Question
Anybody move permanently to Spain and wish to move back from Spain? How did that work out for you?
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
”Those people aren’t allowed access to Facebook in the asylum”
”I don’t want to leave Spain but I think I might have to. I’m autónomo and between the taxes and the monthly social security contributions (which increase significantly every year) it’s just unsustainable. I love Spain but I’m tired of just getting by”
”Starting from 0 in another country isn’t easy. I wish to be back almost everyday lol but I’m toughing it out & putting the work in to give it a shot here. You’re not alone in the homesick feeling”
”I did. I moved to Spain and after 2 years I was back to the US. The overall experience was great, but I wouldn’t live there again”
”We moved to Spain for five years and then moved back to the US. We had always intended for it to be “temporary but maybe permanent”. Got our nationalities and then we’re going back in 2020, and then Covid delayed it a year. We still wonder if it was a right decision. We have a kid in elementary school and wanted her to grow up in the US environment for a variety of reasons, but there’s also stuff here in the US that’s a lot worse, so… it’s not an easy call. Work is also a factor. Wages stink in Spain in a lot of jobs, and while I have a pension coming in from a very early retirement, my wife still has quite a few years of work life ahead of her”
”I’ve lived in Spain on a full-time basis twice in my life and during both times ended up moving back home. 1st time I was there for three years, received two offers of employment, which allowed me to apply for residency, but ultimately, things didn’t work out. Second time I lived in the north for a year, felt isolated & experienced SEVERE depression.
It took an act of God for me to find the strength to get back on my feet & now I am back home with a great salary, but EXTREMELY unhappy at my job. As s result, I’m actually considering moving back for a 3rd time but I also realize that Spain will likely never offer me the comforts I am used to back home & that opportunities in Spain are extremely limited. Do I want to be financially strapped/ always hustling in Spain to make ends meet (but with a better quality of life?) or financially secure & comfy in USA but really unhappy? Just know that there’s no easy answer & that whatever you decide, it will mean sacrificing one thing for another. I wish you the best”
”We moved to Spain to teach English in late 2020, then stayed on for a second year. Then my husband was offered full time work in France. Since ultimately our goal is to obtain EU residency, he jumped at the opportunity. I’m now working in France too, but our plan is to return to Spain on retirement. Just have to tough it out eating croissants for the new few years”
”I have lived in Spain and would say this, there are two viewpoints to consider, 1st Spain is a great place to live IF you have an independent income such as a good pension or a passive income, investment interest or similar. 2nd Work in Spain is difficult to find on any level even for indigenous people and to go there expecting to succeed is the worst view one can have.
Spanish communities will ALWAYS put their own citizens 1st and quite rightly when it comes to employment so unless you are prepared to do very menial work you’ve no chance of a reasonable lifestyle, accomodation is not cheap and the rental market is difficult especially for foreigners and the worst aspect of immigration to Spain is the language barrier, unless you are prepared to learn Spanish I would just stay home.
These observations may seem hard and negative but they are the truth, don’y come to Spain unless you have a great, long term, well paying job or a very strong financial background”
”Move back to what? Guns, the anger, the lack of safety, the STRESS, the total disregard for a woman’s right to choose, the lies of a wanna be Franco and the all the Maga nuts that support him”
”The thing to remember is that no matter where you go, you will always be you. And then set both your expectations and goals appropriately. If moving to Spain didn’t solve your problems, moving back to USA won’t solve them either. Stop running”
”I have lived in Spain for 5 years and have (for Spain) a very high paying job but am still going broke slowly. Moving back this summer with family to US. Same job in US pays over 150k more salary and much lower taxes and with that money we can keep a holiday home in Spain and fly back and forth. When we retire we will probably move back. Also we want kids to go to US universities as they give much better opportunities”
”It’s easy for people who have independent income and don’t need to work in Spain to criticize those thinking about leaving and moving back home. My advice to people is only move here if you’re financially independent and don’t need to work. Spain is also the worst country for self employment”
”I moved there for 5yrs got super depressed and wanted to leave for France but then Covid happened and I moved back… it did suck for me at least both ways. For varying reasons”
”I moved permanently with no intention of returning to the U.S. I can’t imagine dealing with health care and the overall mentality after living in Spain. Sorry, I know that doesn’t answer your question”
”There is a financial Goldilocks zone for which living in Spain makes sense. If you’re poor, Spain can’t offer you the job rewards or career that you need. If you’re well off, Spain will tax the bejesus out of you. This is why the stereotypical expat in Spain is a pensioner. I did enough time in Spain to get my PR and then hightailed it to Andorra”
”Try Costa Rica pure hell compared to the civilization of Spain”
”I was born and raised in Spain. I moved to the U.S. 17 years ago. Last year we moved back so our kids could go to school in Spain, learn the language and spend more time with my family but we always knew it was a temporary situation. We’re both young and have good, stable jobs in the U.S. We’d never be able to get those opportunities in Spain. While every country has its drawbacks, the disadvantages of living in Spain far outweigh the advantages (for us, again, young couple having to pay bills). I’m also not your typical Spaniard.
I don’t care much for going out, partying and drinking, hanging out and stuff. I love my job which I could never feel fulfilled doing in Spain and I chose my degree knowing I’d have to leave, which was fine with me since the time I was 12 or 13 years old. Spain has many positive things but it’s hard to “fit in” at times if you’re not from there, if you have an accent, if you’re from Central/South America, you’re gonna face racism and you won’t be considered for jobs, no matter how good you are at it. For us, the U.S. is the place to be. Maybe when we retire we’ll live in Spain for a few months every year but I don’t see myself ever moving back full time”
”The corruption did me in. The police are definitely not all bad. In fact I know some very nice ones, but there are so many bad ones. I’m an EU citizen and applied for residency the proper way. Did I get it? Nope. “Your papers are wrong”. This was a load of crap of course. So I went in 2 days later with a person who is a “procurer” after regular hours, saw the same idiot policeman, the customary €100 bribe was paid and suddenly and quite miraculously my paperwork was deemed correct. 10 minutes later I walked out with my residency certificate. Ridiculous! Couldn’t tolerate it there anymore”
”There are exceptions. My brother is self-employed in Spain (He lives in the south Del Sol) and is doing extremely well, client-wise and financially. I think it depends on what you do”
Conclusion
In conclusion, according to Spainguru Facebook group members, the collective experiences shared about moving to and from Spain offer a diverse range of perspectives. Some found financial strain due to taxes and limited work opportunities, while others appreciated the lifestyle but faced challenges integrating or dealing with corruption.
Ultimately, the decision to return home or stay abroad seems to depend on individual circumstances, including financial stability, career prospects, family considerations, and personal preferences. Spain’s allure for some remains strong, but for others, the drawbacks outweigh the advantages, leading them to seek opportunities elsewhere or return to their home countries.
The varied experiences of individuals who moved to Spain and then contemplated or executed a return highlight the complexity of such life decisions. For many, the allure of Spain’s culture, climate, and lifestyle is undeniable, yet practical realities like job opportunities, financial stability, and social integration play a significant role in their overall satisfaction and decision to stay or leave. These stories underscore the importance of thorough planning and realistic expectations when considering a move to a foreign country.
Furthermore, these accounts reveal a common theme: the grass is not always greener on the other side. Many who moved to Spain in search of a better life found themselves facing unexpected challenges, leading to a reassessment of their priorities and values. This serves as a reminder that relocation, especially to a different country, is a significant life event that requires careful consideration of both the potential benefits and the possible drawbacks. In the end, whether one chooses to stay in Spain or return home, it’s clear that such decisions are deeply personal and influenced by a multitude of factors, both tangible and intangible.
