Looking for American Expats in Spain?

Thinking about moving to Spain as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what an American expats in Spain wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• The weather and lifestyle are the big draw. Sunshine and an easy pace come up more than anything, and 89% of expats in Spain rate the climate and weather positively, against 58% globally.

• Healthcare is excellent and affordable. 80% rate healthcare affordability positively (vs. 61% globally) and 83% rate the quality of medical care positively.

• Culture, food, and the outdoors are everywhere. Spain scores 87% for culinary variety, 83% for culture and nightlife, and 89% for recreational sports.

• It's welcoming and easy to settle. Locals rate friendly (77%), the cost of living is manageable (55%), and Spanish is among the easier languages to pick up (54% say it's easy to learn).

• Bureaucracy is the biggest gripe by far. Red tape dominates the answers, and just 26% of expats in Spain find it easy to deal with local authorities, against 38% globally.

• Jobs and salaries disappoint. Only 27% rate the local job market positively and 37% say the move improved their career prospects (vs. 55% globally).

• Housing is tight in the popular cities. Just 29% rate housing affordability positively as demand pushes prices up.

• Some cultural habits take adjusting. Late hours, slow service, and shops closing midday come up as everyday quirks to get used to.

For Americans, Spain is close to the dream: sunshine, food, healthcare, and an easy, welcoming pace of life. The trade-offs are bureaucracy and a weak job market, so it suits remote workers, retirees, and anyone who values lifestyle over career momentum.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

Of course, expat living in Spain is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Spanish way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in Spain, residing in Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in Madrid or Americans in Barcelona.

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in Spain.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our Spain Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get stuffed turkey in Barcelona.
• Search the InterNations Places database for Spain to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.

From the amazing beaches of the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz to the thriving capital, the vibrant Catalonian coastal city of Barcelona, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in Spain.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in Spain. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Spanish paella, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Madrid’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see the medieval Arab neighbourhoods and palaces of Granada as well as other beautiful landmarks in Spain.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in Spain!