Have you ever wondered why so many people want to come and live in Spain? The appeal of the Mediterranean air and the Spanish flare could be two key factors, however, there are many more reasons why people decide to move to Spain. From the incomparable Spanish quality of life to social benefits such as free healthcare, workers´ rights, free schooling, and good retirement benefits. A legal worker in Spain gets 30 days paid holiday regardless of his job title. The 30 days paid holiday is the law not only in Spain but likewise in the whole of the EU. In this article, we go over several reasons why you should consider moving to Spain. We will also talk about how you can do it and trust us; it’s easier than you think!
Have you ever wondered why so many people want to come and live in Spain? The appeal of the Mediterranean air and the Spanish flare could be two key factors, however, there are many more reasons why people decide to move to Spain. From the incomparable Spanish quality of life to social benefits such as free healthcare, workers´ rights, free schooling, and good retirement benefits. A legal worker in Spain gets 30 days paid holiday regardless of his job title. The 30 days paid holiday is the law not only in Spain but likewise in the whole of the EU. In this article, we go over several reasons why you should consider moving to Spain. We will also talk about how you can do it and trust us; it’s easier than you think!
Spain: A melting pot of cultures
Located in southwestern Europe and taking up most of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has a diverse geographical landscape, with beaches, mountain ranges, and fertile lowland regions. The country’s Mediterranean climate keeps winters mild and makes summers nice and hot. This is one of the reasons why Spain is also a popular summer destination.
Its location also makes it easy to travel to nearby countries, as it lies between Africa and the rest of Europe. You can drive to Portugal or even to France, or you can even take a ferry to northern Morocco. Spain’s proximity to countries with such different cultures is one of the reasons why its history has cultural diversity written all over it. After all, its tapestry of cultural heritage is made up of different civilisations, from the Romans to the Moors, and even the Visigoths.
This unique cultural heritage can be seen even to this day, especially in cities like the city of Córdoba, located in the southern province of Andalucia. The Mezquita is a mosque-cathedral that showcases a unique mixture of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish influences that the different ruling civilisations left over the centuries. The monument is a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of 48 in Spain.
Spain is truly a special place, from its Mediterranean climate and diverse geographical features to its unique mix of cultural influences embedded in its history. It’s so unique that after visiting the country, many people end up wanting to live in Spain. Let’s go over more reasons why you should consider moving to Spain.
Reasons to live in Spain: Cost of living
One significant factor you should consider about living in Spain is its low cost. The cost of living in Spain is significantly lower than the cost of living in the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In fact, among all the European Union countries, people know Spain to be one of the cheapest. Though prices vary based on which Spanish city you decide to live in, compared to many other countries, it´s still much cheaper to live in Spain. For instance, in the south of Spain, you can rent an apartment for as low as €600 a month. That’s only around 650 USD!
Essentials like food are also affordable in Spain. After all, Spain’s fertile landscape allows the country to produce a lot of its own food and wines. Speaking of, that brings us to our next point–Spanish food and drinks!
Reasons to live in Spain: Great food and drinks
Another reason to consider moving to Spain is the excellent food. When it comes to food, Spanish cuisine revolves around simple yet high-quality ingredients, which are mostly local products. This may be one of the reasons why Spanish cuisine hits differently in Spain. No one makes paella like the Spanish do! Also, the Mediterranean diet includes a variety of healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, nuts, and most especially, olive oil. The nature of these critical ingredients in many Spanish dishes makes Spanish food both delicious and healthy.
Furthermore, access to healthy and quality ingredients makes it easy to eat healthy in Spain. And of course, we can’t forget the wine! Spain is home to so many wineries. Not to mention, you’ll find that in most places, beer is cheaper than a bottle of water!
Reasons to live in Spain: The air is different
Another reason to live in Spain is the quality of the air. Yes, Spanish air hits differently, too. Because of Spain’s diverse geographical landscape, fresh, clean air is to be found in almost every Spanish province. After all, even if you’re based in an industrialised city like Madrid, it’s still relatively easy to drive to the mountains or even book a flight to a coastal city and spend a weekend at the beach.
This appreciation for fresh air and the outdoors in general is seen in the fact that many Spanish people like to go on hikes. “Hacer senderismo” (hiking) is a common pastime in Spain, one that many families and groups of friends enjoy doing together.
This is also evident in traditions like the famous Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage that goes way back to medieval times. The pilgrimage has several routes, but they all end in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where the remains of the Apostle Saint James are rumoured to be buried.
Spain also has many nature destinations, from virgin beaches to entire nature preserves. So, whether you’re a beach person or a mountain person, you will find that Spain is a breath of fresh air–both figuratively and literally.
