Here’s WHY You Shouldn’t Move to Spain

I often get asked the same questions: Is it easy to find a job in Spain? Can I work under the Non-Lucrative Visa? If I get my Master’s degree in Spain, will it be easier to land a job afterward?

I completely understand why these questions come up—but I’ll be honest with you. If your main goal in moving to Spain is to improve your financial situation, you may be disappointed. The reality is, it’s not the best country for career-driven financial growth, and depending on where you’re coming from, the move could even add more financial stress.

If you’re moving from a country with a lower cost of living, Spain can feel especially challenging—the cost-of-living adjustment alone can put significant pressure on your finances if you’re not well-prepared.

When Spain Makes Financial Sense

There are scenarios where Spain’s lower salaries work financially:

• Remote work arrangements where you earn foreign salaries while enjoying Spanish costs
• Established professionals with significant savings who prioritize lifestyle over wealth accumulation
• Industry specialists in tourism, renewable energy, or other sectors where Spain leads
• Entrepreneurs building location-independent businesses
• Retirement-focused individuals looking to stretch savings further

But Here’s What Money Can’t Buy

On the other hand, if your reason for moving is to have better quality of life, easier travels within EU, better work-life balance, etc. then by all means, go move. I support you.

Now for the plot twist: some of the best things about Spanish life are precisely the things that don’t show up on a payslip.

Work-Life Balance That Actually Works

Spanish work culture, despite its reputation for long hours, prioritizes life outside the office in ways that would make Silicon Valley executives weep. The concept of “living to work” is largely foreign here. Instead, work enables life—not the other way around.

Lunch breaks are sacred, often lasting 1-2 hours. Colleagues actually disconnect after work hours. August vacations are non-negotiable. Evening plans with family and friends take precedence over staying late at the office just to “show dedication.”

This isn’t laziness—it’s a fundamentally different philosophy about what makes life worth living.

The Food Revolution You Didn’t Know You Needed

Spanish food culture will ruin you for everywhere else. We’re not just talking about paella and jamón (though both are exceptional). The daily ritual around food—fresh markets, long meals with actual conversation, the sophisticated understanding of ingredients and seasonality—transforms how you relate to eating.

Breakfast isn’t grabbed on the run; it’s café con leche and tostada con tomate at the neighborhood bar where the owner knows your name. Lunch isn’t sad desk salad; it’s a proper meal with wine and conversation. Dinner happens late because life isn’t rushing toward bed after a day survived—it’s celebrating another day lived.

The Mediterranean diet isn’t a trendy eating plan here; it’s just life. Olive oil flows freely, vegetables are actually flavorful, and fish is so fresh it might have been swimming that morning.

Healthcare Without Bankruptcy

Spain’s healthcare system is consistently ranked among the world’s best. Universal coverage means medical emergencies won’t destroy your financial future, something Americans pay hundreds of thousands more in lifetime earnings to worry about.

Regular check-ups, specialists, prescriptions, even major surgeries—all covered. The peace of mind alone is worth considering when calculating true compensation.

Community Over Competition

Spanish social culture prioritizes community bonds over individual achievement in ways that can be initially jarring for Americans or Northern Europeans. Your neighbors actually know you. Local shopkeepers remember your preferences. Social connections are cultivated slowly but run deep.

The concept of “networking” as a professional strategy barely exists because relationships are genuine, not transactional. You’ll find yourself invited to family celebrations by people you’ve known for months, not years.

Climate as a Quality of Life Multiplier

Three hundred days of sunshine annually isn’t just a tourism slogan—it’s a mental health intervention. The ability to have breakfast on a terrace in January, to walk everywhere instead of driving, to live outdoors for most of the year, creates a different relationship with daily life.

Seasonal depression becomes largely irrelevant. Exercise happens naturally through walking, not gym memberships. Vitamin D deficiency disappears. The simple pleasure of warm sun on your skin becomes a daily occurrence rather than a vacation memory.

The Real Question

The choice isn’t really about money—it’s about what you value. If accumulating wealth quickly is your priority, Spain probably isn’t your answer. Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, or even staying in the US might serve you better financially.

But if you’re exhausted by hustle culture, if you want to remember what it feels like to enjoy food instead of consuming fuel, if you’re curious about a society that prioritizes relationships over revenue, Spain offers something increasingly rare: permission to live differently.

The irony is that many people spend their highest-earning years accumulating money to eventually afford the lifestyle that Spain offers naturally—time with family, excellent food, strong communities, beautiful surroundings, and the pace to actually enjoy it all.

Making the Decision

Before you book that one-way ticket or dismiss Spain entirely, consider this framework:

Choose Spain if:

• Work-life balance matters more than salary maximization
• You value daily quality of life over long-term wealth accumulation
• Food, climate, and community are priorities
• You have remote work options or savings to cushion the transition
• You’re seeking a fundamentally different approach to living

Don’t choose Spain if:

• You’re in aggressive wealth-building mode
• Career advancement and salary growth are primary goals
• You need higher purchasing power for family obligations or debt
• You’re not prepared for bureaucratic challenges and cultural adjustment
• You expect Northern European salaries with Mediterranean lifestyle

Spain won’t make you rich, but it might make you wealthy in ways that matter more than you currently realize. The question is: what kind of wealth are you actually seeking?