The Ultimate Family Guide: Moving to Spain

Attention anyone considering a move to Spain!

This blog will help you understand all the steps you need to take to move to Spain.

But we often hear that expat families hit a roadblock with the actual move, or finding a house, getting a visa, choosing a school, and much more.

That’s why MumAbroad has partnered with leading specialists who speak your language and can save you time and stress.

In case you get stuck, don’t hesitate to contact one of the specialists below!

The average monthly salary in Spain is now around €1,700 after taxes, based on a gross annual average of approximately €28,050. Household income per person remains below many peers — Spain’s net-adjusted disposable income per capita lags behind the OECD average. On the cost-of-living front, Expatica estimates that monthly living expenses for a single person (excluding rent) are about €1,093, while Numbeo suggests a more modest €704  for one person and €2,544 for a family of four (rent not included).

Spain offers a wide range of living costs depending on the city. Madrid and Barcelona are the most expensive, with higher rents, dining, and lifestyle costs, reflecting their status as major economic and cultural hubs. Coastal cities such as Valencia, Alicante, and Málaga tend to be more affordable while still offering excellent quality of life, good services, and plenty of sunshine. Smaller towns and inland cities like Salamanca, Valladolid, and Zaragoza often provide the most economical options, making them attractive for those seeking a lower cost of living without sacrificing access to amenities.

How Much is Rent in Spain?

Rent in Spain is highly dependent on where you live, as rent can vary drastically even between smaller towns on the coast depending on their popularity with expats. You need to bear in mind not just city size but popularity and distance to the coast when considering renting in Spain. Note: the Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca are some of the most expensive places to live in Spain.

Not all landlords will rent their apartments out year-round – especially in popular coastal destinations. This could mean inflated prices during summer months, but also low rents for winter lets even in the centre of town. This can be worthwhile when investigating destinations.

Rental prices for three-bedroom apartments in Spain vary widely depending on the city, neighbourhood, and property quality. In Torrevieja, 3-bed apartments typically range from around €700–€1,000 per month, while in Valencia, rents start at roughly €1,500 for family-sized units. Barcelona shows high variability, with listings from around €850 for more modest options to well over €3,000 in prime central areas. In Madrid, 3-bed apartments generally start at €990, with luxury or centrally located flats significantly higher. Marbella commands some of the highest prices on the southern coast, with typical 3-bed rentals around €1,700+ per month. These figures are indicative: actual rent depends heavily on factors such as proximity to the coast, amenities, renovations, and whether the apartment is targeted at long-term residents or the tourist market.

Cost of Food and Drink in Spain

According to Numbeo, the most important items of food and drink in a supermarket are cheaper in Spain compared to UK, except for cheeses and beef by the kilo. Milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, water, wine, beer and cigarettes are significantly cheaper in Spain, however Spanish people tend to drink longlife milk rather than fresh. Expatica suggest for 2025, those living in Spain are projected to spend a monthly average of €210 per person on food and non-alcoholic drinks. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant can be very affordable in Spain, averaging at €15 per head. A coffee at a coffee will cost on average €1.50-€2.00 in Madrid, compared to €4.30 in London.

According to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estadística – INE), average monthly spending in Spain comes to around €1,093 per person or €2,718 per household. This marks the highest cost of living recorded in more than a decade. You can find a more detailed breakdown on Expatica.

Taxation and Social Security in Spain

Expats living in Spain for more than 183 days in a calendar year are generally treated as Spanish tax residents and must declare their worldwide income. If your income from a single employer exceeds about €22,000 (or a lower threshold applies if you have multiple payers or foreign-source income), you’ll need to file a tax return. You’ll also need to declare if you are self-employed, earn rental income, or receive capital gains above certain thresholds.

In 2025, the thresholds on income tax in Spain are:

• Up to €12,450: 19%
• €12,450–€20,200: 24%
• €20,200–€35,200: 30%
• €35,200–€60,000: 37%
• €60,000–€300,000: 45%
• Over €300,000: 47%

These are the state-level rates. On top of these you also pay a regional (Autonomous Community) rate, which means your combined effective rate can vary significantly depending on where you live.

If you are employed in Spain, your employer is required to pay the majority of your social security contributions and deduct a smaller percentage from your monthly salary. If you are self-employed, new freelancers can benefit from the Tarifa Plana: around €80/month for the first 12 months, rising to between €200 and €590, depending on net income. You will pay VAT and an estimate of annual income tax at the end of each quarter, before either paying more or receiving tax back at the end of the financial year.

