Discover the Best Destinations for Expats in Spain
Spain, the second-largest country in Europe, smaller only than France, offers an abundance of historical sights, a rich local culture, and modern city life, attracting tourists, students, and expats alike. Many people dream of moving to Spain, but which are the best Spanish cities to move to, based on your needs?
What job opportunities can you look for, how much it costs to live, and what things to do in the city are among our top considerations when creating our list of the best places to live in Spain.
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What Do Expats Typically Do For a Living in Spain?
Since the recession in 2009, Spain’s economic situation has gotten significantly worse, with the Spanish unemployment rate plummeting in 2010 to almost 20%, and now in 2020, reaching 13% of the population.
However, there are still job opportunities in Spain for qualified workers across the hospitality industry, marketing, IT, and construction.
A big advantage to finding work in Spain is knowing Spanish. Strictly English-speaking jobs are hard to come by unless you are moving to Spain to teach English.
The allure of living in a place with a sunny Mediterranean climate, friendly people everywhere, and delicious food makes Spain one of the top expat destinations in the world.
Expats tend to prefer living in southern Spain for its sunny days and year-round little rainfall. That said, two cities on our list, Madrid and Barcelona, are not located in the south of Spain.
Madrid
It should come as no surprise that Spain’s capital city makes the top of this list.
As the country’s largest financial hub and political center, Madrid also offers top-class nightlife and art scenes, sightseeing, and educational opportunities for expat families. It’s also one of the most popular cities for expats to live in.
Madrid is often described as an “elegant” city, thanks to its boulevards and neat parks, such as El Retiro or Sabatini Gardens, situated around the city, the Royal Palace of Madrid, and Plaza Mayor, among other rich architectural sites.
In terms of cost of living, renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city center can cost you anywhere between 鈧�750 and 鈧�1200 euros per month. The average salary in Madrid is approximately 鈧�1625 euros per month.
Valencia
Valencia, another southern city, is the third-largest city in Spain after Barcelona and Madrid.
It is known for its City of Arts and Sciences, a cultural and architectural complex featuring futuristic structures, including a planetarium, an oceanarium, and an interactive museum.
It is also known for “La Tomatina” – the tomato fight or tomato-throwing festival! La Tomatina is a huge tourist attraction, and it’s held in Bunol, located approximately 35 minutes’ drive from Valencia.
Let’s not forget Valencia’s famous nightlife, the majority of the city’s historical sights, and, of course, its beautiful beaches where you can relax on the weekends.
Renting a 1-bedroom apartment in Valencia’s city center can cost you anywhere from 鈧�600 to 鈧�950 euros per month, with the average salary in Valencia being approximately 鈧�1415 euros.
Barcelona
Barcelona is yet another top expat city in Spain, and what makes it even more unique than Madrid is that, besides all that the capital has to offer, Barcelona beats it with a beach life / big city life.
With the famous Park G眉ell, Sagrada Familia, and other sites designed by Gaud铆 to visit and enjoy, living in Barcelona can offer blissful evenings and exciting weekends after a work week’s stresses.
Considered an art and cultural city, Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, an autonomous region where Catalan and Spanish are spoken.
The cost of living here is very similar to that in Madrid. For a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center, you can expect to pay between 鈧�800 and 鈧�1100 euros per month. However, the average salary in Barcelona is slightly lower: 鈧�1455 euros per month.
Seville, near the Portuguese border, is less than an hour’s drive from either the coast or the mountains, making it ideal for those who like to enjoy both.
While also famous for its Cathedral, the third-largest church in the world and the largest Gothic church, and as a resting place of Cristopher Columbus, Seville is not as touristy as Barcelona, Valencia, or Madrid.
As the capital of Andalusia, Seville is also famous for Flamenco dance and delicious tapas, offering expats a sense of bustling city life in a relatively small city.
With life in a smaller city comes lower costs and a lower salary. Seville’s median salary is about 鈧�1270, while renting a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs between 鈧�550 and 鈧�800.
Majorca
Majorca, part of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is mainly known for beach resorts, golf clubs, an amazing nightclub scene, and its nine Michelin-starred restaurants.
Offering a holiday-style of living, Palma de Mallorca, or any place in Majorca, is an excellent place for retiring, digital nomads, or those looking for a career in the hospitality industry.
In this part of Spain, the weather is beautiful most of the year, with relatively mild winters, too, meaning that life here mainly happens outdoors, making it a friendly and social place to live.
Majorca also offers a more local lifestyle than the bigger cities, and life here seems more relaxed – as it should in a top holiday spot in Spain.
A 1-bedroom apartment in Palma de Mallorca’s city center can cost between 鈧�750 and 鈧�110 euros per month, while a 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center costs 鈧�500-鈧�900 euros.
The average salary in Palma de Mallorca is around 鈧�1280 euros per month, and most jobs in the city and on the island are in the tourism industry.
In the end, it is ultimately up to you what you like in a place you live. Some people like the bustling vibe of big cities; others prefer a more resort-style lifestyle in warmer Southern places.
The amazing thing about Spain is that it offers something for everyone.
Choosing the right place to live in Spain ultimately depends on your lifestyle, career goals, and personal preferences.
Larger cities like Madrid and Barcelona offer strong job markets, international communities, and endless cultural experiences, but they also come with higher living costs and a faster pace of life.
If you prefer a more relaxed lifestyle, cities such as Valencia, Seville, or Majorca may be a better fit, offering warmer weather, lower costs, and a stronger connection to local traditions.
These destinations are especially popular among retirees, digital nomads, and those working in tourism or hospitality.
It鈥檚 also important to consider language, as Spanish (and in some regions, Catalan) is widely spoken and often essential for long-term integration and job opportunities.
Ultimately, Spain offers something for everyone, from vibrant metropolitan living to laid-back coastal escapes, making it one of Europe鈥檚 most attractive destinations for expats.
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