Top 10 BEST Places To Live in Spain (Expats, Retirees, Digital Nomads)

[@TravelingwithKristin]

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[@michaelmarmion648]

I love Malaga, being Irish but having lived most of my life in Australia when I retired in 2020 I set out on an adventure to find the ideal retirement destination, 112 countries later that venue is Spain, cost of living here is 70% less than Ireland and 107% less than Australia. With 300+ days of sunshine a year SPAIN and in particular Andalucia is a no brainer.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Thanks for sharing! Sound like a fantastic choice for retirement, especially with all that sunshine and lower cost of living! ☀️🌍✨

[@jleffel6969]

Kristin knows how to work that thumbnail game. always nice to see you pop up in my feed, my friend.

[@louaceveu1925]

Asturias is breathtakingly beautiful, The Natural Paradise of Spain. Some counties like Ponga, Somiedo and Quiros you can drive miles without seeing a person or a house. The fishing villages are very quaint but unfortunately many people from Germany, UK and France are already buying many properties there and prices are going up.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Couldn't agree more!

[@whazzas5023]

Beautiful videos of the plazas and cityscapes of these towns and cities. Makes me want to go travel. Well done!

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Thank you for the kind words, @whazzas5023!

[@nefrologocatracho]

I had the privilege of visiting Asturias last March after finding that my roots are from the region. Incredibly beautiful, wonderful food, culture and friendly, if a little reserved, locals. I spent the most time in Oviedo which I loved, but the whole region is amazing. This summer 2024 they just opened the high speed rail from Madrid. 3 hrs to Oviedo then Gijón. I think you will see more and more visitors as a result

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Thank you for sharing! Sounds amazing, and it’s great to hear about your roots there. The new high-speed rail will definitely make it more accessible for visitors! 🌄🍽️🚆

[@gtrbarbarian]

Kristin - I hope you and your family aren't affected by Hurricane Milton 😮 and are staying safe!

[@DarthFurball]

Perfect timing and well presented. Thanks Kristin!

[@TravelingwithKristin]

You're so welcome!

[@markuscg1]

I think the Asturias region would be nice with the cooler weather and smaller population.

[@edl7454]

except in winter time

[@thinkplanetearth2946]

Well done video as per usual. Also, you look great. Your skin is glowing.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

oh thank you for the kind words, @thinkplanetearth2946!

[@Liubomyr7]

as a Girona expat I can’t agree more

[@TravelingwithKristin]

😊😊

[@JAW-i5z]

You're not an expat, you're an IMMIGRANT.

[@Liubomyr7]

@@JAW-i5z why are you so sure about it?

[@kevinporter3212]

nice shot of Coruña (0:55) I spent 11 years in Coruña, such a great city and people.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Two of my relocation clients just moved there!

[@kevinporter3212]

@@TravelingwithKristin I'm a bit jealous :)

[@edl7454]

@@kevinporter3212 I think I am buying something there next year . The food is worth it(best in Spain) , the beaches are better then the Med since you actually get refreshed by the water and they are less packed with pesky tourons.

[@kevinporter3212]

@@edl7454 The city has great beaches such as As Lapas near La Torre, and there are plenty of little beaches close to the city. It's not the prettiest city in Spain, but the people more than make up for it. Having said that la ciudad vieja is beautiful. I hope you enjoy living there.

[@annapaz4]

Girona! ❤ 🇪🇸 Thx Kristin, and take care if you’re in Miami. I can’t believe the 🌀 season this year! I have friends in Bradenton and AMI, and Milton does not look good especially after just get hit. 🙏

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Thanks Anna! Thinking of those affected in Asheville, too.

[@annapaz4]

@@TravelingwithKristin Absolutely. It’s so heartbreaking ❤️‍🩹

[@LemlemAbebeGebreselassie]

For someone like me it is an aye opening video, useful 😢. Thanks🎉

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Glad it was helpful @LemlemAbebeGebreselassie! You're welcome 😊

[@stevemellor7989]

Thanks for the information, Kristin. Having lived in 7 different countries, I am looking to going abroad again, this time as an ex-pat. I think I would enjoy Spain (perhaps northern Spain, where it's not so overwhelmed with tourism).

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Glad it was helpful @stevemellor7989!

