Spain has been my home for almost 15 years, and throughout this time, I’ve gone through a lot. Here’s the ultimate list of pros and cons of living in Spain.
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Pros and Cons of Living in Spain
Being an expat in Spain
My 15 years of living in Spain
Over my 15+ years of living and traveling in Spain, I have experienced almost everything that could happen to an expat here. I have studied in Spain, traveled across different regions, visited every single province in the country, married a Spaniard, and became part of a large Spanish family. I searched for my first job, started my own business, had children, built a house, and received Spanish nationality. All of this gives me a significant background to honestly talk about the pros and cons of living in Spain. My expat years in Spain have made me grow in a completely different direction than I ever thought I would. Many Spanish habits I initially found strange have now become part of my life. Let me share with you the things I like and don’t like about living in Spain, and I hope my experiences will help you decide whether being an expat here is the right choice for you.
Pros of living in Spain
1. Landscape Diversity in Spain
While it might seem like a strange reason to move to Spain to some, as a passionate traveler, I really appreciate that Spain offers a full package of experiences when it comes to traveling. It’s no wonder that national tourism is so popular in Spain – you can travel across the Iberian Peninsula for a lifetime and never get bored. While many international travelers visit Spain in search of its iconic landmarks and best beaches, the country is incredibly diverse. The weather, food, architecture, and people in Northern Spain are very different from those in the South. I find it inspiring that you can experience the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees, the Wild-West desert of Almeria, the Caribbean-like blues of Formentera, the volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands, and the magical forests of Navarra, all within the same country. Plus, Spain has excellent roads, making it easy to drive a few hours and find completely different weather or landscapes from what you’re used to, which makes living in Spain such a joy. Living in Spain is also great if you enjoy traveling with your family, as it’s convenient to load all the kids’ essentials into a car and embark on a new road trip, rather than needing to board a plane.

2. Mentality
The mentality in Spain is both a pro and con when it comes to living here. Let’s start with the good part. Spain is considered the “land of fiesta and siesta” for good reason. The Spanish are some of the biggest life-lovers, and they know how to enjoy it to the fullest – whether it’s having a few tapas with friends at a local bar, sharing a romantic sunset while sipping a glass of Rioja, or fully embracing the vibrant local festivities. Savoring the small pleasures is a key part of life in Spain. Before moving to Spain, I frequently visited the country as a tourist and after learning Spanish, the cab drivers became my insiders. They’re generally quite social, especially outside the major tourist-heavy Spanish capitals. Don’t expect to reach your destination without sharing a bit of your life story! If you speak English, it might just end in some small talk, but if you’re fluent in Spanish – get ready for a deeper conversation. I remember one day, after complimenting my Spanish, one cab driver switched to major life issues, like work-family balance. He was lamenting the high unemployment rate in Spain and the lack of job opportunities. I made the mistake of suggesting that working on Sundays might help businesses, since it’s often the day people have the most time to shop. He looked at me as if I had just arrived from another planet and said, “What do you mean, working on Sundays? How are people supposed to spend time with their families and enjoy life if they have to work on Sundays?” Taking Sundays off is sacred. As a business owner, I often find myself working on Sundays because I have a lot of work and I care too much. I feel like this is where I haven’t been able to blend in with the locals, as life seems to stop for everyone else around me on weekends and holidays.
Also, as an expat in Spain, you’ll quickly notice that people around you are generally friendly and social. It’s easy for foreigners to strike up spontaneous conversations with locals and gain first-hand travel experiences. Even introverts may find themselves making friends, since more often than not, the locals will make the first move.

3. Family and Traditions
The family-oriented culture is a major advantage for those who enjoy family gatherings and plan to have children or move to Spain with their parents. In my husband’s family, meeting with his parents every Sunday is an unbreakable ritual. It took me some time to adjust. We have a wonderful relationship, but it felt strange knowing all our Sundays would be busy for the rest of our lives. You can tell they don’t really understand why it’s unusual for me – both of my in-laws come from very traditional, conservative Spanish families, where sharing a paella every Sunday is non-negotiable. Of course, some of these traditions are becoming more modern in the big cities, but it’s fair to say they remain quite strong across Spain. Also, many older generations of Spaniards come from large families. My mother-in-law still has three siblings, and my father-in-law had five (unfortunately, only one of his sisters is still alive). Each of their siblings had at least two children, so when you add it all up, you realize that as the newest addition to the family, you practically need a notebook of relatives to keep track of everyone. In these family circles, you have bodas, bautizos, and comuniones (weddings, baptisms, and communions), and not inviting someone to these events is almost a sin. So, there are often many family gatherings in Spain, and the strong bond between parents and children is undeniable. Moreover, in Spain, people tend to stay with their parents longer than in the rest of Europe, and elderly parents frequently live with their adult children. I remember when we traveled to Riviera Maya, our tour guide told us, “In Mexico, when a boy turns 15, his father sits him down and explains that he’s done everything he could for him, and now it’s the boy’s turn to find his way and provide for himself.” In contrast, our Spanish neighbor is 40 and still lives with his parents. It’s not a strict rule in Spain, of course, but living with parents well into one’s 30s is quite common. In fact, official data shows that 53.1% of people aged 25 to 29 still live with their parents.