Do I Need to Learn Spanish?

Spain has some of the worst levels of English among European countries. Most foreign films and television shows are dubbed in Spain, and many services, forms and official documents will be exclusively in Spanish. Expats will struggle to carry out administrative tasks or speak to authorities without Spanish or a translator, and especially in regions without an existing expat population. Nearly half of Spanish people do not speak a second language at all, so you will undoubtedly face a language barrier at some point in Spain.

Will I struggle With Culture Shock in Spain?

In many towns and coastal areas popular with expats in Spain, you’re bound to find a community of people from your home country. It’s common to see expat shops and supermarkets stocking products from the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Morocco and South America. If you’re from the UK in particular, the Overseas Supermercados chain has English-speaking staff stocking Iceland and Waitrose-brand products on the Costa del Sol, in Almeria, on the Murcia coastline and on the Costa Blanca. The British Corner Shop also delivers over 80,000 boxes of British food products all over the world each year.

Joining a local Facebook group can also be a great way to get plugged into a region and not feel so alone. Join the MumAbroad Facebook group International Families in Spain and feel free to ask our community for the top expat Facebook groups in your area.

If you need support with administrative tasks when relocating to Spain and don’t yet speak the language, you might want to contract a company like Valencia Expat Services, Madrid Expat Services or NIE.Cat to handle Spanish-speaking administration when you arrive. They can fast-track your residency applications and business set-ups to provide the smoothest arrival possible.

American expat counselor Karen Rigatti in Milan spoke to us in an interview about how logistical problems can lead to emotional overwhelm, and the importance of setting goals to make your overseas dream come true. If you do struggle with culture shock or lose direction in your business we have a directory of therapists and coaches in Spain to set you right.

What is Spain Famous for?

Spanish is the fourth-most spoken language in the world with 580 million speakers worldwide. Spanish-speaking musicians are at the top of global streaming charts and many Spanish filmstars have won oscars, like Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and director Pedro Almodovar. Spain is prized across the world for high-quality olive oil and cured hams (jamón) which both feature in its top 10 most valuable export products. Here’s a list of other Spanish cultural exports that have reached across the world:

• Tapas. Tapas is known across the world as a style of eating with small plates of different dishes. In Spain tapas is intertwined with bar culture, where you’ll often get a free plate with each drink.
• Flamenco. Originally a style of music among gypsies in southern Spain, Flamenco is known across the world for its powerful dancing, virtuosic guitars and piercing vocals about life’s troubles.
• Paella. Paella’s home is among the rice fields of Valencia, but has spread across Spain as a popular dish combining seafood, rice, vegetables and stock in a large pan.
• Siesta. Not everyone in Spain actually goes to sleep at midday, but most banks, post offices, town hall and government or police offices will close at 2pm. Shops and services will typically shut down between 2pm and 5pm throughout the week.
• Wine. Spain has more vineyards than any other country, and is the world’s third-largest producer of wine. Popular international exports include Sherry (Jerez), sparkling Cava and red Riojas.
• Jamón. Traditional Spanish ham is known as jamón and made by dry-curing whole legs before slicing them off the bone. The most expensive jamón Iberico varieties are made strictly from acorn-fed black Iberian pigs.
• Bullfighting. Only around 8% of Spain said they attend a bullfighting event each year, but many die-hard taurinos keep the tradition alive outside of Catalonia, where it is banned. In the Valencian Community, events might send a bull loose in the town square, but do not use a matador to kill any.
• Futbol. Spain is generally football mad, especially after winning back-to-back European Championships and the FIFA World Cup between 2008-2012. Be prepared to hear the neighbours shouting whenever the regional or national team are on.
• Iglesias. Julio Iglesias is the most commercially successful continental European singer of all time, with the most records sold of any Latin singer. His son, Enrique Iglesias, holds the record of most number 1s on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs.
• History. Spain’s rich history dates back way beyond the Roman era, when soon-to-be Julius Caeser was governor. It was mostly conquered by Muslim kingdoms from the 8th century, until crusader armies began the Reconquista until driving the last kingdom from Granada in 1492. This was the same year Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World, unleashing a golden age when Spain became one of the first global empires.