Americans moving to Spain have made it one of the top destinations for U.S. expatriates, with Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia drawing the biggest share of new arrivals. More than 50,000 U.S. expats are currently living in Spain, a figure that has only continued to rise. In fact, in the last two years, the number of U.S. expats in the country has risen nearly 25%.
Where Americans Are Settling in Spain
Spain’s Padrón Continuo, the municipal register maintained by INE, puts the count of officially registered U.S. citizens at roughly 41,953, with each quarterly release showing further growth as new arrivals complete their empadronamiento. Three regions absorb the bulk of arrivals.
- Madrid. The largest hub, anchored by multinationals, U.S. embassy networks, and international schools. The community grew 1.5% in 2024.
- Barcelona. Foreign-born residents now exceed 460,000 (26.5% of the city). Americans concentrate in Eixample, Gràcia, and Sant Gervasi, though anti-expat protests over rent inflation have intensified.
- Valencia. The fastest-growing of the three, with a 2.0% community-wide population increase in 2024. Lower housing costs and a strong remote-work scene have made it the breakout destination.
The main visa pathways for Americans are the Digital Nomad Visa (around €2,850/month income) and the Non-Lucrative Visa (around €28,800/year passive income). Spain closed its Golden Visa program on April 3, 2025, redirecting wealthier applicants toward the other two routes.
Why Americans Are Moving to Spain
Data on Americans moving abroad suggest the key driver for relocation is the high cost of living and healthcare in the U.S. Interviewees cited the affordability of Spain’s public and private healthcare systems, where even out-of-pocket medical costs are significantly lower than in the United States.
Additionally, housing in Spain is perceived as more accessible, both in terms of price and availability, and the cost of living in Spain is significantly more affordable than it is in the united States, despite the fact that the average income in Spain is less than half that of the U.S.
Another major factor is dissatisfaction with political polarization and gun violence in the U.S. Several Americans interviewed for the article mentioned a desire to raise children in a more peaceful environment.