4. Spanish Food
Spanish food will be one of the strongest arguments in favor of moving to Spain. Local fruits and vegetables are available year-round. Additionally, you can easily find more exotic fruits, like mangos, bananas, and avocados from the Canary Islands. Don’t forget the seasonal products and the gastronomic weeks. Aside from traditional foods, there’s no shortage of unique foodie experiences in Spain: from the well-known wine tastings in Rioja and pintxos in the Basque Country to cider tastings and cooking classes. We all know that the Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest ways of eating around the world. Plus, the regional cuisines in Spain vary so much across different areas that at times it feels like a different country. For food lovers, Spain is one of the best places in Europe to live.

5. Retirement in Spain
Spain is an amazing country for retirement, as Spanish seniors are social, enjoy traveling, and love going out. With the pleasant weather and great food, it’s the perfect setting to enjoy your retirement to the fullest. For Spaniards, retirement is officially considered a time to enjoy life like never before. Unofficially, in Spain, up to 30, you’re considered a child; from 30 to 50, you’re young; and 60+ is what I call the Golden Age – when you can do whatever you want while enjoying it to the fullest. You rarely see young women wearing furs and diamonds in Spain – it’s the unspoken priority of the older generation. I love seeing how my senior in-laws embrace life to the fullest. We have an apartment by the seaside in one of Spain’s coastal towns, which is a party hub during the summer months. My parents-in-law (who are 72 and 76 years old) meet up with friends every Saturday and afterward stay the night at our place to avoid a 30-minute drive back home. Most of us have been woken up by babies at night at some point in our lives, but have you ever been woken up by your senior parents, who come home around 3 a.m. and make a lot of noise with the doors? – But I honestly admire how Spaniards retire with class, setting an example for younger generations by staying positive, active, and enjoying life to the fullest. If I weren’t living in Spain, it would be the country I would consider for retirement anyway.
6. Spain for kids
Spaniards love children and traveling in Spain with kids is really easy. Ninety percent of restaurants offer high chairs (called tronas), and some even provide kids with pencils and paper. During our last visit to an Italian restaurant, the waiter brought pizza dough for the kids to play with (it’s definitely not typical, and I’m not sure it’s even allowed, but it shows how much the Spanish enjoy making kids smile with the smallest gestures). To my surprise, I especially noticed this adoration in men between the ages of 35 and 50. Spanish men are great fathers who love being hands-on with their children. They don’t have kids early, but once they decide to start a family, they are ready to be fully involved. It’s very common in Spain to see a couple dining out with friends and bringing along their newborn. If the baby wakes up and cries, the mother might breastfeed while the father carries the baby and gently rocks it. These family moments often unfold in noisy bars, but I love how in Spain having children doesn’t stop people from enjoying their social life if they want to. Everyone understands and respects that. No one will complain about a baby crying or making noise. In fact, the last time one of my toddlers threw pasta on the floor, I was stressed, trying to explain to them that this wasn’t the right way to act. The waitress came over and said, “Oh, don’t worry! She’s so small, it’s normal. We’ll clean it up afterward!” Children in Spain are raised in an environment of freedom. They might play loudly and run around, but no one will ever say a word.

Cons of living in Spain
While living in Spain offers many advantages, there are also some challenges and drawbacks to consider. Spain is such a picture-perfect destination that it takes time to truly experience the downsides. After living here for over 15 years, I can confidently say that Spain may not be the right fit for half of the people who decide to move here. I know many expats who initially fell in love with Spain but left after a few years of living here, as there are many unspoken rules, legal complications, and cultural nuances that aren’t immediately apparent.
