If you’re a foreign national living in Spain and you’re married, you should be well informed about the economic systems of marriage that exist in Spain and how they apply to you.

The basics – Two types of Spanish systems of marriage

In Spain, there are two standard economic types or systems of marriage: ‘separación de bienes’ and ‘sociedad de gananciales’.

Unless specifically chosen by way of public document signed in front of a notary, the type of marriage is determined by default and usually depends upon which autonomous community or region the couple are resident once married.

‘Separación de bienes’ is the default choice in Cataluña, Aragón, Navarra, Balearic Islands and Basque Country.

Where a couple are married under ‘separación de bienes’ then each spouse is considered to own that which they brought into the marriage i.e. owned before they were married as well as that which they have acquired during the marriage either by purchase, inheritance or gift. They may dispose freely of such goods and assets as they wish.

So, where the couple purchases an asset, say a car, and one pays 75% of the cost while the other spouse pays the remaining 25% then upon divorce they would be entitled to a percentage of the value of the car based upon the percentage that they contributed to the purchase price.

If it is not possible to determine which of the spouses is the owner of a particular asset then it is split 50-50.

‘Sociedad de gananciales’ is the default position in the remaining Spanish regions and has the effect that all goods and assets acquired during the course of the marriage and which are not considered to be ‘private’ goods, are to be considered as belonging to both spouses equally. The income and pension of either spouse may be considered to belong to the matrimonial ‘pot’.

Assets which may not form part of a matrimonial ‘pot’ are known as ‘private’. These would include the following goods:

• Those rights and assets possessed before the marriage (even where funds considered ‘common’ to both spouses are used to pay later installments – with the exception of the matrimonial home, fixtures and fittings),
• Those rights and assets obtained during the marriage without payment e.g. inheritances or gifts received by a particular spouse
• Those rights and assets obtained in exchange for a private asset belonging to one of the spouses
• Rights that may only be transmitted via inheritance
• An award for personal damages or damages to private assets
• Clothes and personal belongings not of ‘extraordinary’ value
• Equipment necessary for the carrying-out of a trade or profession unless these are an integral part of a common enterprise
• Assets acquired with an initial payment by one of the spouses even though later installments are paid using common funds.

How your foreign-registered marriage is treated

Unless specified in your marriage contract, in Catalunya the separation of property regime applies (Art. 231-10 Civil Code of Cataluña). It is governed by Art. 231-11 to 231-30 Civil Code of Cataluña.

Currently, citizens in an international marriage or registered partnership face uncertainty when managing or sharing their property in case of divorce or death. It is difficult for them to know which Member State’s courts will be competent to deal with a matter concerning their property regime, what law will apply to their property regime and how they will have a decision on their property regime issued in one Member State recognized and enforced in another Member State.

In 2011 the Commission presented two proposals to provide legal certainty to international couples with regard to the management and the sharing of their property in case of divorce/separation or the death of one of its members. One of the proposals concerned the property regimes of married couples and the other the property regimes of registered partnerships. As these proposals concerned family law, they had to be adopted by the Council by unanimity after having consulted the European Parliament. After several years of negotiations, in December 2015 the Council concluded that no unanimity could be reached for the adoption of the proposals within a reasonable period of time.

Subsequently, 18 Member States (Sweden, Belgium, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland and Cyprus) expressed their wish to establish enhanced cooperation between themselves in the area of the property regimes of international couples so as to enable Member States that so wished to adopt Union legislation in this area.

Following these requests, on 2 March 2016 the Commission adopted three proposals: one proposal for a Council decision authorising enhanced cooperation in the area of the property regimes of international couples, covering both marriages and registered partnerships, and two proposals for Council regulations implementing the enhanced cooperation, one on matrimonial property regimes and the other on the property regimes of registered partnerships.

The proposals for the two regulations contain rules to determine which Member State’s courts should deal with issues concerning the property regimes of international couples (jurisdiction), which law should apply to these matters (applicable law) and how judgments and notarial documents on these matters delivered in one Member State should be recognised and enforced in another Member State. Given that the proposed regulations deal with the management but in particular with the sharing of the international couple’s property in case of divorce/separation or the death of one of its members, these regulations are closely connected with the existing Union regulations on divorce/separation and succession.

