Moving to Slovakia from Spain

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Spain to Slovakia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Spain to Slovakia, you would find that Slovakia is 10.4% cheaper than Spain overall. A €65,577 salary in Spain would need to be roughly €53,062 in Slovakia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Slovak.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Spain and Slovakia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 €53,062

To maintain the same standard of living in Slovakia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 23.6% less

Groceries

pay 2.5% less

Transportation

pay 15.6% less

Housing

pay 8.3% less

Childcare

pay 4.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 6.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Slovakia cost about 18% less than cities in Spain.

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Slovakia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Spain to Slovakia.

Moved in 2023
23 ↓ 8% vs 2022

people moved from Spain to Slovakia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Slovakia?

Top countries of origin for Slovakia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Slovakia compared to Spain.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ES
0.7
SK
0.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2013

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

ES
78%
SK
74%

Spain performs better than Slovakia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ES
$4,935
SK
$3,230
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

ES
44.8
SK
36.8

Spain generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Slovakia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ES
10.0
SK
30.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ES
4.5t
SK
5.5t

Spain performs better than Slovakia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ES
36.0
SK
33.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ES
43.2%
SK
2.4%

Spain generally does better on infrastructure, though Slovakia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ES
12.1%
SK
5.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ES
$46,400
SK
$39,300

Slovakia generally does better on employment & economy, though Spain leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ES
82.5 yrs
SK
78.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ES
2.5
SK
4.8

Spain performs better than Slovakia across all family life metrics.

Data: Agencia Tributaria, Spain, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Madrid Rain: 16.6 in/yr (421 mm)
68° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bratislava Rain: 22.6 in/yr (574 mm)
61° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Madrid Bratislava
Jan–Mar 55°/40°F (13°/4°C) 44°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) 71°/51°F (22°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) 78°/58°F (26°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 58°/44°F (14°/7°C) 49°/37°F (9°/3°C)
View all months
Month Madrid Bratislava
Jan 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C) 38°/27°F (3.1°/-2.8°C)
Feb 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C) 42°/29°F (5.8°/-1.7°C)
Mar 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C) 52°/35°F (11.1°/1.7°C)
Apr 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C) 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.0°C)
May 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C) 71°/51°F (21.8°/10.6°C)
Jun 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C) 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.4°C)
Jul 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C) 82°/61°F (27.8°/16.2°C)
Aug 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C) 82°/61°F (27.6°/15.9°C)
Sep 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C) 71°/53°F (21.9°/11.5°C)
Oct 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C) 60°/44°F (15.6°/6.6°C)
Nov 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C) 48°/37°F (9.0°/2.7°C)
Dec 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C) 39°/29°F (3.7°/-1.5°C)

Data: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Spain and Slovakia. To live, work, or study long-term in Slovakia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Slovakia's immigration authority.

Spain passport

Spain passport holder visiting Slovakia

Visa Free
Spain passport holders can enter Slovakia without a visa.
Slovakia passport

Slovakia passport holder visiting Spain

Visa Free
Slovakia passport holders can enter Spain without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Slovakia than Spain?

On average Slovakia is about 19% less expensive than Spain, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Slovakia?

Budget about €13,266 for 3 months in Slovakia (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Slovakia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Slovakia: 33.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Slovakia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Slovakia safe for expats?

Spain performs better than Slovakia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Slovakia is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Spain. About 74% of people in Slovakia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Slovakia compared to Spain?

Spain generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Slovakia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Slovakia, compared to 44.8 in Spain. Slovakia scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Spain: 85).

What's the weather like in Slovakia compared to Spain?

The average high temperature in Bratislava is 61°F, compared to 68°F in Madrid. Bratislava receives around 22.6 in of rainfall per year, while Madrid gets 16.6 in.

What language do they speak in Slovakia?

The official language in Slovakia is Slovak. In Spain, the official languages are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish.

Share this

At a Glance

ES SK
Population 47,163,418 5,431,252
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Basque, Catalan, Galician, Spanish Slovak
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +34 +421
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 112 112