Spain

Living in Spain: the short version

Spain is one of Europe’s most popular destinations for remote workers and retirees, with sunshine, a relaxed pace and costs well below northern Europe outside Madrid and Barcelona. Its digital nomad visa is well established, while the property-based golden visa has been abolished.

Best for: Remote workers, retirees and families who prioritise lifestyle and climate.

How to move to Spain: main visa and residency routes

Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.

Digital nomad visa

For remote workers and freelancers mainly working for clients outside Spain, with an income threshold.

Non-lucrative visa

For people with enough passive income or savings who will not work in Spain.

Highly qualified professional / EU Blue Card

Employer-based routes for skilled workers.

Healthcare for newcomers

Residents who work or pay into social security use the public system; non-lucrative visa holders need private insurance, and a paid public scheme exists in some regions.

How Spain compares

Calculated from our data for all 55 countries. How we calculate this

Cost of living rank

25th most expensive of 55

Single person, core costs

$1,210/mo

Family of four, core costs

$2,333/mo

Take-home on $60,000

$39,698/yr

• Renting a one-bedroom home takes about 26% of the average local salary in Spain, less than the median of 36% across the countries we cover.
• Core monthly costs for one person (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, internet and eating out) come to about $1,210, or 48% of the average local monthly salary.
• On a gross salary of $60,000 taxed locally, our estimate leaves $39,698 a year after income tax and employee social security (an effective rate of 34%), the 47th highest take-home pay of 55 countries. After single-person core costs, that leaves roughly $25,178 a year to save or spend.
• Countries with a similar overall cost of living: Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
• Cheaper options in Europe: Greece, Czech Republic, Portugal.

Estimates for planning, using simplified national tax brackets in US dollars; local taxes, deductions and your own spending will differ. Try your own numbers in the tax calculator or budget planner.

Sources and methodology

Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on September 30, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.