How This Spanish City Transformed an American Expat’s Life

Welcome to the Living Out and About series! I love sharing my experiences living abroad with y’all so much that I figured other expats would too. I’ve reached out to expats and nomads living around the world in different ways to share their experiences living, moving, and exploring. If you’re looking to learn about a certain way of moving abroad or about living in a certain place, check out this series!

Today, I’m speaking with Rachel of Barcelona Uncovered, who moved to Barcelona, Spain in 2021. Since then, she’s explored the ins and outs of living in Spain, traveling up and down Costa Brava, hopping on trains to Madrid, and catching planes to Cadiz. She’s seen Barcelona through the eyes of a visitor and an expat and is excited to share everything she’s learned while living in Spain. 

Hi Rachel! Thanks so much for joining us. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Rachel, I’m 29 years old, and grew up in a small town in Maryland. I love traveling, reading, and sipping wine and snacking on tapas with my best friends. 

I’ve since lived in Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and Charlotte, North Carolina, and have spent months exploring countless other states and countries. 

Very shortly into working for my company, who has offices around the world, I knew I wanted to move abroad. I wasn’t sure where, wasn’t sure how, and definitely wasn’t sure when. 

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to take advantage of my remote job and travel the world for a bit. That’s when I fell in love with Spain, and that’s where my new story began. 

Where did you live abroad? And why did you choose there? 

I currently live in Barcelona, Spain. I relocated abroad for a work assignment and had the choice between our Amsterdam office or our Barcelona office. 

I already had a passion and love for Spanish culture, but it was still a tough decision. In the end, I ended up choosing Barcelona with a new goal of immersing myself in the culture and becoming fluent in Spanish.  

What made you decide to move to Spain?

I had international work on my radar for about 5 years, but the timing and opportunites hadn’t worked out in my favor. 

Finally, an unexpected work opportunity presented itself and I couldn’t say no! I had previously worked with coworkers in countries all over the world. 

Much like the country, my Spanish coworkers were some of my favorite. They were kind, fun, and immedietly welcoming while I pondered whether making the move was the right decision. 

On top of having such a beautiful culture and community, Barcelona’s also on the beach. I’ve always had a soft spot for cities on the beach, but there aren’t many of them has bustling as Barcelona. 

I love being outdoors in the sunshine, I love the beach, and I love the warm weather. Barcelona’s climate really hit the trifecta for me. 

What were the biggest challenges of the move?

I’m a crazy dog mom, so moving my dog across the country was one of the biggest challenges for me. I was nervous about committing to long flights to and from the states for the holidays and even more nervous about finding trusted dog care, especially with a language barrier. 

Second, my dog and I moved to Spain without knowing a single person. Making friends in a new country seemed much more daunting than making friends in a new state, as I had many times. 

The last and biggest challenge was learning the ins and outs of living in the country very quickly. Understanding how to find apartments, trying to learn the Visa process in real time, finding my way around – all while working a new, full-time job. 

How much did your move cost you?

Though I don’t have an exact number, the move costs several thousand dollars. I was lucky enough to have a lot of help from work – laywers, consultations, flights back and forth, and fees add up very quickly. 

Housing was the most expensive (and difficult) for me. Unlike housing in the states, most apartments require at least two months of a security deposit, along with agency fees. Agency fees were another part of house hunting in Spain that I didn’t have to deal with in America. 

On top of that, the larger cities in Spain, Valencia, Madrid, and Barcelona, in particular, are known for having a housing shortage. Finding a place to live can be difficult when you’re in the city, but trying to find one from across the ocean? Phew! 

You really need to be ready to put money down quickly when you find a place you like in Spain. 

How did you obtain a visa? Were there any requirements you had to meet?

I’m on what’s called a highly qualified worker visa. This is typically used for specialized work and has certain requirements that need to be met to obtain this. The requirements are mostly around job scope with ample proof that the role is specialized and requires a certain skill set. 

I also had to prove my university degree, clear a background check, and meet certain income requirements. I think this is a common route for those working for multinational companies. The local entity of my company helped me navigate these. 

The process was also quite lengthy. Since I moved during COVID, I’m not sure how much of it was related to application backlog, or if it generally takes that long. It took me about 6 months in total between deciding to relocate and stepping foot in Barcelona for the first time.  

Spain has additional routes to Visas. Other popular options are student visas, non-lucrative, and even digital nomad visas (this is new!).