The Commission proposals are now being examined by the Council and the European Parliament.

Property rights

New rules applying as from 29 January 2019, aim to clarify the property rights for international married couples or registered partnerships. These clear rules on divorce or separation bring an end to parallel and possibly conflicting laws, for example on property or bank accounts, in different EU countries.

Since it was not possible to agree among all 28 EU countries, 18 of them have decided to work together on this initiative and will apply these rules. These are: Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden. The rest will continue to apply their respective national rules.

Full text of the two regulations

• Regulation applying to matrimonial property matters
• Regulation applying to property consequences of registered partnerships

These regulations will

• allow international couples to choose the law that applies to their property in case of death or divorce.

• enhance legal certainty for couples with an international dimension. The law of the country where the marriage was concluded or the partnership was registered applies to their property.

• bring legal certainty for international couples through coherent rules for identifying which country’s court is responsible and which law applies.

• increase predictability for couples through easier recognition of judgments, decisions and titles everywhere in the EU.

The regulations do not change national laws on marriage or registered partnerships.

The following Spanish law states that the property within a marriage will be governed either by the contract established by the couple at the time of their marriage. If that is not present, then it will be governed by the law of habitual residence of either, chosen at the time of marriage. If neither that is present, it will default to the law of the country where the couple was habitually resident immediately following their marriage. If that is not easily established, it will default to the place where the marriage was celebrated.

Los efectos del matrimonio se regirán por la ley personal común de los cónyuges al tiempo de contraerlo; en defecto de esta ley, por la ley personal o de la residencia habitual de cualquiera de ellos, elegida por ambos en documento auténtico otorgado antes de la celebración del matrimonio; a falta de esta elección, por la ley de la residencia habitual común inmediatamente posterior a la celebración, y, a falta de dicha residencia, por la del lugar de celebración del matrimonio.

 – (Art. 9.2 CC).

It’s also interesting to know that there are several classifications of private property, which never get shared between the couple. For example, if one person receives a donation of real estate in his/her name, that is considered as private property and therefore is not part of the communal asset pool.

More info about the topic in Spanish here and here.

If you are an expat in Spain and you’re looking for private health insurance, there are three major players worth seriously considering: Sanitas, AXA, and Adeslas. Each offers unique strengths depending on your priorities—be it global flexibility, national coverage, or doctor freedom.

Let’s take a look at all three so you can make an informed choice.

Sanitas – Established, Tech-Forward, and Strong for Preventive Care

Sanitas is one of the oldest and best-known private health insurers in Spain, founded in 1954 and now part of the BUPA group. They’re a popular choice among both Spaniards and expats, with nearly 2 million members and a strong focus on innovation in healthcare.

In my experience, Sanitas stands out for its emphasis on preventive care. If you’re someone who likes doing regular checkups, bloodwork, scans, and tracking your health even when you’re not sick, Sanitas won’t get in your way. They actively support proactive health management and have some of the most developed digital tools for booking appointments, managing claims, and accessing test results.

Sanitas plans include access to a network of over 500 private clinics and 27,000 medical professionals. You can also opt for their reimbursement-based plans like Mas Salud or International Residents, which allow you to visit doctors and clinics outside their network and get up to 90% reimbursed. International coverage is solid with these premium plans, which is ideal if you split time between countries or want a safety net while traveling.

A major caveat, however, is that Sanitas also owns many of the clinics and hospitals in its network. This vertical integration can lead to financial incentives that drive higher volumes of consultations and tests. It’s something I’ve personally experienced—being sent for a barrage of diagnostics that didn’t necessarily lead to better care. More on that below.

Recommended Plan: Sanitas MAS 90.000

One particularly strong plan to consider is Sanitas Más 90.000. It combines the convenience of Sanitas’ extensive Spanish network with generous reimbursement—up to 90% for consultations, diagnostics, and hospital care both inside and outside their network. It’s a solid choice if you want the option to see high-end specialists in Barcelona or elsewhere in Spain, as well as occasional visits abroad. The plan also includes worldwide emergency coverage up to €10,000, making it a good hybrid for people who don’t travel constantly but want peace of mind when they do.