1. Bureaucracy
While everyone knows about bureaucracy in Spain, handling documents here is much more stressful than it might seem. When you need to renew your residence permit and there are simply no available appointments (citas) to submit your documents, it’s not just common in Spain – it’s completely normal. When I applied for Spanish nationality, I waited five years for a response – not because my application was rejected, but because there was no news. By the time I received the response letter from the government, I had already assumed my application had been lost (which is even scarier, considering I wouldn’t have been surprised if it had happened). Although I’ve heard they’ve slightly improved the process with a new law that mandates the government must respond within two years, I still don’t believe you could wait five years for a reply anywhere else in the world – if it hadn’t happened to me personally. And so it goes. When I started legally monetizing my blog, I went to the regional tax office to ask question about paying my taxes properly, and you won’t believe it – they didn’t know and suggested I reach out to their website chat bot with my doubts. It almost feels surreal as I write about it, except this is one of many similar personal stories. I don’t want to go into more examples, but the main takeaway is that if you think Spanish bureaucracy is bad, it’s even worse than you think. And this leads me to another drawback of living in Spain – work ethic.
2. Working in Spain
While everyone highlights the high unemployment rates in Spain and the difficulty in finding a stable, well-paying job, I’d say this is unfortunately just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a deeper reason for this lack of employment: starting a business in Spain is incredibly hard. It almost feels like the taxes are intentionally designed to stifle any emerging ventures, leaving only two types of jobs across the country: corporate and governmental office workers. So, of course, there will be a huge unemployment rate – no businesses means no jobs. For example, one of the parents at my daughter’s school, who used to be a business owner, is now studying to become a government office worker. What does this say about the business climate in the country, where it’s more profitable and rewarding to work from 9 to 3 and sign a few papers than to run your own business? While there are essential government jobs, like police officers, teachers, and doctors, who certainly deserve to earn more, there are far too many politicians and governmental office workers in Spain who are paid just to be there. So, I’m not sure how the job market will evolve, but for now, prospects aren’t looking good at all.
Beyond the challenge of finding a job or starting a business in Spain, there’s another important factor to consider: local work ethics. When I talk about the local mentality and how Spaniards know how to enjoy life, I don’t always mention the other side of the coin. It can be really difficult to find people in Spain who genuinely care about their work. There’s a local saying, “trabajamos para vivir y no vivimos para trabajar” (we work to live, not live to work), which sounds like a great work-life balance until you really need to get things done here. While there are hardworking people across the country who view their jobs as a calling and strive to improve every day, after 15 years of living here, I still find them more of a pleasant surprise than the norm. Most people you meet don’t seem to care much about being punctual or doing things the best way they can, and the minute before their day should be over, they are ready to open the door and run out. The Spanish “mañana” is famous for a reason, and I’m not the first to notice it. The word essentially means “tomorrow,” but in Spain, in practice, it means “maybe,” and no one really knows when or if things will get done. So, if you’re naturally a laid-back person who takes things easy, you’ll feel right at home in Spain. But if you’re a perfectionist who loves delivering on time, be prepared to live by “better late than never“.
3. Taxes and cost of living
While the cost of living in Spain can be lower than in other Northern European countries, it varies significantly depending on the region. Major cities like Madrid and Barcelona have higher living costs, and the national minimum wage is €1,323. However, taxes and living expenses can be disproportionately high compared to what an average person earns. I know people who moved to Spain with salaries around €3,000, but after paying for rent, taxes, and other expenses, they eventually moved to another place because it was difficult to maintain a decent standard of living. This situation largely depends on where you plan to live in Spain, as rental costs can differ greatly across the country. On average, Spaniards earn between €1,500 and €2,000, so if half of that goes towards rent, it’s easy to understand why many people still live with their parents due to the challenging rent-to-income ratio. Additionally, high taxes in Spain make it difficult for local businesses to survive, leading to a large black market. It’s quite common for local bars not to accept credit card payments because they don’t want to declare all of their income. As I frequently travel for work, requesting invoices in Spain is a nightmare, as people often find excuses not to provide them or simply refuse (even though, technically, this is illegal). Reporting these cases to the government usually involves dealing with bureaucracy and wasting time, since you can never be sure if there will be any results.
4. Language Barrier
I always find it adorable when friends of mine visit Spain and say it was easy getting around with English. But when you ask them where exactly they went, Barcelona pops up. While many Spaniards speak English in larger cities and tourist areas, speaking Spanish (or regional languages like Catalan, Galician, or Basque) is essential in everyday life, especially when it comes to finding jobs or dealing with official documents. Living in Spain almost comes with a ‘Spanish learning’ tag (unless you move to Benidorm). The truth is, the general level of English in the less touristy areas of the country is often very low or nonexistent. To begin with, the older generation of Spaniards didn’t even learn English – they used to learn French. These days, kids learn English in Spain from kindergarten, but even with this approach, it will take time before the general level improves.