What was the cost of living in Spain like for a month and how did it compare to the US?

Total = $2075 USD

• Rent $1450
• Utilities $ 264
• Groceries $148
• Cell phone $21
• Transit $150
• Internet $42

A few things to note about my personal living expenses: 

1.  I live in a three bedroom apartment, and one room is rented out. I pay much more in rent than the average person. If you don’t mind roommates, it’s possible to find a room in Spain for $400-$600 per month.

2. Barcelona and Madrid happen to be the most expensive cities in Spain. If you don’t want to be in the center of the action of Spain’s major cities, rent and living expenses can be even cheaper. 

3. Utilities are quite variable – they frequently change year-round. I’m responsible for water, electricity, and gas, which isn’t unlike the states. 

Overall the cost of living is lower than what I was used to paying in the United States. The costs of eating out, activities, and travel is also much lower in Spain. I personally love having the ability to spend a little more than I used to on experiences, unique travel opportunities, and delicious food! 

How did you find a place to live in Spain?

When I first moved, my employer helped set me up with a relocation company. Again, I’m super lucky to have had such great support moving – it’s much more difficult doing it on your own. 

The relocation company was helpful in providing insight into different neighborhoods. I made a pros and cons list with them about my personal wants and needs and narrowed down to a central neighborhood. 

I lived in a central neighborhood for about 10 months while I got to know the city. I’d suggest a short term option for anyone looking to move to a new city. It gave me time to meet friends and see where they lived and allowed me to explore the city and neighborhoods on my own. From there, it was easy to see what neighborhoods I was gravitating towards. 

After my short term apartment lease was up, I found a local real estate agency that handles rentals. Agencies are almost a necessity when searching for housing in Spain, unless you happen to know a person renting themselves, but that’s not common. 

The local real estate agency was like my partner in crime. They’d send over apartments that fit my preferences and I’d check their available listings frequently. After about 3 months of searching, I found my current flat. 

The timing is another thing to consider when moving to or within Spain – finding a place seems to take longer here than I was used to, so you need to plan further ahead. 

What are the best places to live in Spain?

Personally, I LOVE Eixample. It’s a central neighborhood with great access to the entire city. It’s also beautiful and much quieter than some other areas. A lot of my friends live nearby – it’s super popular with young professionals. The friends that are further are still walkable. It’s my favorite of all the neighborhoods in Barcelona. 

Gotico and Sants are also popular among expats, including Americans. Gotico, or Gothic Quarter, caters more to the crowd looking to be in the heart of the city – close to nightlife, the beach, and the “hustle and bustle”. 

Sants and Sant Gervasi, on the other hand, are both popular places to live, but two of the quieter areas in the city. This makes it a more popular choice for families and older couples. 

You can’t go wrong with any of these areas. They all offer their own unique charms and easy access to public transportation throughout the whole city. 

How did you set up a bank account in Spain?

The relocation company assisted with this as well. This was a daunting task, as I knew nothing about banking in another country. The company provided information on a few of the main banks and each of their differences, which you can certainly research on your own. 

I also chatted with colleagues and ended up choosing one based on their recommendations. There are so many expat Facebook groups and communities to help with decisions like these if you don’t have friends or colleagues. 

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How did you find work in Spain?

I was working in a specialized role for a multinational country in the United States. An opportunity opened up on our team in Europe that allowed me to make the move. I think this is a relatively common path for professionals at this point in their career.

From what I’ve learned from other expats, it can be a bit difficult to find local work without a visa or work permit. Since Spain is heavily dependent on tourism, plenty of people will come for seasonal work opportunities in hospitality related sectors. There is always demand for people who are fluent in multiple languages. 

How did you meet locals and other expats to make friends in Spain?

Just like America, Bumble BFF was one of my go-tos for making friends in Spain! There are also Facebook groups for expats that helped out tremendously with meet ups and learning to navigate the city from the eyes of an expat.

Girl Gone International is a popular expat community with branches in many major cities. After I made a few initial friends, it was easy to branch out while meeting friends of friends.

I’m single, so I also ended up meeting some now-great friends through dating. 

👉 Want to make friends around the world? Join Meetups today for free!

What were the pros and cons of living in Spain?