This tier is also compatible with their slick digital infrastructure—allowing you to book, manage, and track appointments and reimbursements through their app. If you’re used to tech-forward service and want premium support without going all the way to a full international policy, Sanitas Más 90.000 offers a smart middle ground.

AXA – Maximum Freedom and Strong International Focus

AXA is a great option for those who want to keep full control over who they see, where they get treated, and what country they’re in when it happens. Their Óptima Plus plan is one of the few that truly allows global freedom, reimbursing up to 90% for private care, even outside Spain.

The stand-out feature here is the flexibility: you’re not limited to a network. You can see any doctor or specialist, whether they’re affiliated with AXA or not. This makes AXA particularly appealing if you already have trusted medical contacts, travel often, or simply don’t want your healthcare choices limited by administrative restrictions.

AXA doesn’t run its own hospitals or clinics, which means it acts purely as an insurer. This can reduce conflicts of interest—doctors are not pressured to push services or treatments based on internal billing incentives. The company has a strong reputation for professionalism and transparent communication, though I’d recommend working with a knowledgeable broker to help you navigate the claim and reimbursement processes efficiently.

In cities like Barcelona, AXA also has partnerships with a wide array of clinics and specialists, and while you’re not locked into their network, the existing relationships often make it easier to arrange high-quality care quickly.

AXA does not offer an international medical policy, but all of its health insurance products include emergency services abroad up to €15,000 for medical expenses, repatriation, pharmaceuticals, etc. This coverage is only available if the stay outside Spain does not exceed 60 days.

Recommended Plan: AXA Óptima Plus – True Global Freedom

If you want zero limitations on where you go for treatment, AXA’s Óptima Plus plan is probably the gold standard in Spain. With this plan, you’re not confined to any specific network—you can go to any doctor or clinic in Spain or abroad, and AXA will reimburse up to 90% of your medical expenses.

It’s especially useful if you’re the kind of person who likes getting second opinions or wants access to specialists at top-tier clinics without jumping through hoops.

You’ll usually pay upfront and submit for reimbursement—a bit of admin, yes, but worth it for the peace of mind.

Adeslas – Massive Network and Solid Reimbursement Inside Spain

Adeslas is Spain’s largest private health insurer by membership, and that scale brings certain advantages—especially if you plan to stay mostly within Spain. Their Plena Extra plan includes a broad provider network and also offers up to 80-90% reimbursement for out-of-network care within the country.

Adeslas doesn’t focus as heavily on international coverage as AXA or the top-tier Sanitas plans, but for care within Spain, they are hard to beat. They have an especially strong presence in Catalonia and Barcelona, with excellent coverage for everyday medical needs, dental care, and diagnostics.

The app and digital services aren’t quite as slick as Sanitas’, but they’re functional and reliable. Many clinics are well-integrated with their system, so administrative friction is relatively low.

If you’re mostly staying within Spain and want the ability to consult top doctors even if they’re not listed in the network, Adeslas gives you flexibility at a very competitive price. It’s a good middle ground between affordability and freedom.

Recommended Plan: Adeslas Plena Extra – A Solid Local Option with Flexibility

Adeslas, Spain’s biggest health insurer, offers the Plena Extra plan, which lets you use providers both inside and outside their network. While the international coverage isn’t as strong as AXA’s, they offer reimbursement of up to 80-90% for services outside their network within Spain.

If you primarily stay in Spain and want access to top clinics and doctors even if they’re not on the official list, Adeslas is a compelling choice.

Be Wary of Incentivized Care

One downside I experienced with Sanitas is something that could easily go unnoticed until you’re in a more complicated medical situation. Since Sanitas owns many of its own clinics and facilities, they don’t just make money from your insurance premium—they also profit from every test, consultation, or scan you undergo.

Here’s how it works: Sanitas operates under a vertically integrated model. That means the insurer and the healthcare provider are often the same entity. So when you go in for an MRI or a specialist consultation, you’re not paying out-of-pocket—but the “insurance arm” of Sanitas still pays the “clinic arm” of Sanitas. It’s an internal transaction, but it registers as revenue for the group. Multiply this across millions of members and you can see how volume of care can quickly become a profit engine.

Why would they do this? Because even though you’re not being charged directly, Sanitas records each service as income on the provider side. This boosts their overall revenue numbers, which matters for multiple reasons: internal performance metrics, executive bonuses, and even external investor perception if they ever go public or report to a parent company (like BUPA). More services, more revenue, better financial optics.