Reasons to live in Spain: Unbeatable lifestyle and quality of life
The simplicity of the Spanish way of life is another reason you should consider moving to Spain. In general, Spanish people are warm and welcoming. Spanish tradition and culture are very family-oriented, and Spanish people are very sociable. Time with family and friends is significant to them, which is evident in many Spanish traditions and practises.
Socialising is vital to a Spanish person. For example, a botellón in Spain is a practice where people get together in a public place like a park or an open space to socialise and drink. The activity is popular among teenagers and young adults partly in response to higher drink prices at bars or clubs and partly because more people can meet in one place to socialise and make new friends, something not easily done with the loud music in clubs.
Botellón is not an alternative to typical nightlife but rather an economical way to drink with people before going to bars, discos, or clubs. There are some health, social and economic concerns surrounding botellón. Because the prohibition of drinking in the streets depends on the autonomous communities of Spain, botellón is illegal in some communities while it is not a problem in others. Although Andalusia, a southern autonomous community of Spain, prohibited public drinking in December 2006, botellón is still most common in southern Spain because the weather is relatively warm all year round.
The work-life balance in Spain is also good. In fact, the government has established laws to protect workers and ensure a healthy blend of life and work. The cost of living, quality of life, and affordable prices make Spain a great place to live.
Reasons to live in Spain: Healthcare and paid holidays
Finally, on our list of reasons you should consider moving to Spain are the benefits of being a legal resident of Spain– in particular free healthcare and paid holidays. Though foreign students need to pay for health insurance coverage to cover their study period, people in Spain are eligible for the Spanish National Healthcare System.
The bottom line is that if a student with her limited private medical insurance ever needs primary medical care, INSALUD (Spanish Health system) will kick in, and you will be treated and cared for at zero cost. If your country has a reciprocal arrangement with Spain, they will send the bill to your country´s National Health, and payment is between Spain´s INSALUD and your country´s National Health. The best part is that even if your country does not have a reciprocal medical care agreement with Spain, you will still be treated if you need emergency care at zero cost.
As for paid holidays, Spain’s labour laws protect workers' work-life balance. As such, employees in Spain are legally entitled to paid vacation every year; the minimum is 30 days, which is 22 working days. Employees have the right to take paid vacation days all at once though certain conditions apply. They can also take a minimum of two weeks or divide these days and take them throughout the year.
How to live in Spain: Choose an EBC programme that can get you there!
If you want to live in Spain, we have two programmes you can choose from. And the best part is that they cost the same amount! You can choose between the EBC Road2Spain programme or our Road2Spain Spanish-only programme.
The EBC Road2Spain programme
The EBC Road2Spain programme will allow you to study Spanish with a Cervantes Institute-accredited school for one year. And it will also allow you to teach English in Spain with a Trinity CertTESOL certificate. First, you will take the 4-week online EBC Trinity CertTESOL course, which is a Trinity College London Ofqual level 5 course. This certification is accepted and recognised by the British Council, which works in over 100 countries worldwide. Graduates of the course also get free, lifetime access to our worldwide job placement programme.
After you complete the course, you will start studying at a Spanish school, which gives you the letter of invitation you will need to apply for a Spanish student visa. Did you know you can apply for a Spanish student visa directly from Spain? Read more about it here.
Also, because you will have already completed your Trinity CertTESOL course by the time you start your Spanish classes, you can teach English in your free time. The current Spanish immigration law allows student visa holders to work up to 30 hours a week. Plus, they can work directly with their visas–no need to apply for a permit to work a certain number of hours as a student. If your teaching hours don’t interfere with your Spanish class schedule, there will be no problem.
You can read about Helga’s experience with the Road2Spain programme here.
The Spanish only programme
If you’re not interested in getting certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language, then you can opt to take the Spanish only programme.
Under the Spanish-only programme, you will focus only on learning Spanish with your language school. You will not take the EBC Trinity CertTESOL course and will therefore not have the certificate. If you are only interested in studying Spanish for a year, then this programme is for you. However, remember that the opportunity to get Trinity CertTESOL certification is good. After all, it’s a course that will give back to you. You will be certified to teach English as a foreign language, which could be helpful as you live in Spain. Getting a job as an English teacher will allow you to make some money while you live in Spain.
Why are these programmes the same price? Well, we at EBC are committed to supporting the TEFL industry worldwide. However, remember that there is an application process, and you must meet the requirements to be eligible to take this course at the same price as the Spanish-only programme.
Come live in Spain
From the low cost of living to the quality of life, deciding to live in Spain is one you won’t regret. Though it will require courage, believe us when we tell you it will be one of the best decisions you have ever made. And the best part is that it’s easier than you think!
Enrol with us today and see for yourself!