[@TheTravelingAdventure]

Thank you for shared Kristin, we have been visiting some places in Spain, What a beautiful country!

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Glad you enjoyed it @TheTravelingAdventure! Spain is truly beautiful. 😊

[@TheTravelingAdventure]

@@TravelingwithKristin it is a lot of history too

[@TheTravelingAdventure]

@@TravelingwithKristin it is a lot of history too right?

[@lacha608]

That was helpful. Thanks.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cland160]

I am surprised that Granada didn't make your list.

[@Cal-lamos]

Granada o provincia de Granada? Granada no, provincia de Granada tal vez!

[@kayleung5722]

That’s good. Don’t want videos like this to ruin every city in spain

[@sbkpilot1]

Girona is also close to the beautiful town of Figueres which is the birthplace of Salvador Dali and the incredible Cap de Creus Park by the coast

[@aha4874]

I absolutely love Spain (married a Spaniard) but in this video some of the images shown are not of the places being talked about - e.g. 10:03 shows the Alcazar in Segovia (near Madrid) when discussing the Alcazar in Seville. Same issue @ 3:30 referring to Turia Park in Valencia, but actually showing Atocha station in Madrid. Then again on18:09 where I am almost 100% sure the intro scene shown is not San Sebastian. Once more @ 21:28 and 21:43 showing Granada when discussing Sotogrande.

[@ricoma6037]

❤ Kristin!

[@TravelingwithKristin]

🫶

[@Soulfulvision1111]

Much about Spain and Everything about you is Right for Me 😂

[@travelology_official]

Malaga sounds like a real nice place, will need to put on my bucket list. 😀

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Thanks for sharing! A great addition to your bucket list! 😊

[@barrylyndon5084]

The image of the Alcazar is not from Seville, that Castle is in Segovia, in the center of Spain.

[@millernight1]

We lived in Gijon for 7 months its great place

[@TravelingwithKristin]

That's great to hear, @millernight1!

[@elizabethanderson8528]

Hi Kristen my dear i hope you and your family aeathered that storm in Florida. I found in one city: Sevilla that i found both people both rude and so friendly that i wanted to adopt them. One restaurant a punk, heavily tattooed girl was so accommodating. So dont judge by outward looks. I was in the St Rocio neighborhood. One bar, people were seated at tables and no one greeted me so i walked a couple of businesses over and i found an all male tapas bar, where they were smiling and telling jokes. I felt great there. This little area had mini supers, shoe stores, travel agencies, beautiful churches...well everything.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Thanks for sharing! I’m glad to hear about your experiences in Sevilla. Sounds like you had a great time exploring the neighborhood! 😊

[@MadalinIgnisca]

You listed areas extremly affected by real estate speculation, with increased overprice in last 2-3 years. Foreign people if look more pragmatic, could find areas of similar quality, but at half price.

[@manuelfg2902]

Thank you Kristin, you prettier everyday ❤

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Oh thank you!

[@sociologica4247]

Please no more digital nomads/retired people with better salaries than the general wage... I thank you like spain but we can pay for housin anymore!!! retire and live somewhere else!! Malaga barely has water anymore, since it does not rain and to many people!!! People will stop being friendly (its happening in many places in spain now) because no way to make ends meet. Airbnb also need to be controled. In malaga we like tousit but no more digital nomads and all I said before. WE make around 1200€ a month here, no jobs and its getting very very hard to make govenment and the rest see the long term problem

[@Eonwe]

Thank you for getting the word out about how the locals feel.

[@harryj1359]

Since there is freedom of residence in the EU there is no way to prevent people from other EU countries from coming and settling (unless Spain would exit the EU). For non-EU countries, such as UK und USA, Visa restrictions could be implemented. Cancel the digital nomad visa and the tax benefits. Apply normal or even increased tax rates for digital nomads from non-EU countries. I guess, 80 percent of the digital nomads would leave then. But I don't know if this would help with the housing situation.

[@bergantin74]

Has colocado el Alcázar de Segovia en Sevilla. Me gustó tu video. Saludos

[@joyyyy777]

Certainly, Spain has rich fascinating cities to live. I understand why many expats live in there. However, I'm surprised that Granada didn't make your list.