What’s more, this system creates pressure at the doctor level too. In Sanitas-run clinics, doctors are often incentivised based on how many patients they see—not necessarily how well they treat each case. The more appointments they can fit into a day, the more they are rewarded. This can lead to rushed consultations, little time for in-depth discussion, and a general pressure to move quickly. Personalised care can take a backseat to volume.

Now consider how differently it works when you visit a doctor outside the insurance system altogether—someone who is paid directly by you, who has no contract with any insurer, and who isn’t being timed or tracked for throughput. They usually take the time to understand the full context of your issue, because their incentive is your satisfaction and results—not volume.

In my case, a slightly complex health issue led to a barrage of appointments and diagnostics that felt more like protocol-driven box-checking than thoughtful care. It started to feel like I was being managed by a system optimised for throughput rather than results.

That’s why I now strongly lean toward reimbursement-based plans. They give you the freedom to consult independent doctors who aren’t financially tied to your insurer and may be more focused on getting to the root of your issue efficiently, not just running through a checklist.

And here’s another thing to keep in mind: if you’re visiting a Sanitas-owned clinic but you’re insured by another company (say, AXA or DKV), you’re not as valuable a patient from their internal accounting perspective. The clinic gets reimbursed at a fixed rate, often less profitable than seeing their own insured members. That means in some cases, priority or appointment availability could subtly favor Sanitas-insured patients. It’s not necessarily malicious—just economics.

Bottom line: If budget allows, go for full reimbursement plans with international coverage. SANITAS, AXA, and Adeslas all offer this flexibility, and it can make a huge difference when you need it most.

Public Health System

Depending on whether you’re employed in some form and contributing to social security, you might also be entitled to make use of the public health system in Spain. I’ve found it to be very good, particularly for major interventions and long-term care.

However, there are a couple of things to be aware of. Appointments in the public system are often extremely brief—around 7 minutes per consultation. This can be frustrating if you have something nuanced or more complex to explain. And for anything that’s not considered urgent, you may end up on a waiting list. These lists can be long, especially for surgeries or specialist visits. So if timing is critical, you might find yourself waiting longer than you’d like.

Personally, while I think the public system is excellent for what it offers, I still prefer to have private insurance alongside it. It’s surprisingly affordable in Spain and ensures you can get quick access to diagnostics, specialists, and second opinions without delays. That said, for specific types of care—like childbirth—the public system can actually be the better option.

A Note on Pregnancy and Childbirth

While private health insurance has many advantages, one area where I would strongly recommend using the public health system in Spain is pregnancy and childbirth.

Everything in the private sector is driven by efficiency and profit—and that directly affects how childbirth is handled. Private hospitals often operate under time constraints and financial incentives that can work against the mother’s wishes. For example, they are typically reimbursed more for a cesarean section than for a natural birth. That means as soon as a delivery slows down or strays from the standard timeline, there’s a real risk that the medical team will start nudging toward a cesarean—not necessarily because it’s needed, but because it’s faster, more predictable, and better for their bottom line.

In contrast, Spain’s public hospitals are much more respectful of the mother’s birth plan and tend to work with a more holistic, patient-centered approach. One standout example is Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona, which is known for its exceptional maternity care. They do everything possible to support natural birth and honor the mother’s preferences throughout the process. The staff are used to working with diverse families and international parents, and the environment feels far more supportive and empowering than many of the private clinics I’ve encountered.

So even if you’re fully covered with private insurance, I’d recommend considering the public system for this stage of life. It might take a little more planning in terms of paperwork and waiting lists, but when it comes to something as important and sensitive as childbirth, the public system in Spain can actually offer a more human, respectful experience.

My Recommendations

Always choose plans with no co-payments and coverage beyond the insurer’s own network. It might cost a little more monthly, but it frees you from the stress of wondering what’s covered and what’s not when something serious comes up. You want to be able to see the best doctors, in the best clinics, anywhere you happen to be—no compromises.

I’ve personally found that while SANITAS is good, the financial incentives of private healthcare mean you sometimes get pushed into unnecessary appointments or tests. Having the freedom to seek second opinions or alternative treatment paths—especially internationally—is invaluable.

