'The grass IS greener': Americans in Spain agree life is better than in US

Shorouk Express

The Local Spain readers have been discussing life in Spain vs. the US on our social media channels. Find out what they have to say.

The Local Spain reported at the beginning of 2025 that between January 2022 and January 2024, the number of Americans living in Spain increased to 10,464 residents, a 26 percent rise in just two years.

Then just a couple of months ago in September, we revealed that a record number of Americans had obtained residency in Spain last year – a total of 15,638.

This was highest number of Americans becoming residents in Spain in one year.

To highlight the reasons why, we wrote about a recent documentary which sheds light on the Americans fleeing Trump for a better life in Spain.

Our article and the documentary provoked heated discussions on social media, with readers on both sides of the argument, but overwhelmingly most American readers agreed that life in Spain was better than in the US.

One reader summed it up well in response to a commenter who wrote: “Americans will soon learn the grass is not greener on the other side”.

She responded by saying: “Definitely MUCH greener pastures in Spain vs USA in every imaginable way (except perhaps for the bureaucracy). The quality of food in Spain is infinitely superior and healthier, the healthcare is a gazillion times better (not only cheaper, but superior quality care), the electoral process is infinitely more inclusive and representative in Spain, and it is much safer there without 500 million guns!! Even the TV ads are way better in Spain vs the US, where a whopping 60% of all TV ads are for pharmaceuticals! USA is a very very broken country, in my opinion, broken beyond repair”.

READ ALSO: Americans in Spain – The great exodus, IVF tourism and visa changes

Another American reader agreed saying: “Been in Catalonia two years from Southern California – it’s literally and figuratively greener here”.

Other commenters also agreed on the better lifestyle in Spain. One wrote “Did this 8 years ago and it was one of the best decisions I ever made”, while another said “We arrived here 4 years ago, expecting to go home within 6 months. Now at 69 I have the best healthcare I have ever had and the cost of living is unbelievable. The all around quality of living is different, but superior”.

One reader listed their reasons as proof that Spain is better by writing: “Virtually free healthcare and education for children, a life without stress etc. Lived in the US for 37 years, now back in the EU in Spain would not go back. Trump killed America”.

READ ALSO: American buyers hit historic highs in Spain’s property market

Not everyone agreed though, with many people citing lack of job and business opportunities in Spain as one of the main issues.

“The irony is that in the US you have options, opportunities no matter where you come from your gender or religious of reference. In Spain there is a very limited opportunity for young people to get ahead unless they are working remote for the US companies! For the older people there are no job opportunities so unless you go to retire there either proof of income it’s a different scenario” wrote one reader.

Another agreed saying that “It depends on what ‘better life’ means. Spain certainly isn’t better for business and career opportunities”.

Many other people talked about high taxes being one of the major drawbacks on moving to Spain from the US.

One reader wrote: “I’ll wait for the documentary of Americans going back after receiving their first tax bill…” while many others wrote similar comments.

The truth of the matter is that most Americans move here on the Non-Lucrative Visa or the Digital Nomad Visa, which means that they’re either not allowed to work at all or that they work remotely for companies abroad or are self-employed. Jobs for Americans are not widely available.

READ ALSO: Where are Americans looking to move to and rent in Spain?

But, for several readers it wasn’t about money or politics, it was simply about having a better lifestyle away from a more materialistic way of life.

“Even these threads of Americans commenting on how cheap everything is in Spain … we’ve learned to evaluate EVERYTHING through the lens of money. It’s always all about money, sigh. America has broken us. In Spain, people treat each other with politeness and respect. They value family time, togetherness, laughter, human connection. They do not ghost each other like Americans routinely do. Is that not worth more than gold?? (It is to me!),” one wrote.

Another put: “The US is nothing but a materialistic, consumeristic, for-profit BUSINESS. Every single aspect of American life is about monetisation. I find that in Spain there is a humanity that has long gone missing in the US, a certain innocence, honesty, human kindness and connection. I had not realised how severely lacking that is in the US until I started spending time in Spain!”.

Another stated that for them it wasn’t about Trump at all. “For me it isn’t about the political scene as both countries have their problems but is about the culture, people and their zest for life and not having to try so hard to get real, clean food”.

READ ALSO: How Americans can move to Spain

A few readers have also highlighted the issues about the impact so many Americans are having on Spain with many citing the fact that they’re moving here on US salaries and to them the cost of living may be great, but for locals it’s not, and many are struggling.

Readers also mentioned the number of foreigners exacerbating the housing crisis in Spain with many buying up properties for speculation and being able to afford over market value.

One reader explained this by writing: “Spanish people can’t afford buy a flat because the prices are raising too much. Foreigners with higher salaries are buying and renting a lot here and normal people with normal wage in Spain can’t live in our cities”.

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