[@PauMaz]

Still looking fabulous Kristin.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Thanks Pau ❤️

[@neiss2]

At 10:02 you name the Alcazar of Seville (a palace built during the Roman Empire), but you post images of the Alcazar of Segovia (!) a fortress situated in SEGOVIA (not Seville), built in 1125 by King Alfonso VI of León. That's akin to posting a video about Buckingham Palace, showing images of Balmoral Castle. No one who has been in Spain would mix the Alcazar of Segovia with the Alcazar of Seville, it gives little credibility to the video.

[@Arturod-w4t]

there is a mistake in 3:51. That`s not turia park in Valencia...that`s Madrid, atocha railway station.

[@judithsmith9582]

You need to discuss Spains tax structure and how there tax what is known as "World Wide Wealth" if you want to become a citizen.

[@travelreview6688]

asturias 😍

[@CaptainGyro]

Looking good Kristin. Ever thought about becoming a supermodel?

[@MeetConservatives]

For great weather in the winter, nothing in Europe beats Costa del Sol (in which Málaga is the biggest city). (Note that the Canary Islands sometimes have better weather than Costa del Sol, but they're technically not in Europe, even though they're part of Spain).

[@josepmonrasvila1994]

The city of Alicante belongs to the region with the same name, it is not in Valencia, you are mistaken.

[@robertpuente3505]

It's interesting that the picture/avatar for your episodes seem to always having you wear low, revealing tops and then the video is you casually dressed. I enjoy your videos and watch them because of the content, not the cosmetic stuff

[@joecapesius2887]

Good marketing

[@fobbitguy]

Weird comment

[@Char_137]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊Hi5 from Rio in Braziiiiiillll!!!!! Muchas gracias❤❤❤ Cheers

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Hi! Welcome to Traveling With Kristin :D

[@ingridbond3432]

don't understand your COST OF LIVING est. says: $------ + rent - is this a monthly est.? So, for Murcia, the est. monthly cost of living for one person is: $1,435 + rent?

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Hi Ingrid, for some locations we added rent as an open category due to the wide range of housing prices. For some people housing will be €400 and for others €2500. In Murcia the actual average cost is $1,435 for a local person including rent, however foreigners from western countries generally tend to live on a higher budget. It’s always good to overestimate the cost and come in under budget just in case.

[@carolmartin4413]

Interesting...my x-bf went to Algarve...loves it.

[@jorgemoll5994]

Hi Kristin. How did you calculate the budgets for a family in Spain? I am from Spain and those budgets are impossible for an average Spanish family. Taxes are so high that disposable income is unattainable for 85% of the population. Thank you and best regards!!

[@barrylyndon5084]

The Tower of Hercules is not an obelisk! It's a lighthouse! A Roman lighthouse, the oldest in the world that still works. Where have you documented yourself?

[@happykt]

I love cool rainy places but didn't know the Basque region had a different tax system.

[@harryj1359]

There are huge anti tourist and anti expat movements in spain nowadays. In Barcelona tourists got "shot" with water guns. The housing situation in popular cities gets really critical. There are water shortages, especially in the south. So, think twice before coming to spain. If you want to come after all: 1. Learn the language. 2. Go to an area which isn't overcrowded and where you are not pushing out inhabitants. Such places do exists, but maybe not as much as appealing as Valencia or Màlaga. 3. Integrate in society and culture.

[@tallto]

Which places arent overcrowded though?! This is a global problem right?, not just Spain

[@MartinSmart-cl2gs]

@@tallto Places which are not overcrowded do exist. Even in Spain. They even pay you if you move there.

[@tallto]

@@MartinSmart-cl2gs right, the more remote areas or areas where people have left en masse.

[@mva6044]

For those with 7 figure incomes as digital nomads, instead of any of the above perhaps consider Andorra?

[@Michaelcj-m2d]

Teruel ( Teruel)... Nice capital city.

[@JavierEchevarria-q2r]

What about Alicante and Mallorca?

[@kayleung5722]

Mallorca is full……

[@josepmonrasvila1994]

Torrevieja belongs to the province of Alicante not Murcia, you are mistaken.