Pros 

• Cost of living – Staples like groceries are much cheaper here than in the US. 
• Quality of life – people work to live, not live to work. Socializing is important and there are plenty of bank holidays throughout the year. 
• Public transportation and accessibility: it is so easy to get around here! Metros, taxis, buses, budget airlines, high-speed trains. I would take this any day over driving around. 
• Affordable healthcare – Spain has great public health care with affordable private options as well. 
• Weather – there are more than 300 days a year of sun and the city is located on the beach. 
• Expat community – there’s a large expat community here and I love meeting folks from every walk of life. 

Cons 

• Bureaucracy – paperwork for visas / residents cards can be quite a headache. 
• Lower Salaries – salaries are lower in Spain compared to the US.
• Convenience factor – many stores aren’t open Sundays so it’s important to plan groceries and errands around siestas, Sundays, and bank holidays.
• Rental Market – the rental market is quite competitive here and finding a good apartment can be a time consuming process. 
• Population Density – Barcelona, in particular, is one of the most densely populated cities in Europe. It can be loud at times. I often miss my backyard and not living on top of my neighbors. 

Read Nina’s pros and cons from her time living in Spain here.

What differences were there between Charlotte and Spain? 

The biggest difference between Charlotte, North Carolina and Spain is public transportation! I’ve lived in Spain 2.5 years now and have not driven a car since I moved. 

This would not be possible in Charlotte or many US cities. The ease of public transportation and walkability still shocks me. I live in the center of the city and walk or bicycle as often as possible. 

For trips outside of the city, like to the airport, I opt for taxis or public transit now. For longer day or weekend trips to Valencia or Madrid, I can hop on a train and be there in a few hours. 

Another big difference is the culture. 

If someone only had 1 day in Spain what do they HAVE to do?

For an unforgettable 24-hour adventure in Spain, I’d spend it in Barcelona! Start your day in the Catalan capital at the iconic Sagrada Familia – Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece and Barcelona’s renowned attraction. 

Then, head to the cobblestone streets of Gothic Quarter. If it’s warm out, you can even stroll over to the beach from here. Gothic Quater is full of history, being the oldest town in the city. As the sun goes down, it’s time to get a taste of Barcelona’s nightlife. 

You’ll be within walking distance to El Born and Gotico, who have some of the best nightclubs in Europe, top 50 bars in the world, and dive bars with cocktails and atmospheres out of a dream! 

Lastly, no Barcelona experience is complete without savoring the flavors of authentic Spanish tapas. Teleferic, La Pepita, and GILDA Tapas Bistro are three of my favorite tapas restaurants in the city. 

What is the best local tip you have about Spain?

Pickpockets are more common in Barcelona than almost anywhere else in Europe. Unsurprisingly, it’s worse in the most populated areas.

Pickpockets are most common in Las Ramblas and El Born. Furthermore, keep an extra eye out if you’re taking public transit, as that’s another place pickpockets often hide

I never go anywhere without my belt bag strapped to my chest or waist. There’s no reason to risk carrying a bag. It’s hard enough to navigate a big city, but navigating a big city AND worrying about someone slipping into my bag? No thank you! 

Another tip that took me a little while to adjust to is to never leave anything unattended on your table or beach towel or hanging off chairs, especially at restaurants with outdoor dining. Keep your purse attached to you at all times. 

This is the number one thing to avoid in Barcelona, so don’t take this travel advice lightly!

What do you like most about living in Spain?

Overall, living in Spain has been a dream come true. What I love most about it, particularly in Barcelona, is the climate and location. The year-round warm weather gives me the opportunity to get outside without worrying about snow and freezing weather. I love the beach, love hiking, and of course the amazing cuisine and culture. 

If I happen to miss the colder weather, I can hop on a train and head to Madrid, which has a more “four-season” climate. 

What is the hardest thing about living in Spain?

While most people do speak English in Spain, and learning Spanish isn’t a necessity, the language barrier becomes a challenge at times. 

Websites are not always easily translated online and the language barrier can be difficult. This makes the already frustrating bureaucracy of permits and resident card renewals even more frustrating.

It’s helpful to attend meetings with a translator. I’ve prioritized taking Spanish classes and meeting with locals to practice frequently. 

It’s hard learning a new language as an adult, but the more fluent I get, the easier it gets to navigate those challenges! 

Need help learning a new language? I recommend iTalki! I’ve tried ALL the apps, but iTalki is the only way I’ve managed to learn as much as living in the local country.

How did your family feel about you moving abroad? Was it hard to tell them? 