I will be switching to AXA and will report back here about my experience with them. Most of my friends are with one of these three insurers, so I feel comfortable recommending the three of them.

If you’re living in Spain you are spoilt for choice when it comes to deals and discounts websites. We have a wealth of choice for getting great prices on travel, house decor, experiences, clothes and much more. Let’s have a look at my favorite websites.

Privalia

Privalia is an online fashion outlet, with daily flash sales as well as other longer-term offers. They also have home & decor sections and the quality is generally good. They might have limited sizes available, but that’s just about the only downside. The delivery cost is a standard €6.95, but many offers include free or cheaper delivery options. Returns are also €6.95, and the items are picked up right on your doorstep. You have 14 days to return the products for any reason.

Shop for discounted fashion on Privalia

Zalando

While not really a pure discount store, Zalando is our favorite online fashion store. The fact that they offer free delivery and free returns is really awesome and takes away most of the hassle with shopping for fashion. Delivery is right to your door as is the collection service for any returns. This site also has an extensive offers section, which is why I’m listing it here together with the other discount websites.

Check out Zalando, with free delivery and returns

Groupon

You will find a very wide array of choices here. Do remember that if an offer seems too good to be true, there’s probably a catch. For example, a photography studio might offer a €19 photography session, but at the end, they will tell you that you have to pay another €40 in order to choose your own photos. I recommend sticking to the offers that don’t involve a 1-1 interaction; in that way you are minimizing the risks of being served differently from others who are paying the full price. Some examples of the offers that you can find here:

• Gastronomy
• Experiences (balloon flights, horse riding etc)
• Car and motorcycle maintenance and servicing
• Health and fitness tests
• Home decoration
• Services and tuition (diving courses, pet sterilization etc)
• Products (juicers, furniture etc)
• Travel

Before you buy anything, always do a quick search in Google and check the reviews. If you suspect that the original price and discount appear to be inflated, phone the service provider and ask for prices directly, that way you will identify and fake prices on the Groupon site.

Here are some other sites to consider…

1. LetsBonus.com: Focused on offering the best local deals, LetsBonus provides discounts on restaurants, beauty treatments, and leisure activities. The website’s simple interface allows you to browse offers by city and category, making it easy to find the perfect deal for your needs.
2. Offerum.com: Another popular deals website in Spain, Offerum.com features discounts on a wide range of products and services, including travel, dining, and shopping. With daily updates and time-limited offers, you’ll want to check back often to make sure you don’t miss out on a fantastic deal.
3. Groupalia.com: Combining deals on local experiences with discounted shopping, Groupalia offers a unique mix of opportunities to save money. From weekend getaways and dining experiences to electronics and fashion, this website caters to a broad range of interests.
4. Atrapalo.com: Specializing in travel and leisure deals, Atrapalo.com is the perfect website for those looking to save on their next adventure. With discounts on flights, hotels, car rentals, and activities, you can plan an unforgettable trip without breaking the bank.
5. BuyVip.com: Owned by Amazon, BuyVip is another members-only shopping club that offers exclusive deals on a wide range of products, from fashion and accessories to electronics and home goods. With the backing of Amazon, you can trust the quality and authenticity of the items on offer.
6. Restalo.es: If you’re a foodie looking for great deals on dining experiences, Restalo.es is the website for you. Featuring discounts and special offers for restaurants across Spain, this platform makes it easy to discover new eateries and save money while enjoying a delicious meal.

With so many fantastic deals and discounts available in Spain, you’ll never have to pay full price again. By exploring these top websites, you can save money on everything from travel and dining to shopping and local experiences. Make sure to bookmark your favorite sites and check back regularly for the latest offers, and enjoy the best of Spain without breaking the bank.

Do you have any other favorite discount and deals websites that are available to Spanish residents? Let me know in the comments section.

In Spain, you have many options for buying food, but as you can imagine, there are significant differences between the options. Let’s have a look at these sources.

First up, you have the traditional supermarkets. The Spanish market is dominated by a few big supermarket chains:

1. Mercadona
2. Dia
3. Carrefour

The closest version to an organic food store chain in Spain is Veritas, which is a very limited version of Whole Foods in the USA.