[@jbsv2979]

Orihuela y Torrevieja son como si fueran de Murcia

[@davesites]

👍

[@frankshelp6537]

Great presentation. One request. Gallego is pronounced Ga-Ye-go. Double Ls are pronounced as Y. This is pretty fundamental. ¿Como se llama? Yama not Lama.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Did I not pronounce it correctly? I’ve been speaking fluent Spanish for more than 20 years so I don’t think I would misspeak there. It sometimes happens that I pronounce a word wrong in English or Spanish when I’m filming because I’m concentrating more on talking to the camera. Either way, I encourage everyone reading this to try to learn a second language - even if it’s not perfect! Local people will appreciate your effort and have compassion for your mistakes.

[@elizabethanderson8528]

True ​@@TravelingwithKristin

[@frankshelp6537]

@@TravelingwithKristin Agree completely. I can’t understand anyone living abroad and not learning the language. Which is the reason I brought this up. When you were speaking about how much learning Spanish meant to you, I was surprised by this basic mispronunciation. If you go to the 13:05 minute point in this video, talking about A Caruña, it was a cringe moment that didn’t reflect well on your emphasis on learning the language, and the Rosetta Stone offer. I learned Spanish as a child in south Florida but have made continued study lifetime passion. I enjoy your travel videos and am a subscriber, so I bring this up only to be supportive. Check out the 13:05 point in this video. I went back for your convenience. 👍🏻

[@elizabethanderson8528]

@@frankshelp6537 you pronounced the words correctly. I had some new Spanish learner say that to me recently. Maybe they are well meaning, but it naive and irritating.

[@mikelaranaetxarri2934]

El yeismo, aunque está muy extendido, tampoco es que sea muy ejemplarizante.

[@pauls3075]

Oh Kristin, re hashing old stale videos trying to make them smell fresh. Showing stock video of Student only accommodation suggesting rental prices are cheap in Murcia that's straight up disinformation. You couldn't be bothered to do the work yourself. Old age is tiring isn't it.

[@stevenarseneault1972]

@0:38 is that La Manga? If so that's not central to Murcia.

[@junuc10]

Can you point out where Sotogrande is in Andalucia, please.

[@remediosruedaanaya4249]

Búscalo en Google.

[@jesusalvarez4502]

Eres Argentina?.

[@davidbani1203]

Hello ma, i would want to travel to Spain. Actually, I was born in Spain Girona. But didn't get to take Spanish passport

[@alastairjohnson4038]

You got the wrong Alcazar ....instead of the Real Alcazar of Sevilla, you showed an image of the Alcazar of Segovia!

[@remediosruedaanaya4249]

No tiene idea.

[@Antonio-fm4md]

What do you mean with political inestability in Barcelona? Which daily problems it concerns for normal people? Can you give us some concrete examples for real people living there? thank you!

[@suzannechapman4861]

Videos like this have destroyed the quality of life in Spain. Malaga WAS a paradise until it became overtouristy, cruise ship central, had a digital nomad influx, and is now overcrowded. The trains and buses are packed, long term rentals are sky-high and rare, and there is an extreme water shortage. Pools are closed, tourists use 3 times the water of residents and soon there will be water cuts. Please stop telling people to come here.

[@pepsicolla123]

:(

[@zocoraful]

But you are living in Malaga. Malaga only for you?

[@dor843088]

Malaga isn't special . It's happening all over the western world

[@harryj1359]

Just wanted to say the same thing. Housing prices are extreme high now, not longer affordable (unless you earn more then 100k €/ year). There are water shortages.There is a huge anti tourist and anti expat movement. I don't recommend to come to Málaga.

[@dor843088]

@@harryj1359 we're still coming .

[@runnerF-zc3ip]

Torrevieja is a city of Alicante, is not Murcia

[@harryj1359]

Torrevieja is not Murcia, it belongs to the Valencian Community.

[@oscarsantas6528]

A ver, 6 colegios bilingues?..no es verdad, hay muchos más¡ y que hay muchos Británicos es cierto, pero les recomiendo aprender español sino nunca estarán integrados en la isla (serán como los ingleses que viven en guetos borrachos todo el día), los viajes son más baratos que cualquier sitio de España porque los residentes tenemos un 75% de descuento.

[@remediosruedaanaya4249]

¿Qué rayos es malaweta? En Malagueta La "U" no se pronuncia.

