13 Reasons Why Moving To Spain Is A Great Idea

Spain is the only country that I was searching for and provides the best quality of life attainable.

My journey and life in Spain began nearly four years ago, and I’m pleased I picked Andalusia, Spain as my home. The time has come to a halt here, and the scenery is magnificent. You can truly live your life to the fullest. Little did I know Spain would captivate my heart, and I would call it my new home.

In December, I published 5 Reasons Not to Move to Spain, I did not know this article would be so well received. The article has gotten over 12.8K views and 75 comments as of this writing.

I wanted to show the reader the other side of life here; for a few, it may be negative. Everything depends on perspective, and everyone has different priorities and expectations in life.

For some, slow life is what they are looking for, but for others, it is a nightmare.

Now, I wrote about 13 reasons why you should move to Spain. It is not to confuse you but to give you a perspective from both sides of the same issue.

Moving to a different country is all about perspective; sometimes you have to look not only for the good but bad as well in every experience no matter how hard it is.

Affordability with high quality of life

For me, “affordable” means saving at least 35% of your monthly income without thinking about it because even after all the activities and expenses you paid, your bank account is still shocking you at the end of the month because it looks great.

Since we moved to Spain, I do not use credit cards ever, only cash and we can still save 45% of the income. Our expenses are below 1500 euros a month and that includes skiing lessons, horseback riding, or eating out. That is what I mean by affordable with high quality of life.

While we lived in the States, no matter how much we worked, we could barely save 10% or less and we used credit cards a lot. Also, we couldn’t afford horseback riding classes, skiing, or eating out (more than here in Spain). None of that.

It is much cheaper to buy groceries and daily life stuff than it was here in the US. It’s also very cheap to eat out at restaurants with menus for only $12 or less. A bottle of wine starts from $2 and a full-course meal will cost you around $20.

I love living in Granada because it is so much cheaper than living in the US and I can afford to take my daughter to nice restaurants, museums, and other activities.

People are Friendly

If you are coming from the US or Canada, you notice that people are very laid back here in Spain. They are more patient and they enjoy life more.

People here are very kind.

There was a time when the motorcyclist ran me over, and I tumbled on the street, where several people helped me to get back on my feet. The lady even scolded him, asking why he wasn’t more cautious; he nearly killed me. The guy was remorseful and regretted what had happened.

In Granada, people are friendly and you can even make friends with the shop owners. I love going to the market to buy some fresh vegetables or fruits and visiting book shops. I have so much fun. It is an enjoyable experience because the sellers here are smiling and very helpful.

In Granada, people spend time with friends after work and on weekends, so they do not seem as stressed as their North American counterparts.

Safety

Spain is a very safe country; it is much safer than many countries in the Western world.

The crime rate here in Spain is almost nonexistent compared to other parts of Europe or North America.

Slow Life

When I came to Spain my first year, it was exhausting for me because I had lived in the US for two decades and was used to just going, going, going.

I was not used to having no stress in life and living at the pace of the locals. It took me a couple of months to adjust, but now I can say that I am thrilled with my life here in Granada.

People are not in a hurry here; they are not stressed out at all. It is true, some people work very hard to earn enough money to live comfortably, but the amount of stress that North Americans have daily does not exist here.

For some, they never get used to a slow life, but for me, who was burned out and stressed, that was refreshing.

Of course, I live in a small town and in the countryside. The big cities such as Madrid or Barcelona have different paces of life.

Friendships and Social Life

You know it is easier to make friends here than in North America. I love my new life here and the surrounding people. When I arrived here, people asked for my phone numbers to meet and we exchanged numbers. But I didn’t think they would call, but they did.

In the US, people will promise they will call, meet, and then…crickets, you never heard from them. Even if you agree to meet, they may cancel you at the last minute. This doesn’t happen here.

Here, you can talk to strangers at the bar or street and it isn’t weird at all. People are not individualistic, everyone is noticing the other person. People stare at each other. In the village ( I live in the village 20 minutes from Granada city), you must greet the elderly. It is rude not to greet them. A seller from the fish market yells at you HOLA CHICA!!! QUE TAL? from afar.

