Move to Spain
7 cities, one country, zero sugar-coating. Residency paths, real costs, and whether the government will leave you alone.
Spain at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Every route into Spain we've verified against official sources — not just the one your recruiter knows about. Set your passport to sort these by what you can actually use.
Just walk in
Treaty rights. The right passport is the entire application.
PR in ~5y
Get hired
An employer with a payroll does most of the paperwork.
$3,600/mo income · 1–2 mo · PR in ~2y
$4,400/mo income · 1–3 mo · PR in ~5y
Keep your job, move your desk
Remote income from a foreign employer, papers from the destination.
$3,138/mo income · 3–7 mo · PR in ~5y
Live off what you already have
Pensions, dividends, rent — money that arrives without you working.
$3,130/mo income · 3–6 mo · PR in ~5y
Join family
A spouse, parent, or child already there sponsors you in.
1–6 mo · PR in ~5y
Protection
For when the move isn't a lifestyle choice.
0–1 mo · no PR track
Tax perks once you're in
Not routes into Spain — optimizations you apply for after you're already resident through one of the routes above.
5 years
to permanent residency
10 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Requires the CCSE constitutional knowledge exam. DELE A2 Spanish required for non-Ibero-American nationals (Ibero-Americans exempt since 2025). 10 years residency — reduced to 2 for Latin Americans.
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Spouse can work in any job or self-employ once they receive their TIE residence card.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in Spain
7 cities ranked by Livability Score — the one number that rolls up rent, safety, democracy, and internet
Bilbao
73/100Valencia
73/100Madrid
72/100Seville
72/100Tenerife
72/100Malaga
71/100Barcelona
69/100What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$1,712
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 7 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$57,965
GDP per capita (PPP)
25%
Corporate tax
10.4%
Unemployment
2.8%
Inflation
Moderate inequality — some neighborhoods will feel like different countries.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
8.13/10
🏛️ Full democracy
90
/100Freedom House score
#25 of 163
Global Peace Index
#23
Press freedom rank
Do they want you here?
How the locals feel about people who moved in — public sentiment, not immigration law
7.4
/9↑Gallup Migrant Acceptance Index — #19 of 140. Last asked in 2016.
Warming up, slowly — "allow no immigrants" down 8pp, 2014–2023 (European Social Survey)
Is Spain safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Safe enough to stop thinking about it. Standard urban awareness applies.
Safest tracked city: Madrid (0.6 per 100k)
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Spanish
Primary language
Moderate
English proficiency (#36 globally)
English won't carry you far here. Learning Spanish isn't optional — it's the price of admission.
❓ Moving to Spain — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Spain?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Bilbao ranks #1 in Spain with a score of 73/100. City-centre rent starts around $1259/month.
How much does it cost to live in Spain?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $980 to $1712/month across our 7 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $3,090.
How do I get permanent residency in Spain?▾
The path to permanent residency in Spain typically takes 5 years. Citizenship is possible after 10 years. Note: Requires the CCSE constitutional knowledge exam. DELE A2 Spanish required for non-Ibero-American nationals (Ibero-Americans exempt since 2025). 10 years residency — reduced to 2 for Latin Americans.
Is Spain a democracy?▾
Spain scores 8.13/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Full democracy." It ranks #25 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Spain safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Spain is 0.7 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.