[@Benito-lr8mz]

Eso en vez de una paella parece un momton de cosas inconexas jaja y un tipo vestido de gondolero con una gran espatula removiendo aquella montaña.de.cosas.😂; ah por ultimo NO inmigracion y guiris ; gracias

[@terryschima4964]

Your face is thinner these days; it makes you look less like little girl Kristin, and more like big girl Kristin. Positive change & energy.😊 Sorry, don’t see myself retiring to Espana. Taxes are higher than other places. Thanks anyway.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Hi Terry, I don’t often reply to comments about my appearance, but I will share certain changes I made that had a positive impact on my health (which I spoke about in a podcast linked below). I quit ingesting coffee, sugar, gluten, and alcohol over the past 1-3 years. I also became vegan in the last year. For anyone interested, I will leave the link here: www.travelingwithkristin.com/podcast/the-easy-way-to-live-a-better-life

[@ibon11]

It’s not paeia, its, Pa e ja. A as in bad and e as in bed. Then the ll is a consonant, like a j. It does not sound like a vowel.

[@danielflynn8118]

Actually, the double LL in Spain is pronounced like the Y in yellow. Argentina as well a few other countries pronounce it as a J.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Both ways are correct. I learned Spanish in Costa Rica where we use the Y sound, like Daniel mentions. The beauty of Spanish is all the different accents from different countries!

[@ibon11]

@@TravelingwithKristin I know there are different ways of pronunciation. The RAE Dictionary dictionary though gives users guidelines as to how it should pronounced. The LL is a consonant and saying paeia is putting an I in there that no one but Anglos will pronounce. Spanish people who proniunce that double ll softly don’t include an I. When you say ella you don’t say eia. There’s no I in there. That is something Anglos do. I know. I teach Spanish as well as English. This is why Mallorca in English is spelled Majorca.

[@ibon11]

@@TravelingwithKristin Costa Ricans do t put an I in paella. They pronounce the ll softly but they don’t pronounce it like an i. I am very familiar with central and South American Spanish.

[@ibon11]

@@danielflynn8118 Where in Spain? In Spain there are different languages. So, where?

[@arcabuz]

Take your expats and retired people and find another country. We are not your geriatric, don’t come!!

[@DragonKingGaav]

I wish Spain didn't have a wealth tax!

[@knsmith91]

How money a month would be considered for this wealth tax?

[@goldvideo]

Wealth tax is variable in Spain. AFAIK, there are exemptions and/or very high thresholds in Madrid and the Andalucía región.

[@josealfonsosilvalatorre1826]

Love you baby😘

[@nonplusultra4688]

No por favor,destruid vuestros países si queréis. España no puede ser lo que queréis,somos totalmente distintos.

[@gianthills]

when I saw that this was a bikini click bate, I stopped watching.

[@santiagogarridogarrido1734]

Horrible no estoy de acuerdo con nada de esta clasificacion

[@johchadow]

Whenever I hear Americans say the locals are snobby, I hear "we're arseholes".

[@lindasilva666]

Tourists getting enough flak in Spain these days without an "expert" carefully teaching them to mispronounce words. Ask a Spaniard how to pronounce Malagueta and listen carefully.

[@TravelingwithKristin]

Hi Linda, I am a relocation consultant and travel blogger - not a language teacher. I encourage everyone reading this comment to do their best to speak the local language even if it’s not perfect. I’ve been speaking Spanish quite fluently for more than 20 years and I often make mistakes because speaking a second language is hard. The important thing is to try. Also, please note that the pronunciation of Spanish differs across countries. My accent is from Costa Rica is much different than Spain’s. Spanish people will instantly recognize that I learned in Latin America and they will be okay with it.

[@johnsilver1800]

Who hurt you?

[@elizabethanderson8528]

@@TravelingwithKristin yes I don't speak perfectly, but I don't let that stop me. I have a ball. Actually make Spaniards crack up always

[@elizabethanderson8528]

@@lindasilva666 Linda is too judgemental. If you want to learn any language, you have to drop that attitude. What's her 666 about...she should try to be more of an angel

[@DinamoDeet101]

South is toooo Hot...no rain ..even Barcelona has problems .the Future of Spain and all Mediteran is not bright..