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
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Some paperworkRemote work, but make it Mediterranean
Duration: 1 year (renewable up to 3 years residence)
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Some paperworkSpain will let you live here — as long as you promise not to work
Duration: 1 year (renewable in 2-year cycles)
Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa
Some paperworkSpain's way of saying 'fine, we need tech workers too'
Duration: Up to 2 years (renewable)
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
Valencia
73/100Bilbao
72/100Madrid
72/100Tenerife
72/100Seville
71/100Malaga
70/100Barcelona
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
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
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, Valencia ranks #1 in Spain with a score of 73/100. City-centre rent starts around $1429/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.