Living in Spain

For foreigners living in Spain, or thinking about where to settle, the weekly food shop is a meaningful part of the cost of living. Knowing where to find the best supermarkets in Spain can make a noticeable difference to household budgets.

Madrid and Barcelona tend to dominate conversations about moving to Spain. They have bigger international communities, more direct flights and the sort of name recognition that makes a relocation shortlist feel straightforward.The 2026 Global Cities Index points in a different direction.

An urbanización in Spain is usually a planned residential development or housing community.

Life in the Balearic Islands can be wonderfully outdoorsy and sociable, but it needs a bit more planning than the holiday version suggests.

Looking for a rental in Spain can mean competing in places where overseas searches form a sizeable part of the market.

Moving to Spain with children brings a whole new vocabulary: colegio, ESO, jornada continua, concertado.

Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa allows non-EU/EEA nationals to live and work remotely from Spain for foreign companies or international clients. Who qualifies for the Digital Nomad Visa?Key requirements for the Digital Nomad VisaVisa duration & renewalDigital Nomad Visa benefitsConclusionWho qua

Spain has approved a nationwide decree on cognitive accessibility which explicitly includes migrants who do not speak Spain’s state languages among the groups it is intended to support.The royal decree, approved by the Council of Ministers on 1 September 2026, sets basic standards intended to make i

How much of your salary does Spain’s pension replace?Spain has the highest pension replacement rate among 38 countries in an OECD-based comparison, at 80.4%.

The orientation of a house matters more than it may seem. It can help reduce electricity bills by affecting not only the amount of natural light a home receives, but also indoor comfort, energy use and, ultimately, quality of life.So, is there one best house orientation?

Spain has placed 19th in Visual Capitalist’s 2026 ranking of the best countries for quality of life, ahead of Portugal, Italy and the United States.

As the 2026–2027 school year approaches, some regions in Spain have already started confirming their term dates. School calendars can be a bit of a minefield here, especially with each autonomous community setting its own schedule on top of the national holidays that everyone enjoys. While

Spain has countless gorgeous beaches that draw millions of tourists each year. They are also a magnet for international visitors.

Almería pairs dry Mediterranean weather, city conveniences and access to the Cabo de Gata coast with housing costs that remain below Spain’s larger coastal cities.What is living in Almeria like?

A red day in Spain is the everyday name for a public holiday, usually printed in red on calendars. It can affect a viewing, school plans, deliveries, train timetables and the slightly heroic task of getting paperwork done.Spain does not operate on one single holiday calendar.

Spain’s gender pay gap in hourly earnings was substantially wider for part-time employees than for full-time staff in 2023, according to figures published by the National Statistics Institute, INE.The data also show that women were more concentrated in lower salary brackets.

Spain has topped InterNations’ 2026 Quality of Life Index for the fifth consecutive year.

Spain’s population stood at a record 49.8 million residents on 1 July 2026, after increasing by 104,178 people in the second quarter.The provisional figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute, the INE, show that growth came from an increase in the foreign-born population, while the number of

Mallorca can be a brilliant place to settle into island life, particularly for people who want reliable sunshine, easy access to the sea and a proper year-round city in Palma de Mallorca. There is a sizeable international community, but day-to-day life still runs more smoothly with some Spanish or Catalan, especially beyond Palma and the resort areas. The big trade-off when living in Mallorca is housing: prices have climbed sharply, and summer traffic, seasonal crowds and limited long-term rentals can test even the most patient resident.

Pedralbes is one of Barcelona’s most expensive residential neighbourhoods, with spacious homes, leafy streets and a considerably quieter pace than the centre.

Spain has ranked 12th among the world’s 60 largest economies for international reputation in the RepCore Nations 2026 study, placing ahead of the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the United States.The study, based on public-opinion surveys in 36 countries, describes Spain’s overall reputation as

Spain sits at the top of the Rainbow Map 2026, with the highest score in Europe for LGBTI laws and policies.

If you're planning to move to Spain, accept a job offer or simply compare living costs across Europe, understanding the average salary in Spain can provide useful context.

The European Union offers several pathways for skilled professionals looking to live and work within its member states.

Arbancón, in the province of Guadalajara, is a small Spanish village that is actively looking for new residents.