The Truth About Living in Spain vs the US.

Which One is Better. YOU DECIDE! In 7 Minutes.

I emigrated to Spain three years ago from the States, where I lived most of my adult life. In those three years, I learned a lot about Spain and its Mediterranean laid-back lifestyle. The lessons I will write about here are exhilarating and remarkably unusual from what you hope you read if you still believe the US is the best country or even the first world country.

Because it isn’t.

I would love to convey my praises to the writers here in the Medium who aren’t afraid to tell the truth, such as Jessica Wildfire and umair haque about the reality and quality of life in the US.

Less is More

The first thing I noticed when I moved here was that everything was less. Fewer cars, less food on your plate in the restaurant, people are earning less and spending less money, less driving.

Less energy spending and wasting, by having fewer AC conditioners, no futile lawn watering.

I am drinking from the local streams and tap water. I do not require you to buy plastic bottled water.

People save energy too by running the laundry at different times. The dryer is unheard of to have it here.

Life this way is just so often more sustainable and more simple. Less of variety in the stores. I could not understand why in the US someone needs an aisle of cereals or razors. Another consumerist waste. It is easier to decide with fewer choices, believe me.

Pedestrian is the King vs Car is the King

Oh boy, I walk a lot every day and everywhere or I use a bike. The government made most of the Spanish cities for pedestrians and bikers. Also, the public transportation which consistently runs on time.

In the worst-case scenario, you may catch a white hybrid car taxi. They are very affordable. It is a real pain to bring your car into the city. Even in the countryside, the roads are so narrow; I prefer to walk or bike.

Therefore, adieu to the cars.

I remember, the US infrastructure is predominantly created for cars, not humans, which is beyond my understanding. Now everyone is obese and sick from scarcity of walking.

In Spain, people walk a lot and it is visible. Not as many obese people or those with cardiovascular problems.

Healthcare is a Right in Spain, not a Privilege

While I lived in the States, I paid premiums and deductibles for healthcare insurance, which seemed to be insane. I worked, paid taxes and still have to pay healthcare coverage.

Then you have HMO and PPO, who choose a provider and network for you. If you go to the ER, expect to pay $2000-$3000 minimum on the top of your insurance or they can deny it.

The insurance company always finds a reason to deny you if they want because they can. They own a houseful of lawyers scripting the terms carefully, so the average person can’t understand. I know that because I worked for one of the insurance companies doing medical reviews.

Here, in Spain I have public healthcare which I pay zero and private healthcare insurance which costs 60 Euros a month with no deductibles or copay.

Public Education is far superior to the US with a bonus: No Fundraising Ever

When my daughter was in the public system in the States, I was full of disappointments and regrets. Even the best school in the State was for me the worst. The day began with the Pledge (I grew up in a communist country and we didn’t do it) with 2 hours of math, reading, and writing.

One recess of 40 minutes is permitted, including lunch. My daughter never had a textbook, just pieces of paper scanned.

Teachers always supervised the kids, not giving any sense of privacy and independence. If you would like to see your kid during the school hour, sign ins, although Americans believe in their freedom.

What kind of freedom is that?

In Spain, the schools allow kids to have more freedom and independence. And guess what? Nobody burned the school yet or had any mass shootings.

It doesn’t matter which zip code you live in; the schools are the same everywhere. It mostly depends on the student and the teacher how they perform in school.

Time is the Priority in Spain, Not Money.

Nobody asks you what do you do, ever.

While I lived in the US, everyone always asked you what do you do or who do you work for? Here, in Spain until now, nobody asked this. You can see friendships between the poor and the rich.

When I lived in the old barrio, the population was mixed. On one side, hippies and gypsies lived and on the other, the judges and wealthy expats.

The job doesn’t define you as a person; it is not part of who you are.

Time is the priority here, not the money.

Sometimes it is funny how time is money in the US. Actually, that is all you do in the US: work, sleep, and side-hustle.

Here, in Spain, it is quite the opposite. I remember, one summer day in the most tourist beautiful historical location close to the Alhambra Palace, the famous restaurant owner closed the restaurant in the middle of the busiest season. We all asked him, why did you close your restaurant during the peak visitor time? He answered, in calm voice with little smirk on his face:

“I have made my money for this month. What? How much? 1000 Euros is enough for me, now I can enjoy the beach… “

And this, my friends, is the Spanish mentality- enjoying life and having time for yourself is the true richness and the priority because time is limited for all of us.

The Fresh Food is Healthy, Delicious, and Cheaper Than a Junk Food

When I arrived in Spain, I was 35 lbs or 17kg overweight, but I lost it by eating a Mediterranean Diet and walking a lot. The fresh food is very affordable and available at every corner of the city. In the village you forge, in translation while you walk you pick up seasonal fruit and vegetables, they grow organically, everywhere and are for the public. The food tastes like food should taste. Maybe the fuits or veggiess don’t have the perfect image, but the taste is delicious. The same is for the bread, meat, and dairy products. Also, fresh food is cheaper than junk food.

Community Matters More Than Individuality

Last week, I had a hideous car accident where I lost my brakes going down the mountain road, lost control of the car, and ended up crashing 90 degrees into a cement wall. The airbags deployed, I lost my hearing. Immediately, people came to help and called the police, ambulance. The lady I forgot to ask for her name rang on my doorbell a few days ago to make sure I was ok. We didn’t exchange addresses, or even names. I was in shock, but she relentlessly asked everyone in the village to find me to make sure I was ok.

In the US, when I had a car accident, only the police car arrived. The ambulance which came to recue, slapped me with a $300 bill for 5 minutes ride to hospital. Nobody else stopped or was interested. As they say in the US; it is not my business or just the general apathy…

The classmates at school asked my daughter every day if she was okay, needs help with homework, they cheered her up with jokes.

This is a community.

Screw the American mantra of individualism. No wonder Americans are one of the most depressed nations in the world.

Kids are Playing Outdoors Instead of Being Glued to the Screens

Yes, the screens exist here too, just like everywhere else in the world. But kids still play outside, run in the village until dusk and prefer each other’s company, not the screen. When my daughter lived in the US, all she could do was screen time because everyone else was on it. Signing up for activities was super expensive. The children in the building where we lived always had nonsense activities and zero of an unsupervised time.

Here in Spain she has horse-riding, aikido, and chess. The aikido class is 15 Euros a month and the chess is free. To rent a horse and have 3 times a week private class is 300 Euros a month. Also, she can be with the horse as many days she wants because it is like hers.

Above I mentioned the most common differences in quality of life between the Spain versus the US.

You decide which quality of life you want to live but for me as a mother I definitely prefer the Spanish one. Life is too short and I want to make the best of it. No money in this world will give me my time back. But I understand that everyone has different priorities in life or don’t have a choice to leave.

Thank you for reading! Here is the sequel: