Last Updated on June 12, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Few topics spark as much honest debate as moving to Spain. A recent discussion in a Spainguru Facebook group started with one member pushing back against a popular online narrative: the idea that foreigners who love Spain are simply privileged people enjoying a “curated postcard version” of the country, while only locals understand the “real Spain.”
What followed was a long, layered conversation about what moving to Spain actually means, who does it, and why. Members weighed in on salaries, safety, healthcare, housing, history, language, and the emotional trade-offs that come with leaving one home for another. This article gathers those perspectives into a single resource for anyone weighing the same decision.
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →Below you will find the original comment, the most substantive replies from the community, and a structured breakdown of the recurring themes. The goal is not to declare a winner, but to show the full picture of what people really think about moving to Spain.
The Original Comment About Moving to Spain
The discussion was opened by a member who said the comment was written with AI assistance, used to organize their own thoughts. Here is the original comment, with identifying details removed:
“I keep seeing this strange narrative online that foreigners who love Spain are just privileged people consuming a ‘curated postcard version’ of the country while locals supposedly understand the ‘real Spain.’ Honestly, I think this perspective is deeply flawed and increasingly shaped by internet cynicism masquerading as sophistication.
Yes, Spain has real problems: lower salaries, youth unemployment, bureaucracy, housing pressures, reliance on family support systems. But these are not uniquely Spanish problems. Much of the developed world is struggling with wage stagnation, delayed independence, precarious work, and rising cost of living. Americans are increasingly living with parents longer too, just often inside far more isolated, car-dependent, socially fragmented systems.
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Explore Cities →What many foreigners are responding to in Spain is not fantasy. It’s the fact that despite economic challenges, many parts of Spain still retain things that have been severely eroded elsewhere: strong public social life, walkable communities, intergenerational connection, visible daily human interaction, less extreme work obsession, slower rhythms, and a culture where life is not entirely organized around productivity.
And no, immigrants are not magically insulated from hardship. Many deal with residency anxiety, language barriers, bureaucratic friction, professional devaluation, unstable visa situations, lack of family support, housing difficulties, and social exclusion, often more than locals do. The idea that immigrants are all sipping wine in plazas while locals alone understand suffering is a caricature.
There’s also a strange assumption that if someone genuinely prefers Spain, it must be because they’re romanticizing it or defending a major life decision. But that argument cuts both ways. Locals can become blind to the strengths of their own culture just as outsiders can romanticize it.
People are not irrational for valuing quality of daily life over maximizing income. A lower salary in a place with stronger social cohesion, beauty, public life, and human connection may genuinely feel better to some people than a higher salary in a hyper-individualistic, economically optimized society. That’s not delusion. It’s a different value hierarchy.
Spain is neither paradise nor dystopia. But dismissing foreigners’ positive experiences as superficial while treating cynicism as inherently more ‘realistic’ is not nuance. It’s just another form of bias.”
Moving to Spain: Insights from the Community
The comment drew dozens of replies. Below are the most substantive contributions, presented as individual quotes with names and identifying details removed.
“Those who choose to live in Spain because they prefer its lifestyle would do well to invest a significant amount of time trying to learn about and understand its extremely long and complex history. We see plenty of admonitions here to learn the language; this goes without saying. What we see less of is an energetic drive to absorb the historical and cultural forces that have made Spain so magnetic. The good news: the country is its own best textbook. No matter where you live in it, find the cathedrals, the monasteries, the battlefields, the palaces, the museums, because I guarantee they are walking distance from your home.”
“Great article. Very true. I have not romanticized Spain. Specifically in my case the city I am from is in the top five most dangerous cities in the US. The cost of living is horrific. We made the decision for quality of life. My husband is a Spaniard. We both had great jobs and material things that we shed to make the move. It’s not very romantic to live in a culture where you feel that you need to be packing a weapon or you feel the need to constantly check on family because it has become so unsafe.”
“I think you could’ve made the same points without ChatGPT. However, I feel like in this group I see the opposite. I see a lot of people jumping down the throat of anyone that dares say anything remotely negative about Spain. It’s possible to love living in Spain and seeing tremendous value in it while also missing certain things about the US. You can’t enjoy your new life in another country without having sacrificed something. It’s okay to see merits and downsides to both places. That’s normal.”
“Every country has its issues, but the trade-offs between healthcare, education and safety far outweigh them. We’re all busting our asses to lead decent lives and in Spain you at least have certain guarantees.”
“For me I’d love to live in Spain since I have Spanish ancestry and the overall lower level of gun crime. I’ve been robbed at gunpoint and in a mass shooting, and an elementary school two minutes from my job was shot up, so I’d rather live somewhere where these aren’t so common occurrences.”
“I have lived here 20 years. Yes, the attitude of Spanish people has changed towards foreigners. Partly due to politics, partly due to the drunk and disorderly behaviour of some foreigners. It is not the Spain of 20 years ago, but then again I remember a time in America when no one locked their doors. As the uncertainties of the present and future grow, fear creeps in.”
“I completely agree. To be fair, there are some foreigners who romanticize Spain, usually people who have some financial privilege which allows them to buffer the more difficult realities, or people who haven’t lived there long enough to see the less charming parts of daily life. I can understand why it rubs locals the wrong way when someone talks about their country like it’s a utopia while they are dealing with hardships. But assuming everyone who likes living in Spain is naive or privileged is a myopic view, and that is where the argument falls apart.”
“Wealthy immigrants competing for housing with locals does the system a lot of harm. I live on an island. Teachers, doctors and waiters cannot afford housing with their salaries and have to leave the island. I don’t blame immigrants for our troubles, but I don’t appreciate the newcomers who pat themselves on the shoulder for contributing to the local economy and play the victim when someone points out they are disrupting communities.”
“In reality, if someone only knows and enjoys the postcard version of Spain, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. That person has learned to derive happiness from what they experience, rather than from what others tell them they should be experiencing.”
Moving to Spain: Quality of Life Versus Income
The strongest thread running through the conversation was the trade-off between earning more and living well. Several members described leaving good jobs and material comfort in their home country specifically to gain a calmer, safer, more social daily life in Spain.
The community consensus was that a lower salary is not automatically a worse life. One member framed it as a “different value hierarchy”: choosing social cohesion, walkability, and human connection over maximizing income. Another pointed out that wage stagnation and the rising cost of living are not uniquely Spanish problems but realities across much of the developed world.
For anyone weighing the numbers, it helps to look at concrete figures rather than impressions. Spainguru’s cost of living in Spain guide breaks down what daily expenses actually look like, which makes the income-versus-lifestyle question easier to answer honestly.
Moving to Spain: Safety and Healthcare
Safety came up repeatedly, especially from members who had experienced violent crime in their home countries. Several cited the lower level of gun crime in Spain as a primary motivation for moving, with personal stories ranging from armed robbery to school shootings near their workplaces.
Healthcare was the other recurring pillar. One member contrasted Spain’s guarantees in healthcare and education with the financial risks of getting sick in the US, sharing stories of medical bankruptcy and high out-of-pocket costs. The community did not paint Spain as flawless here, but many felt the baseline guarantees reduced a constant background anxiety.
A counterpoint was also raised: long-term and nursing care coverage works differently in each country, and that nuance matters for retirees. The takeaway from the thread was to research the specifics of your own situation rather than assume one system is universally better.
Moving to Spain: History, Language, and Integration
Beyond economics and safety, members repeatedly returned to the idea that moving to Spain well means engaging with the country, not just consuming it. Learning the language was treated as a given; learning the history and culture was the deeper recommendation.
One member described Spain as “its own best textbook,” urging newcomers to visit the cathedrals, monasteries, palaces, and museums that are often within walking distance of where they live. Others shared that even their Spanish spouses were rediscovering the country’s history through travel.
If you are at the planning stage, Spainguru’s moving to Spain guide and the move to Spain checklist walk through the practical steps, from paperwork to settling in, that make genuine integration easier.
Moving to Spain: Housing, Privilege, and Local Resentment
Not every voice was uncritical. Several members, including some locals, raised the real tension around housing. The concern was that wealthier foreign arrivals can push up rents and home prices, leaving teachers, doctors, and service workers unable to afford to live where they work, particularly in tourist-heavy areas and on the islands.
Others noted a perceived resentment in Spanish society toward people seen to be doing well, and a fatigue connected to over-tourism. The more balanced replies acknowledged this friction without accepting the blanket idea that all foreigners are privileged. Many pointed out that immigrants face their own hardships, from residency anxiety to professional devaluation and even being kicked out of rentals converted to short-term lets.
The community largely agreed that the housing squeeze is a structural problem driven by many factors, and that scapegoating any single group oversimplifies it. Choosing a location thoughtfully is part of moving responsibly, and Spainguru’s Spain non lucrative visa guide is a useful starting point for many of the financially independent residents who feature in these debates.
Moving to Spain: Conclusion and Takeaways
The conversation showed that moving to Spain is rarely a story of either naive romanticism or hard-nosed realism. Most members landed somewhere in between: clear-eyed about the salaries, bureaucracy, and housing pressures, yet genuinely valuing the safety, social fabric, and quality of daily life they had found.
The recurring advice was practical and humble. Do your homework, learn the language, engage with the history, choose your location carefully, and accept that every move involves trade-offs. Loving Spain does not require pretending it is perfect, and criticizing it does not make someone more sophisticated.
Start planning your move with Spainguru’s Move to Spain Planning Hub, and explore Spainguru’s vetted service providers for legal help, health insurance, and tax advice. To connect with others making the same decision and hear more honest perspectives, browse all of Spainguru’s Facebook communities and community hub.
This article is based on personal opinions from the Spainguru community and is not legal advice. For personalized guidance on visas, taxes, or health insurance, consult Spainguru’s services for Spanish visas.
Moving to Spain: FAQ
Is moving to Spain only for wealthy or privileged people?
No. While some arrivals are financially comfortable, the community included teachers, retirees, and people from modest backgrounds who moved for safety, healthcare, or quality of life. Many described shedding good jobs and material things rather than arriving wealthy.
Will I earn less money after moving to Spain?
Often yes, since salaries in Spain are generally lower than in countries like the US. Many members felt the trade-off was worth it for stronger social cohesion, safety, and daily quality of life, but this depends on your own value hierarchy and finances.
Is Spain safer than the United States?
Several members cited a lower level of gun crime as a major reason for moving to Spain, sharing personal experiences of violent crime back home. Safety perceptions are personal, but reduced everyday violence was a common theme in the discussion.
How important is learning Spanish and Spanish history?
The community treated learning the language as essential and strongly encouraged learning the history and culture too. One member called Spain “its own best textbook,” recommending newcomers explore local cathedrals, museums, and historic sites to integrate genuinely.
Does moving to Spain hurt local communities?
Some members, including locals, raised concerns that wealthier newcomers can drive up housing costs, especially in tourist areas and on islands. Others argued the housing squeeze is structural and that blaming any single group oversimplifies the issue.
What should I research before moving to Spain?
The recurring advice was to do your homework on visas, cost of living, healthcare and long-term care coverage, housing, and your chosen location. Reading the moving to Spain guide and checklist before committing helps set realistic expectations.
Is it normal to miss your home country after moving to Spain?
Yes. Several members stressed that every move involves trade-offs and that you can love life in Spain while still missing things about your home country. Recognizing both sides is a sign of a balanced, well-considered decision.
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