My family didn’t love the idea, mostly because they were uncomfortable with me being so far from home. I didn’t find it hard to tell them, because I knew it was the right choice for me. 

Thankfully, they weren’t necessarily shocked that I would take this opportunity. No one in my family is a big traveler, so I had spent years confusing them with my passion for travel before this move!  

Did you move abroad alone or with family/friends/pets?

I moved to Spain with my handsome rescue pup, Nash!

Looking to move abroad with a pet? See our full guide here.

Would you ever go back to the United States?

Never say never, and I would for the right opportunity. However, it’s not on my radar and I LOVE life as an expat. I’m setting down roots here for the long term. 

When is the best time to visit Spain?

The best time to visit, in my opinion, is June or late September. I prefer the mild to warmer weather. But, the mid-summer months are definitely more popular. Better for hanging on the beach and getting a feel of just how many people come to experience Spain in the summer! 

Most of our readers are female, so do you have any specific tips for women to stay safe in Barcelona, Spain?

Most importantly, be careful in Born, Barceloneta, Gotico, and Raval neighborhoods at night. It can be easy to get lost in these streets, and many lead to dead ends.

Second, regardless of where you are in Spain, make sure your taxi driver turns on the meter!

Is there Uber in Spain or how did you get around?

There is a small Uber presence in major cities in Spain but most people opt for cabs. It’s easy (and safe) to catch cabs in Valenica, Madrid, and Barcelona.

Public transportation is also efficient, safe, and affordable. You can get to just about everywhere you need to go by train or bus. There are also two ride-sharing apps – Cabify and FreeNow – that can be downloaded before you get to Spain. 

How do you keep in touch with family and friends back home?

Lots of FaceTimes, texting, and social media! I also keep a room open for when anyone from home wants to come visit. I have a few friends visit each year which makes the room more than worth it.  

Did you travel a lot before you decided to move abroad?

Yes, I always prioritized traveling. It’s much easier to do so in Europe than in the United States.

Public transportation to other cities is easier, flights are cheaper, and trains are much more efficient. So, while I used to prioritize it, now it’s more of a simple lifestyle! 

Do you identify as an expat, digital nomad, or something else?

Digital nomad turned expat.

If you could go back in time, what is one piece of advice you’d give yourself before moving to Spain?

Prioritize friendships with people that plan on having roots in the city! I made so many friends over the summer who were only in Spain for the summer. When winter hit, I found myself needing to find a whole new group of friends.That kinda sucked! 

What advice would you give someone wanting to move to Spain solo? 

Downsize as much as possible and have a decent cash fund for apartment down payments. 

Apartments tend to be smaller than those in the US and don’t have nearly as much storage. And regardless of the size of your apartment, moving across the country isn’t easy. Bringing only the necessities will make it a little easier.  

Second, join as many social groups as possible until you find your circle. Barcelona is a very transient city so opt for friends interested in planting roots. 

Thank you so much! Where can my readers learn more about you and follow along with your journey? 

Readers can follow my journey and learn more about traveling and living in Barcelona at my website, Barcelona Uncovered. 

Read More Living Out and About Interviews:

• This Expat Left Teaching in Japan for Living in Dubai. Here’s Why!
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• Discover the Underrated Australian City That Boosted One Local’s Health and Happiness
• Discover Life Beyond the Tourist Trails in Spain’s Coastal Towns Through a Local’s Eyes

Read more about living in Europe:

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• Living in Portugal Pros and Cons
• Pros and Cons of Living in France
• What It’s Like Living in Ireland
• Pros and Cons of Living in Germany
• Pros and Cons of Living in Berlin as an Expat
• Best Places to Live in Europe for Expats
• Pros and Cons of Living in the Czech Republic for Expats
• Pros and Cons of Living in Amsterdam
• Living in Prague: The Complete Expat Guide
• Pros and Cons of Living in Turkey
• Pros and Cons of Living in Austria
• Pros and Cons of Living in Sweden
• Pros and Cons of Living in Switzerland
• Pros and Cons of Living in Denmark
• Living in Serbia Pros and Cons
• Living in Portugal Pros and Cons
• Pros and Cons of Living in the UK: Should You Move to England?
• Pros and Cons of Living in Scotland as a Foreigner
• Pros and Cons of Living in Oxford, England from an Expat
• Pros and Cons of Living in Spain