Moving to Spain from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Spain — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Spain, you would find that Spain is 24.1% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,970 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly €54,231 in Spain to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Spain.
What does your salary buy?
£55,970 → €54,231
To maintain the same standard of living in Spain
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 1.7% less
Groceries
pay 0.3% less
Transportation
pay 23.9% less
Housing
pay 33.7% less
Childcare
pay 63.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 39.5% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United Kingdom to Spain, based on official data.
people moved from United Kingdom to Spain · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Spain.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though Spain leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Spain generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United Kingdom generally does better on environment, though Spain leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Spain leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
United Kingdom performs better than Spain across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Spain generally does better on family life, though United Kingdom leads in education spending.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | London | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 55°/40°F (13°/4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 58°/44°F (14°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C) |
Met Office
Agencia Estatal de MeteorologíaVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom and Spain. To live, work, or study long-term in Spain, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Spain's immigration authority.
United Kingdom passport holder visiting Spain
Visa Free
Spain passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Spain than United Kingdom?
Yes — Spain is on average about 16% cheaper than United Kingdom. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Spain?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €13,558 in Spain on a £55,970 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Spain?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Spain has 36.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Spain safe for expats?
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though Spain leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Spain is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Spain compared to United Kingdom?
Spain generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in health coverage index. There are 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Spain, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Spain scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Spain compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Madrid is 68°F, compared to 60°F in London. Madrid receives around 16.6 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Spain?
The official languages in Spain are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
