We recently reported that the number of Americans living in Spain soared by 10,000 in two years according to official data, so were curious to find out the motivations behind why so many US citizens are choosing to move here.
To do this, we sent out a survey to find out exactly why you’re moving here in such large numbers and the most challenging part of the move.
By far the most popular response, with over half stating it as the main reason behind moving from the States, was the political situation there, particular the policies of the new Trump administration.
“The political divide runs through every aspect of American life, and it puts everyone in fight mode all the time”, explained Meredith Mason who moved to Zaragoza in 2023.
“Very sad to see how the fabric of the U.S. society has fallen apart”, agreed Jim G, a retiree who moved here in 2020.
“I don’t relate to the type of people that are populating so much of the USA. There are too many greedy, immoral, and ignorant people in charge of my life,” explained John Shields, who moved to Sitges near Barcelona from California in 2023.
Several people also stated that as a result of the political situation, the US has become a more dangerous place for the LGBTQ community and people of colour.
“[We] see no bright future for the US or for gay people in the US (and we are gay). Just terrified,” said one reader who preferred not to be named.
This specifically ties in with another important motivation for move, which was safety. Not only did LGBTQ and people of colour feel safer away from the States, but others did in general due to the amount of gun violence there and other crimes there.
READ ALSO: Crime in Spain is different to the US, particularly if you’re a woman
“The primary reason we moved was Trump’s ascendency and the loss of democracy. Other reasons include the rise of mass shootings and the anger and chaos of the MAGA right-wing that permeates the streets of almost every city”, explained Randall Elrod who moved in Barcelona in 2023.
EXPLAINED: How Americans can move to Spain
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Many respondents also said they believed that Spain provided them with a better quality of life than back home in the US.
One reader who moved to Valencia explained Spain had a “Better quality of life than available in the US. This includes… Numerous cultural events (many within walking distance). Excellent transportation options (so no need for car and its expenses). Moderate climate (with no freezing temperatures) that permits year-round outdoor activities”.
Other readers agreed saying that they have a better quality of life they did back home and this was one of the main aspects that attracted them to Spain, being able to walk more and afford a better lifestyle.
READ MORE: Why life in Spain is better than in the US, according to Americans
Of course, the cost of living was also a big motivation since it’s a lot lower than in the US. Most people citing this as one of the main factors for moving were unsurprisingly retirees who could either afford to retire early due to the lower costs, or simply make their pensions go a lot further.
This was also a factor for some people who had moved here on the Digital Nomad Visa, as their US salary would allow them to live a lot more comfortably here.
Seventy-year-old American Gary, who now lives in Alicante, told The Local that living in Spain actually allows him to save money.
Lawrence from Los Angeles added that: “I moved to Madrid to use it as a base to see Spain and Europe, also for the lower cost of living”.
READ ALSO: The only visa Brits and Americans can now apply for to retire to Spain
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The cost of healthcare also tied into the quality of life for many respondents.
“We were concerned about the cost of healthcare,” explained Randall Linke, aged 69, who moved to Granada in 2021.
Another American reader who moved to Valencia told The Local that Spain has a “First class health care system without exorbitant costs and financial insecurities”.
READ MORE: How does Spain’s healthcare system compare with the US?
American John Johnston, who now lives in Marbella, also believes that the “quality private health care” is better in Spain.
A sense of adventure, culture and the ability to be close to the rest of Europe to do a lot of travelling were other important motivators.
Other reasons were more personal – the fact that they’d had ancestors from Spain, or they wanted to be nearer children or grandchildren either living in Spain or somewhere else in Europe. A couple of readers also moved for love in order to be with a partner from here or another EU country.
READ ALSO: I’ve got a Spanish surname – Can I get Spanish citizenship?
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While all these are positive reasons, moving to Spain isn’t without its challenges and most people have had to get used to new ways of doing things, some of which can be frustrating.
Unsurprisingly, the bane of almost everyone’s life in Spain, also caused the most issues for Americans – yes it’s of course the country’s infamous bureaucracy.
READ ALSO: The essential A to Z guide to bureaucracy in Spain
Over half of those surveyed complained of complicated visa application processes that took a very long time, lots of paperwork when moving, trouble applying for appointments online and getting used to new complex ways of doing things here.
READ ALSO: Why is it so hard to get an appointment at some of Spain’s foreigner offices?
Others who came on the digital nomad visa complained about the autónomo or self-employment system.
Reader Jim G summed it up when he wrote: “Cita previa(s). Wrong and inconsistent information provided by Valencia government workers. And did I say Cita Previa(s)?”.
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Another of the biggest challenges for Americans was finding somewhere to rent. Spain is in the midst of a serious housing crisis, where there’s simply not enough accommodation available and those that are available to unaffordable for most locals.
READ ALSO: Your essential guide to renting in Spain
Foreigners are also finding it difficult to rent because most real estate agencies or landlords will only accept those who can prove income with a contract from a Spanish company.
Brett Formosa, who moved to Madrid from New York, explained: “Finding a place to live was challenging as real estate agents really didn’t respond to us. We ended up renting from a short-term rental company which had pros and cons”.
Valencia resident Eric Kenney agreed: “Finding a place to rent was our biggest challenge. A lot of places won’t rent to people with foreign or investment incomes”.
“Finding an apartment was a bit challenging – prices have gone up significantly in the past 2 years, and there isn’t a lot of availability outside of holiday rentals”, explained Dayna Rubalcava, who also moved to Valencia.
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Lastly, a major challenge was learning the language. Some people move to Spain assuming that many locals will speak English because of the amount of tourism here, but the reality is that’s really only in hospitality businesses. If you need to go through any bureaucratic processes, see a doctor or hire someone to fix something in your home, you will need Spanish or another local language such as Catalan in Catalonia.
Of course, it goes without saying that if you want to integrate into the local community and make friends with Spaniards, this is also essential.
Randall Elrod explained “The language barrier and the lack of competent English-speaking doctors are frustrating”.
READ ALSO: Can doctors in Spain refuse to treat patients who don’t speak Spanish?
“The language is the most challenging thing,” agreed Chris Salvo, who lives in Seville.
“Learning the language is the hardest step for me. Even after a year here in Spain – with some formal classes – I only know enough Spanish to order in a restaurant, go shopping, and make chit-chat about the weather, work, and hobbies. It’s a longer process than most people from the U.S. realise”, Meredith Mason warned.
Despite these challenges, more and more Americans are choosing to move to Spain every month, and from the responses our American readers have provided us, it seems that a better quality of life, safety, a lower cost of living and better healthcare systems, and no Trump far outweigh those issues.