You then have the local markets. You’ll find several within the cities and usually bigger ones outside the city.

The cheapest prices are to be found at the supermarkets or local markets outside of the cities. You’ll have to drive to these markets typically as they are not so easily accessible by public transport.

Another option is neighbor cooperatives as they are called. Basically, a number of neighbors will group up and order products directly from the suppliers. These suppliers will then come once a week and deliver the products to one point after which they are distributed amongst the neighbor community.

I’ve found the prices in the markets found within the city to be significantly higher than those in the supermarkets, even though the produce is sometimes identical (for example imported bananas of the same brand). On the other hand, I prefer buying fish and meat from the local market or meat/fish shop rather than from the supermarkets.

Some good organic stores I’ve found:

• Ametller Origen
• Organic Market

You need to be very careful about the marketing companies use. Here’s something I recently discovered about eggs, for example. Here in Spain eggs are marked within a range of 0-3, with 0 being the most organic type of eggs, and 3 being the least.

Now consider this package of eggs:

What would you think about these eggs, that they are the most perfectly organic eggs right?

Turns out that when I opened the package the eggs themselves are marked with the code number 2, which means that they are from hens that have been brought up in warehouses and have never actually been outside. That’s a very far cry from what the package implies and even specifically says. I’m not sure how manufacturers are allowed to get away by this false advertising, but it sure goes to prove how careful we need to be when making our food purchases.

I’m still learning about how to find the best sources for healthy and organic produce, so if you have any insight I’d love to hear from you.

One of my close friends sent me an email recently to tell me that he was considering moving to Spain from the UK following the UK’s Brexit vote and how things are developing over there.

He is already an ex-pat, having moved away from Malta with his family a few years ago. Moving is no easy chore, so I felt bad for him having to deal with this after having moved just a couple of years ago. Clearly, his original intention was to stay in the UK and himself and his family had been feeling happy and settled. On the other hand, I also felt excited about having been asked to share my experience of living in Spain and possibly welcoming him and his family here in the near future.

Since I’ve been planning to write a post about living in Spain for quite a while, I decided to hit two birds with one stone and do that as I think it will be helpful for my friend and for others who are also considering this move.

Before we even delve further, I must emphasize the fact that the choice of where to live is a very personal one. You might love a country or city that your wife or children will absolutely despise. Your preferences might also change in a few years’ time. For example, I absolutely loved living and studying in England in my early twenties, and there’s no other place I would have chosen if I were to do it again. On the other hand, now that I’m in my thirties, I definitely think that there is no better place in the world than Barcelona. In my late twenties, I also spent a few years being a digital nomad, and again, changing countries every few months was the best thing ever for me at that stage. I don’t feel any inclination to do that at all right now.

If you’re lucky, you will be able to move to a place that your entire family agrees upon. In my case, both I and my wife felt very deeply that Barcelona was the right place for us at this stage of life, so it was an easy decision. Not to mention, that if you’re in the position of choosing which country to live in, you’re already one of the privileged ones, as most people can’t move so easily.

With that out of the way, let’s shift our focus to Spain. I’ve already summed up the main reasons why I love Barcelona in a separate post that I wrote a couple of years ago. It’s a good place to start in order to understand why we moved here.

Over the years I’ve had the chance to visit many parts of Spain, although there are still many places I want to visit. Apart from Barcelona, I’ve also lived in Mallorca. The first thing I would mention is that Spain is a very diverse country. Each region has its own personality. The southern cities like Seville, Toledo, and Granada have a totally different vibe to Madrid, which in turn is really different from Barcelona. Then there is the Basque country up north, with their amazing food and beautiful seaside town of San Sebastian. Along the East coast, you will find Costa Brava with some truly breathtaking landscapes and great small coves. Barcelona and Girona are two great options if you want to move here.

Further down south one finds Costa Blanca, with many long sandy beaches and tourist resorts. This is really not one of my favorite parts of Spain, mainly because it caters to cheap tourism with all the negative effects that brings about. I do love Valencia and Tarragona though. Many expats decide to make Javea their home, and I’m curious to visit and see why it’s so popular. The Balearic islands are world-famous, and I really enjoyed my time in Palma de Mallorca. The only downside is that the winter months tend to be a bit too quiet, as these are places that live and breathe tourism. In the summer months, things really get going and there’s lots of stuff happening. One should also keep in mind that the Canary Islands are also part of Spain. I haven’t been there yet but I’ve heard a lot of good things. I don’t think I would consider living there though simply because they’re a bit too far from the rest of Europe, and I really value having the facility to travel easily within Europe.

