Moving to Spain from Washington
What to Expect
Considering a move from Washington to Spain? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Washington to Spain, you would find that Spain is 25.3% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly €54,553 in Spain to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Washington and Spain.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €54,553
To maintain the same standard of living in Spain
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 14.3% less
Groceries
pay 29.4% less
Transportation
pay 2.9% more
Housing
pay 44.0% less
Childcare
pay 69.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 39.4% 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.
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 Spain cost about 30% less than cities in Washington.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Spain
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 Washington to Spain.
people moved from United States to Spain · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Spain compared to Washington.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Spain performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Spain performs significantly better than Washington across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Washington performs better than Spain across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Spain performs significantly better than Washington across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Olympia | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 55°/40°F (13°/4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) | 58°/44°F (14°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | Olympia | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) | 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C) |
| Feb | 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C) |
| Mar | 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) | 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C) |
| Apr | 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) | 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C) |
| May | 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) | 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C) |
| Jun | 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) | 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) | 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C) |
| Aug | 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) | 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C) |
| Sep | 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) | 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C) |
| Nov | 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) | 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C) |
| Dec | 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°C) | 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 States passport holder visiting Spain
Visa Free
Spain passport holder visiting United States
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 Washington?
On average Spain is about 17% less expensive than Washington, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Spain?
Budget about €13,638 for 3 months in Spain (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Spain?
From major Spain cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Washington and Spain are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Spain compared to Washington?
Spain performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Spain compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in Madrid is 68°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Madrid receives around 16.6 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in Spain?
The official languages in Spain are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. In Washington, the official language is English.
