Moving to Spain from the US
Everything an American needs to plan a move to Spain in 2026: which city actually fits your budget and lifestyle, what it really costs, and the visa path to get there.
Visa paths for Americans
The main routes into Spain for US citizens are the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) and the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV). We walk both through end to end in the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa 2026: the full guide, or see how they stack up against other countries in our visa comparisons.
Choose your city in Spain
Madrid
Spain's capital.
Barcelona
Beach, mountains, Gaudí, and a tech scene that grew faster than the housing supply.
Valencia
The quiet winner of the Spain expat boom.
Granada
The Alhambra, free tapas with every drink, and rent that still feels like 2015.
Bilbao
Basque Country anchor city.
San Sebastián
Smaller cousin to Bilbao on the same Atlantic coast.
Cost of living by city (2026)
| City | 1BR rent | 2BR rent | Groceries (solo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 1,100–1,600 EUR | 1,400–2,200 EUR | 300–400 EUR |
| Barcelona | 1,200–1,800 EUR | 1,500–2,400 EUR | 300–400 EUR |
| Valencia | 700–1,000 EUR | 900–1,200 EUR | 250–350 EUR |
| Granada | 550–800 EUR | 700–950 EUR | 230–320 EUR |
| Bilbao | 750–1,100 EUR | 950–1,400 EUR | 280–380 EUR |
| San Sebastián | 950–1,400 EUR | 1,200–1,800 EUR | 300–400 EUR |
Plan your Spain move end to end
GoThere has the visa checklist, cost calculator, and document tracker for Spain, ready to use today.