5. Healthcare
There’s no need to go into detail about the healthcare system in Spain, as it is quite similar to that of most European countries, where long waiting times for non-urgent appointments or treatments are well-known. Although private healthcare is available, it can be expensive without insurance, and even private insurance can be costly for the average Spaniard. So, yes – if you’re in an emergency, they won’t let you die, but for everything else, the waiting times serve as a good motivation to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid getting sick. Additionally, for serious illnesses like transplants or cancer, public healthcare is considered the better option compared to private healthcare.
6. The legal system
Another significant drawback in Spain is that the legal system often does not support people who are willing to work more and earn more, or those looking to invest in property. Unfortunately, it is way easier to be a pickpocket or “ocupa” (squatter) over here, than to be wealthy. The laws regarding property protection and petty crime are weak, and somehow work against an average Spanish citizen. For example, pickpockets who steal less than €400 face minimal legal consequences, as these offenses are classified as misdemeanors rather than serious crimes. In tourist-heavy areas like Barcelona or the Costa Brava, this creates major safety issues, and the government does little to address it. Since there is no real punishment, pickpockets thrive in many of Spain’s big cities, which is frustrating for a country that hosts the World Tourism Organization and promotes itself as a top travel destination, while doing very little to ensure tourists’ smooth experience. Additionally, Spain’s situation with “ocupas” (squatters) is concerning. If you’re thinking of buying a second home in Spain, think twice. The current legal system allows squatters to occupy private property, and even when you call the police, they will not remove the intruders immediately. In many cases, the legal process to evict ”ocupas” is slow and cumbersome, taking months and leaving homeowners without protection or the ability to reclaim their property quickly. It’s absurd that you can go on holiday, return to find someone living in your home, and have to go through a lengthy and costly legal process to get them out. This lack of strong legal deterrence against both petty theft and illegal occupation undermines property rights.
Is living in Spain a good idea?
Despite its drawbacks, I still consider Spain a great place to move to – no country is perfect. Personally, the pros outweigh the cons for me when it comes to living in Spain. I hope my honest insights, after over 15 years of living here, will help you understand what to expect before considering Spain as your next home.
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For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.

- Accommodation: For short stays, I usually book via Agoda, Booking, and Hotellook
- Tours&excursions: My favorites for guided tours are GetYourGuide, Viator, and Klook
- Museums&attractions: Get mobile tickets for attractions via Tiqets (use ATC5 code for a 5% discount via this link)
- Semi-private & private tours: LivTours is my favorite place for unique & crafted experiences in Europe
- For Foodies: Eatwith is a unique platform for finding culinary experiences with locals around the world
- Audio guides: Book audio excursions & tours in 35+ countries via WeGoTrip
- Flights: Find the best deals with Skyscanner, WayAway, and Kiwi
- Driving in a new country? – Check out Tripiamo guides (do not miss Tripiamo Driving in Spain Guide)
- Train&bus tickets: Currently, I book via Trainline, Busbud, and Omio
- Car rental: To find the best deals, I use Rental Cars and Discover Cars
- Top E-Sim: GigSky helps me to avoid roaming fees and provides connectivity everywhere (even on a cruise ship)
- Internet Security on the road: Connect safely to public Wi-Fi and bypass censorship with NordVPN
- Transfers: For individual transfer services, I like GetTransfer and Kiwitaxi
- Suitcases&Luggage: Discover where to store your luggage on the go with Radical Storage
- Travel Insurance: Find the best trip insurance plans via VisitorsCoverage and EKTA
- Compensation for delayed/canceled flights: Check out AirHelp and Compensair
- Renting Bikes: To find motorcycles, scooters, quads, and bicycles, I use BikesBooking
- Package Tours: Head to CheapOair and Expedia
- For Bloggers: To monetize my blog, I work with Travelpayouts and Stay22
it’s nice you are enjoying Spain so much and that it’s so family and kid friendly! I used to (before the pandemic!) love taking my kids out to local restaurants here that would have playgrounds and activities for the kids – I can’t imagine living somewhere that wouldn’t be that supportive, it would be sad! it’s lovely you have found that support and culture there!
Hope you have a good start to your week 🙂
Thank you for sharing all of this info! I would love to be an expat somewhere!
Jennifer
Thank you for sharing the information. Wonderful blog & good post. It’s really helpful for me, waiting for more new posts. Keep Blogging!
Thanks for your kind words!
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