Food

I love the food here; it is very flavorful. The vast majority of the products are organic. Especially here in the village, Guejar Sierra. The best thing about living in the village is the ability to pick your mushrooms, figs, or grapes that are all-natural, organic, and delicious. I pick my veggies as well.

The seafood market is one of the freshest and most diverse I’ve ever seen, and it’s also very cost-effective.

If you are a vegetarian, you will have a hard time living in Granada because the diet comprises meat, vegetables, cheese, and desserts. But you can easily find vegetarian restaurants, but they are not that common.

Free Time

In the US, people do not have time to relax and be with their families. In Spain, people have a lot of free time compared to North Americans, so they spend it with friends and family.

Americans spend their time at work, mostly. Also, after work, they either go to the gym or work on their side hustle. This word “side hustle” doesn’t even exist here.

Beach and Ski Resort

There are beautiful beaches in only 40 minutes from Granada that you can visit. We also have ski resorts which are very popular during wintertime.

I went skiing in the Sierra Nevada last year with my daughter. It was just magical, with all the snow everywhere and warm sun.

The resort was affordable, and it was easy to get there by taking a bus or car. The weather is fantastic except for August when it can get hot, but usually not that bad after all.

Transportation

Granada is a small city, so it is easy to get around by walking. Walking in Granada is faster than driving with all the one-way streets. I love walking there on the weekends because it is close to my home — the village, I live in. Also, you stay in shape.

Education

I think that the cost of education is different depending on where you live.

In Madrid, for example, people pay around 1000 euros every month to send their children to a private school. In Granada it is 300–500 Euros a month.

Also, the free public education system in Spain is not as bad and under-funded as in the US. Here, the zip code for quality education doesn’t exist. Yes, you may meet better or worse teachers in the school system but the curriculum is the same across the country.

European University Systems

European universities differ from American ones. People that I know in the US spend around $300k or more for their kids’ education over 4 years, not in Spain.

For example, you need to pass many exams to get into the university and most students do not graduate in 4 years but in for 5–6 years because there are no tuition fees here.

I think it is much easier for European students to enter the workforce without having enormous debts weighing on their shoulders. Yes, they earn less but spend even less.

However, Americans are more aggressive and complain a lot regarding their studies, whereas Europeans know how demanding their courses can be and most of them try to finish fast so they can enjoy the rest of their time.

Universal Healthcare

In the US, people do not have a universal healthcare system and I think that this is one reason why many Americans cannot afford to go to the doctor or a hospital. The US healthcare system is for profit, not because of illegal immigrants not paying for it, as some Americans believe.

People in Spain do not have to worry about their insurance because it is included in their social security or they do have private insurers and hospitals for people who can afford it. It is relatively cheap, $80 per month per person, everything included.

No deductibles, or copays.

You can’t imagine how liberating it is to go to the emergency room and not have to worry about paying a large sum of money later on.

Also, the Spanish healthcare system is one of the best in the world and Spaniards are considered the healthiest.

Free-roaming children

Another feature of living here is the freedom it allows my daughter. She is 12 years old and rides the bus and taxi on her own. She can walk anywhere, since I am confident she is safe.

Kids are free here and they learn quickly independence which is an important life skill. No more chaperoning her in the car. In the US, many children live in their homes, in cars, go to school, take part in after-school programs, or run errands. They walk nowhere. For me, that isn’t childhood at all.

Therefore, children should climb trees, and run outside. A child’s childhood does not begin or end with the birth of an electronic device or whether it’s delivered by car to activities. That is how I look at childhood.

History

Spain is a beautiful country with a long history and many traditions. There are many things that you can do here, from snowboarding in the Pyrenees to going on boat trips or visiting museums in Madrid.

I love living in Granada because it is very peaceful. There are so many beautiful places to visit nearby, especially the Alhambra, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Europe.

There are many churches, squares, and restaurants that you can visit to get a better idea of Spanish culture and history. I love walking around the cobbled streets at night with my friends or even on my own because it is so peaceful.

Granada is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. It is like a fairytale world there; you feel you are living in a different era. For me, Spain is the only country that I was searching for and provides the best quality of life attainable.

Disclaimer: I describe my experiences from Andalucia, Spain. It may differ from the other Spanish regions.

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