Question
Is there anything American Expats in Spain miss about the U.S. that you didn’t anticipate?
Answers
These are the answers from Spain Immigration and Residency Questions – SpainGuru.es members:
“I miss masterplanned communities. We live in a house in the suburbs and while it’s nice, it’s not pristine, clean, graffiti-less, and trash-free like some gated communities in the U.S. My Spanish husband even says that’s one thing the U.S. has that he really likes.”
“I miss crappy masterplanned communities where all the homes look exactly the same and some prick on the HOA sends me letters monthly because I left my garage door open for 20 minutes.”
“I actually miss being in an HOA. We don’t have one here and it’s riddled with dog poop, graffiti, mismatched paint colors, rusted mailboxes, weeds, chipping paint, cockroaches, and trash. Amazing how dirty people are without rules.”
“I miss the huge selection of English-language books and how easy it is to get them. I’ve found a couple of English bookstores here, but it’s not the same.”
“I miss Homegoods and TJ Maxx, but I’ve also found amazing fashion here so I can live without them.”
“I miss how bureaucracy works so much better in the U.S.”
“I miss having a good, dynamic economy where you can easily find a job or start a business. Spain isn’t great for career advancement in most fields.”
“I miss having a dryer, bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwiches, dill pickles, and Chipotle.”
“I miss American-style bars — dim lighting, classic rock, and that beer-and-bleach smell.”
“I miss hot sauces like Texas Pete, Cholula, and Valentina. Some are available here, but not the same.”
“I miss good Mexican food. Even just having jarred salsa easily available in grocery stores.”
“I miss thrift stores like Salvation Army, especially for home décor finds.”
“I miss Pure Leaf unsweetened iced tea, unlimited refills at restaurants, and wide parking spaces.”
“I miss sour cream, Chick-fil-A, and Tums.”
“I miss certain junk foods like Hot Cheetos, Lawry’s seasoning, and soft, fluffy towels.”
“I miss garbage disposals in the kitchen sink.”
“I miss a good pastrami sandwich, Chinese-American chicken and broccoli, chili, and proper BBQ hot dogs.”
“I miss grape jelly for PB&J sandwiches, that fall feeling, and football season.”
“I miss national parks, camping, and wider roads.”
“I miss breakfast at diners — the booths, the huge menus, bottomless coffee, and pie.”
“I miss good customer service, credit card points, and ranch dressing.”
“I miss the convenience of U.S. grocery stores, big malls, and local hardware stores.”
“I miss peanut butter that tastes right, good craft beer variety, and bagels.”
“I miss pickles, fountain drinks, and 24/7 convenience stores.”
“I miss good quality Asian groceries and a wide range of Asian food options.”
Conclusion
From this lively conversation, it’s clear that American expats in Spain often miss very specific comforts from the U.S., many of which they didn’t anticipate before moving. These range from neighborhood aesthetics like masterplanned communities, to everyday conveniences such as dryers, garbage disposals, and wider parking spaces.
Food is one of the most common themes, with many missing regional favorites like Mexican food, hot sauce brands, pastrami sandwiches, bagels, and certain snack foods. Others long for the ease of finding specialty items, the abundance of thrift stores, and U.S.-style customer service.
While life in Spain offers many advantages, the experiences shared show that adjusting means accepting trade-offs. For those considering the move, it’s worth reflecting on what small comforts matter most to you, as they may become the things you unexpectedly miss the most about the U.S. This article is based on personal opinions from the Spainguru community and is not legal advice.
Most Missed Things by American Expats in Spain
| Category | Item |
|---|---|
| Food & Drinks | Mexican food |
| Hot sauces (Texas Pete, Cholula, Valentina) | |
| Bacon and breakfast sandwiches | |
| Pastrami sandwiches | |
| Bagels | |
| Dill pickles | |
| Grape jelly for PB&J | |
| American-style hot dogs | |
| Craft beer variety | |
| Asian groceries and food | |
| Peanut butter | |
| Sour cream | |
| Thick-cut bacon | |
| Fountain drinks & 24/7 convenience stores | |
| Lawry’s seasoning | |
| Chick-fil-A | |
| Tamales | |
| American bar atmosphere | |
| Q39 BBQ sauce | |
| Home & Amenities | Dryer for clothes |
| Garbage disposal | |
| Masterplanned communities / HOAs | |
| Wider parking spaces | |
| Fluffy towels | |
| Central AC | |
| Wide roads | |
| Thrift stores | |
| Hardware stores | |
| Larger houses | |
| Services & Lifestyle | Customer service |
| Credit card points | |
| Efficient bureaucracy | |
| Dynamic job market | |
| National parks | |
| Camping | |
| Diners with bottomless coffee and pie | |
| Variety of spices and condiments | |
| Unlimited drink refills in restaurants | |
| American-style malls | |
| Local hardware stores |