Barcelona has its own way of life really. Quite apart from the independence debate and whether it’s a good thing or not for Catalonia, I do feel that Barcelona provides a totally unique offering for expats. Let’s start with the integration factor. I recommend learning Spanish before you move here, or start learning immediately once you’re here. While Catalan is widely used by the locals at home or with friends, it’s not that common to have opportunities to speak it in daily life. Still, I am making an effort to learn Catalan too to further integrate. With a decent command of Spanish, you will find it very easy to integrate, it’s that kind of city that makes you feel very welcome. People are very friendly and live a very outdoors-based social life, so you will find plenty of opportunities to make friends.

Spain, as we all know, has passed through tough times due to the famous crisis, but the major cities now in full swing and property prices are shooting up. This is one of many encouraging signs that the worst is already behind us and there is a lot of growth and good things to come. It can, therefore, be a good place to invest in. I’ve already written about investing in local property through crowdfunding platforms. Actually living here puts you more in tune with the emerging opportunities, so far anyone who is business-minded and wants to profit from the city’s growth, it’s a great place to be.

One thing I dislike in Spain is the current trend towards populism coupled with negative sentiments against entrepreneurship and “rich” people. I put the word in inverted commas because people have some skewed notions of who the rich people are. Basically, anyone not on a basic salary here is considered to be rich, and that means that anyone who works hard at his job and earns a top position, or even many entrepreneurs, get automatically classified into the “evil rich” category, even though they may be earning just a few thousand more than the average salary here.

Moreover, what really disappoints me, is that instead of the Spanish adopting an attitude of working harder and trying to achieve more success, they just resort to barely doing their jobs and hating those who have worked hard to be in a better position. There is no “American dream” culture here, and that is one of the main reasons why the country never advances to being a true market leader with efficient and productive workers and low unemployment. People prefer to cheat by working in the black economy and hating on anyone who is successful.

This is being reflected in the governments that people are electing, and ideas such as the Catalan independence drive. It’s easier to just blame the rich for all the problems and implement measures like higher taxation and rent controls (both proven to be bad solutions throughout history) while the real rich people continue to be unaffected and perhaps get even richer. Unfortunately, Spain is not unique in these kinds of mentalities, the whole Southern basin of Europe seems to be plagued by these ideas.

Notwithstanding that, I still think that right now Spain is definitely ahead of any other country in terms of living quality for me and my family.

What about other countries?

Many of you know that I’ve visited many countries, and I often get questions about why I didn’t consider living in these other countries/cities. In most cases, it’s not so much that I didn’t consider it, but rather that I did consider it but Barcelona still came up tops. Here are a few of the ones I get asked about frequently, and my reasons for me not considering them to be an ideal place for us:

Thailand (Chiang Mai) – Terrific country. Incredible nature plus friendly and welcoming people. I loved being immersed in such a different culture from the one I grew up in. It challenged me in many ways and helped me grow in my understanding of myself and humanity in general. Perhaps its biggest attraction is also the biggest disadvantage: we could never settle there and integrate completely with the locals. We would always stick out like a sore thumb by the very way we look, not to mention our mannerisms, jobs, outlook on life etc. Perhaps if one were to marry a Thai, things would be different, but for us, this was the main point that made it unsuitable. In addition, the fact that it is so far from Europe and that it is very difficult to obtain a visa to live and work there.

United Kingdom – Life in the UK is pretty good, we considered living in one of the major cities such as London or Edinburgh. I love visiting these cities, and they have an incredible vibe going on, especially London. The startup, finance and tech scenes are world-class and you can pretty much do anything you fancy. With such a multicultural population, fitting in wouldn’t be a problem. Airport connections are easy and a huge plus for living there. The big downsides are the weather, cost of living, and now the Brexit uncertainty.

