outdoor activities to do all year round (canyoning and going to the beach in summer, hiking in spring/autumn, and skiing in winter). The beach is just a 45-min drive away and the mountains even nearer. It’s brilliant if you’re looking to immerse completely in the Spanish culture, learn Spanish and make Spanish friends. Lotsa language schools there and traditional Spanish cultural activities like flamenco dancing and culinary culture. But it can be abit challenging if you’re looking for a more international environment. In that case, I would recommend Barcelona, Valencia or Malaga. You’ll find more international people and food. They’re along the coast and weather’s great. Hope this has been of help to you!
Alana
Nellie,
Thanks for all of your great comments and a wonderful article! I was reading through, and just as I reached the last article I think I’ve found what I was looking for. I’m from NYC, and have lived here a good portion of my life (largely in Brooklyn, though I was born in and have family in Manhattan), but I’ve also lived overseas (El Salvador) and I’ve traveled extensively. A friend recommended Granada to me, but I’m concerned that I might find the pace might be too slow. Although I am retiring, I will definitely have an active retirement, so I’m thinking Málaga or Valencia would suit my more active lifestyle and my fixed income.
Nellie Huang
Alanahi Alana, thanks for dropping by! Glad you’ve found what you were looking for. Seeing that you’re from NYC, I think Malaga and Valencia are probably better options for you. They have bigger expat groups as well, which will make settling down easier. I really like San Sebastian in the north too, the food is amazing and the size of the city is just right for me. Alicante, near Valencia, is another medium-sized city with gorgeous beaches and excellent seafood.
Ahmad
Thank you very much for your informative and unbiased article. I have been thinking about moving abroad and Spain was one of the options I had on my short list. I was born on the mediterranean sea and so it would be great to go back to living, retiring and enjoying life there again. I have done some online searches about the cost of living and it all seemed promising but it is nice to hear it from a person who actually lives there. So, thank you, again.
Maria
Hi there just to say I enjoyed reading your article! I am half Spanish and lived in several countries even 3 years in Singapore :-)). After living in several countries I am happy to settle in Spain for many reasons I just think life is good here despite the challenges you mention. I live in Madrid and getting a bit fed up of city life and am in love with the Spanish pueblos now!! Now that we can work remote why not!! I may even try Granada!!
Zenek Bury
Article is absoluty great! We move in to spain 1,5 year ago. At some point 45 deegre are a bit to much but is great any way! No is November and still enjoy over 20 degrees weather.