Spain tops the Quality of Life Index for expatriates

Expats love Spain — over four in five (82%) are happy with life there, well above the 70% global average. | Photo: Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter

Humphrey CarterPalma23/10/2026 12:15

The Expat Essentials Index (20th) is middling, and Working Abroad (26th) is the clear weakness. Expats love it regardless — over four in five (82%) are happy with life there, well above the 70% global average. The country’s appeal is its lifestyle — one in five expats (20%) moved there chasing a better quality of life, more than double the 9% global average — and more than two in five (41%) want to stay forever.

Spain tops the Quality of Life Index, and the reasons are easy to see. About nine in ten expats (89%) are satisfied with the climate and weather (vs. 58% globally), and Spain ranks 2nd in the Leisure Options Subcategory, including a 2nd-place finish for recreational sports.

Healthcare (4th) is another highlight, with at least four in five respondents rating its affordability (80% vs. 61% globally), availability (83% vs. 71%), and quality (83% vs. 71%) positively.

Spain also ranks 7th for Travel & Transit, helped by affordable public transport (6th), the ease of getting around on foot or by bicycle (10th), and the general opportunity to travel (10th). And safety is solid too, with 86% of expats rating their personal safety positively (vs. 81%) and a 3rd place for the freedom to express opinions.

Spain comes 6th in the Ease of Settling In Index, with consistent good results across its three subcategories Local Friendliness (7th), Finding Friends (7th), and Culture & Welcome (6th).

Close to three in four expats (72%) say it’s easy to get used to the local culture (vs. 60% globally). They feel both at home (7th) and welcome (6th) in Spain, and 77% agree locals are generally friendly (vs. 63%). Consequently, over three in five are happy with their social life (65% vs. 54% globally) and have a personal support network in Spain (63% vs. 58%).

Finances help the case for staying: Spain ranks 8th in the Personal Finance Index, with about three-quarters (75%) feeling their disposable household income covers a comfortable life (vs. 71% globally). Practical life is where Spain begins to slip, landing in 20th place in the Expat Essentials Index.

There are some conveniences — Spain ranks 7th for cashless payment options and 9th for learning the local language — but the bureaucratic grind colors the experience. Spain ranks 24th for dealing with local authorities, with more than half of expats (54%) saying it’s difficult, against 39% globally.

Housing is a strain too, ranking 19th, with below-average shares calling it affordable (29% vs. 32% globally) and easy to find (37% vs. 44%).

Work is Spain’s weak point, with a 26th-place finish in the Working Abroad Index. The local job market is viewed favorably by only about a quarter of expats (27% vs. 38% globally). And while globally, more than half (55%) say the relocation abroad improved their career prospects, the same is true only for 37% of expats in Spain.

The picture isn’t all gloom, though. Spain ranks 8th for work-life balance, with about two-thirds (68%) satisfied (vs. 62% globally), and the average full-time week is a short 40.0 hours against the 42.2-hour global norm.

For many, the lifestyle simply outweighs the career trade-offs, anyways. And indeed, only 17% say they moved to Spain primarily for work-related reasons. Worldwide, the share is nearly double that (33%). www.internations.org.