Tenerife: mountains built-in, on the water, affordable by EU standards

Homicide rate: 0.9 per 100,000 (UNODC). World average is 5.8, so Tenerife is very safe by global standards. Learn the neighborhoods before signing a lease — every city has blocks you'll love and blocks you won't.

A 1-bed in the centre runs about $1217/month (Numbeo). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $19.47, monthly transit pass: $45. All in — rent, food, getting around, keeping the lights on — budget $1617–$2017/month depending on whether you cook or eat out. That's the settler number, not the tourist number.

Tenerife: Summers reach around 27°C with about 13.9 hours of daylight in Jun, winters drop to around 15°C and 10.3 hours of daylight in Dec. Comfortable summers — the kind where you argue about whether to open the window or not.

Moderate English proficiency (EF EPI). But that one word hides two very different realities: office English 63/100 (can you work in English?) and street English 38/100 (can you argue with your landlord in English?). The office is usually easier. The landlord is the real test.

Spain scores 8.1/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. Strong institutions, functional courts, free press — the kind of place where criticizing politicians is entertainment, not a risk. Rent from $1217/month.

Unemployment: 10.4%. Translation: tough. Most expats who work locally already had the job before they moved. If you're planning to job-hunt locally, research your industry before booking a one-way ticket. If you work remotely, this number matters less — but your visa type might not let you.

Depends what kind of expat you are. Key facts: rent from $1217/month; Spain Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements); moderate English proficiency means expats may need some local language. The numbers above — livability score, safety, cost of living — tell you whether the city works on paper. Whether it works for you depends on what you're optimizing for. Take the quiz if you want a more honest answer than "it's great for expats."

Spain has the Spain Digital Nomad Visa program. Duration: 1 year (renewable to 5). Requirements: Proof of remote income ≥ €2,849/mo (200% of SMI). Work must be primarily for non-Spanish clients. Doable with paperwork and patience. Budget a few weeks for bureaucracy to bureaucracy. Always verify with the official government portal — immigration rules change faster than this page updates.

Permanent residency typically takes 5 years of legal residence; citizenship eligibility after 10 years total. The usual prerequisites: proof of income, a clean criminal record, and sometimes enough local language to prove you're serious. Rules change — check with an immigration lawyer before building your five-year plan around a Reddit thread.