Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Spain instead of Massachusetts, you would:

Health

live 3.5 years longer

In Massachusetts, the average life expectancy is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020. In Spain, that number is 83 years (80 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 47.2% less money

Massachusetts has a GDP per capita of $87,892 as of 2024, while in Spain, the GDP per capita is $46,400 as of 2023.

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be 2.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In Massachusetts, 4.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Spain, that number is 12.1% as of 2023.

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be 2.1 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Massachusetts, 9.5% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Spain, however, that number is 20.2% as of 2022.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: Massachusetts vs. Spain
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Spain is 26.5% cheaper than Massachusetts
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Size Comparison · See true size
Massachusetts is about 25 times smaller than Spain.
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City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of Boston vs Madrid
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Spain: At a glance

Spain is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 498,980 sq km. Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World War I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently the government has had to focus on measures to reverse a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008. Austerity measures implemented to reduce a large budget deficit and reassure foreign investors have led to one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe.
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How big is Spain compared to Massachusetts? See an in-depth size comparison.

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