Germany – In general, I love the German ethic of doing things the right way and in an efficient manner. The cost of living is higher than in Spain and there is a significant language barrier, although English is also widely spoken. In the end, it pretty much boils down to weather and my feeling more comfortable having the sea close by. Perhaps not the most convincing of reasons, but keep in mind that many Brits and Germans do move to Spain purely for the weather.

Netherlands – I haven’t spent much time in the Netherlands but I really like this country. People also have a very professional way of conducting business. Within the WordPress space, I know many great developers and companies based in the Netherlands. The first WordCamp Europe was also held there. Nature there is beautiful and it is one of the best places for using bicycles. I can’t think of any negative thing about the Netherlands. Of course, there is a language barrier if you really want to integrate, but I’ve found Dutch people to be some of the best English speakers in Europe. It’s not their native language but they speak it as if it were so. Ultimately, however, if good weather plays a big part in your decision, Spain will definitely win over the Netherlands.

Portugal – Lisbon is one of my favorite cities in Europe. It’s up and coming and I think there’s a lot more in store for it. It has a similar vibe to Barcelona but on a smaller scale. The Portuguese tend to speak better English than the Spanish, so that might be a good point to consider if you don’t speak either Portuguese or Spanish. If I had to leave Barcelona for some reason, I would probably go to Lisbon. The one thing that really makes Spain a winner over Portugal at the moment is that it is a much more advanced country overall, and one of the big players in Europe. Portugal in fact has a problem with lots of its young people moving abroad to get a better education and better job opportunities. Here’s what a young Portuguese had to say about this:

18 year old Portuguese answering here. I’ll be straight and hide nothing in my answer. I turned 18 two weeks ago. I’ve always lived in Portugal. And not gonna lie, Portugal was an awesome country to grow up in. I will always feel grateful for having been raised with no security problems, access to school, medical care, food, good history & culture (part of it) and very good weather the biggest part of the year. But truth is, and I started confronting myself with that reality 4 years ago when I first went abroad, nowadays Portugal is really in the back compared to other countries. There’s so much things that need to be update, so many conflicts to be solved, and the government’s priorities (not only the current one, but all the governments I was alive to see working) are not well defined. In September, I will start my last year of high school. But I will also start my university application to the United Kingdom and to Denmark. And once I go, I don’t intend, right now, to go back after I conclude my studies. I don’t feel Portugal can give me a future. At least a future where I can be financially independent from my parents while I’m still working or where I’ll have a chance to get a job once I finish university. It’s sad to see my own country loosing the young people everyday to other countries, seeing the population getting older in the stats and the newborn’s stats also decaying more and more every year and seeing the government doing something useless or even nothing about it. I’m really grateful for the childhood Portugal offered me but it can’t give me a future and I have to be the one fighting for it, somewhere else. Maybe I’ll be back someday. When I’m older, have a good job, my life organized and with stability. But for now, I will belong to the stats section of young people who went to get superior formation in other country and probably will end up staying there.

This feels a lot like my experience of growing up in Malta and partly why I left that country. It also suffers from a high degree of corruption and loads of bureaucracy.

On the plus side – it’s much easier to find English-speaking locals, and most importantly the government is actually incentivizing foreign entrepreneurs and investors to relocate to Portugal, mainly through the NHR scheme. Spain’s politics and anti-entrepreneur feeling has been growing and for this reason I wouldn’t be surprised if Portugal eventually overtakes Spain as the country of choice for entrepreneurs wishing to relocate for better weather and taxes.

What about Malta?

So that brings us to my country of birth: Malta. I grew up there and left in my mid-twenties. The Maltese Islands consist of three islands that are blessed with great natural beauty. On the other hand, there are several important factors that eventually led me to leave. I consider it a place where you can live for a short while, perhaps as a digital nomad, but I don’t think of it as a great place for a young adult or even when thinking of educating my children there. The big thing it has going for it is a strong economy and that English is one of the native languages (the other being Maltese). If you want to educate your children in the public system and avoid spending money then Malta is probably a great option since they would be taught in English, and that’s pretty unique in Europe.

Wrapping Up

All I can say that Barcelona is a fabulous place to live in. There is a bit of everything here. I’ve been lucky to meet some incredible people here that have helped me grow in many areas. I’ve discovered a sport (padel) that has become a big part of my life, and I am genuinely very happy to be living here. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about anything I mentioned in this post, so fire away in the comments section.