Spain
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 11 of 40, strongest on climate, softest on retiree visa.
- Healthcare 78
- Retiree visa 72
- Affordability 78
- Safety 76
- Climate 88
- Expat community 78
- Retirement visaYesNon-Lucrative Visa (Visado de residencia no lucrativa)exteriores.gob.es
- Min incomeMediumcostaluzlawyers.com
- Monthly budget~$1,900-2,600/monumbeo.com
- HealthcareGoodmyspainvisa.com
- SafetySafeen.wikipedia.org
- Top citiesValencia, Alicante, Malaga
Good to know
- Good healthcare accessSpain's public SNS offers world-class care once you are entitled. Non-working foreign residents cannot rely on it initially; after 12 months of legal residence they can pay into the Convenio Especial for primary, specialist and hospital care (prescriptions and dental excluded).myspainvisa.com
- Dedicated retirement visaNon-Lucrative Visa (Visado de residencia no lucrativa)exteriores.gob.es
- Low cost of living~$1,900-2,600 single incl. rent (Madrid single-person costs ~EUR 826/mo excl. rent plus central 1-bed rent); cheaper outside the capital.numbeo.com
- Safe for retireesRanks 27th on the Global Peace Index (score 1.654), a safe country overall; pickpocketing and petty theft in busy tourist cities like Barcelona and Madrid are the main caveat.en.wikipedia.org
- Comfortable climateThe most climatically diverse country in Europe: hot summers (Aug ~30C) and mild coastal winters, with greater extremes inland. Rain falls mainly in autumn on the Mediterranean side; the southeast is very dry.en.wikipedia.org
- Established expat communityOver 7.2 million foreign nationals (~14.6% of the population) as of early 2026, one of Europe's largest expat populations. EF EPI 2025 scores Spain 540 (moderate proficiency), so some Spanish is advisable outside expat hubs.en.wikipedia.org
Watch out for
No cautions from the verified data.
Visa & residency
~EUR 2,400/mo single (400% of IPREM, about EUR 28,800/yr), plus ~EUR 600/mo (100% IPREM) per dependent family member.
Requires full private health insurance covering all risks of the public system with no co-pays (travel insurance not accepted). No work permitted; visa is valid one year and renewable, leading toward long-term residence.
Healthcare
Spain's public SNS offers world-class care once you are entitled. Non-working foreign residents cannot rely on it initially; after 12 months of legal residence they can pay into the Convenio Especial for primary, specialist and hospital care (prescriptions and dental excluded).
Full private cover is required for the visa; as a public-system proxy, the Convenio Especial costs ~EUR 157/mo for over-65s (vs ~EUR 60/mo under-65), and private plans for a 65-year-old are broadly in that range or higher.
Cost of living
~$1,900-2,600 single incl. rent (Madrid single-person costs ~EUR 826/mo excl. rent plus central 1-bed rent); cheaper outside the capital.
Madrid 1-bed city-centre rent averages ~EUR 1,417/mo (Numbeo, 2026); expat-favourite cities like Valencia and Alicante run well below Madrid.
Safety
Ranks 27th on the Global Peace Index (score 1.654), a safe country overall; pickpocketing and petty theft in busy tourist cities like Barcelona and Madrid are the main caveat.
Climate
The most climatically diverse country in Europe: hot summers (Aug ~30C) and mild coastal winters, with greater extremes inland. Rain falls mainly in autumn on the Mediterranean side; the southeast is very dry.
Community & language
Over 7.2 million foreign nationals (~14.6% of the population) as of early 2026, one of Europe's largest expat populations. EF EPI 2025 scores Spain 540 (moderate proficiency), so some Spanish is advisable outside expat hubs.
Spanish (Castilian) is the official language, with co-official regional languages in some areas; English proficiency is moderate, so learning Spanish helps daily life.
Taxes
Yes, Spain taxes the worldwide income of tax residents, including foreign private pensions, at progressive rates of 19%-47%. US Social Security is generally taxed only in the US, and government pensions typically only in the source country.
Spain has double-tax treaties with over 90 countries, including the US, UK, Germany and France; treaties allocate pension taxing rights (government/civil-service pensions often taxed only in the paying country).
Popular retirement spots
Where retirees in Spain tend to settle, and the honest reason why. Each note shows its source.
Valencia
A Mediterranean coastal city with one of Europe's mildest winters, repeatedly rated a top expat destination for quality of life and affordability.
Alicante
A Costa Blanca port with beaches and some of mainland Europe's warmest, sunniest winter days; foreign-born residents are about 27% of the population.
Malaga
A Costa del Sol city in southern Spain with mild winters and roughly 300 sunny days a year, drawing a sizeable international resident community.
Questions about retiring in Spain
Answered from the verified data on this page. Every answer shows its source; anything we have not confirmed says so plainly rather than guessing.
- Does Spain have a retirement visa?
Yes. Spain offers the Non-Lucrative Visa (Visado de residencia no lucrativa).
exteriores.gob.es- Do EU citizens need a visa to retire in Spain?
No. Under EU freedom of movement, EU citizens may live and retire in Spain. You can stay up to three months without registering, then register with the local authorities for longer stays.
europa.eu- How much monthly income do I need to retire in Spain?
As a guide: ~EUR 2,400/mo single (400% of IPREM, about EUR 28,800/yr), plus ~EUR 600/mo (100% IPREM) per dependent family member. Treat this as indicative and verify the current official figure before you rely on it.
exteriores.gob.es- Is healthcare good for expats in Spain?
Healthcare quality is rated good. Spain's public SNS offers world-class care once you are entitled. Non-working foreign residents cannot rely on it initially; after 12 months of legal residence they can pay into the Convenio Especial for primary, specialist and hospital care (prescriptions and dental excluded). On cost: Full private cover is required for the visa; as a public-system proxy, the Convenio Especial costs ~EUR 157/mo for over-65s (vs ~EUR 60/mo under-65), and private plans for a 65-year-old are broadly in that range or higher.
myspainvisa.com- How expensive is it to retire in Spain?
Lower than the US. A comfortable single-retiree budget is ~$1,900-2,600 single incl. rent (Madrid single-person costs ~EUR 826/mo excl. rent plus central 1-bed rent); cheaper outside the capital.
numbeo.com- Is Spain safe?
Safe. Ranks 27th on the Global Peace Index (score 1.654), a safe country overall; pickpocketing and petty theft in busy tourist cities like Barcelona and Madrid are the main caveat.
en.wikipedia.org- What is the climate like in Spain?
The climate is Mediterranean (Koppen Csa/Csb) with semi-arid and oceanic zones. The most climatically diverse country in Europe: hot summers (Aug ~30C) and mild coastal winters, with greater extremes inland. Rain falls mainly in autumn on the Mediterranean side; the southeast is very dry.
en.wikipedia.org- Where do retirees live in Spain?
Popular retirement spots include Valencia, Alicante and Malaga.
en.wikipedia.org
Compare Spain with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
