Every year, Spain gets millions of visitors around the world. Many people come here to spend their holidays, and enjoy their time on beautiful beaches, museums, nightclubs, and so on. But, living in Spain and going there as a tourist are totally different things. If you want to live in Spain while working remotely, you need to consider a few variables such as socio-economic status, Covid safety, digital comfort, and digital security.
When these variables are taken into account, Spain is among the best places to work remotely. According to the Global Remote Work Index, Spain was voted the world’s fourth-best country for remote workers. Spain offers affordable local prices and it is one of the cheapest countries in Europe. That’s why many remote workers prefer Spain as their next destination and Spain’s remote work visa policies permit remote workers to stay in the country for a long time.
Additionally, Spain has administered 203.03 doses of the Covid vaccine per 100 people, and it has loosened Covid restrictions across the nation. As of 2022, Spain can be considered a covid safe country, and during your time in Spain, you most likely won’t be caught in curfews and lockdowns. If you haven’t got a covid vaccine, there is no need to worry because Spain only requires non-vaccinated travelers to take a negative covid test within 72 hours before reaching the country. Now, let’s see some of the most popular cities in Spain.
Table of Contents
1- Madrid
Madrid is the capital city of Spain, and it is among the most popular cities in Europe. That’s why Madrid gets millions of visitors around the world each year. In Madrid, English proficiency is very high, and this city has one of the lowest crime rates in Spain. Madrid has many coworking spaces, high internet speed, and affordable local food prices.
Additionally, social life in Madrid is great, there are tons of nightclubs, bars, coffee shops, and restaurants where you can meet a lot of people and build an international network. But, in Madrid, rental apartments are relatively higher than in other cities like Valencia, and Malaga.
For instance, in the city center, long-term rental apartments can cost you more than 1300$ monthly. So, if you have a limited budget, you might need to rent an apartment or studio outside the city center which usually costs 500-800$ monthly. Still, Madrid is cheaper than other capital cities in Europe.
2- Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the most popular places in Europe, and it hosts millions of tourists every year. Barcelona has many beaches, coworking spaces, nightclubs, bars, coffee shops, restaurants, art museums, and so on. It is safe to say that social life in Barcelona is great. In this city, English proficiency is really high as a lot of expats, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs live here. In Barcelona, you can be friends with people who belong to different cultures and improve your cross-cultural communication skills.
Additionally, Barcelona has one of the best internet speeds in Spain. Except for a few neighborhoods, Barcelona is relatively safe, but you should always be aware of tricksters and bag snatchers. As for the cost of living, in Barcelona, local food prices are fairly affordable, and cheap. But, in this city, rental prices are really high.
For example, in the city center, long-term rental apartments can cost you more than 1400$ monthly. If you can’t afford an apartment in the city center, you can rent a studio or private room that can approximately cost you 500-850$ monthly.
3- Valencia
Valencia is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, and it is the hometown of many expats and digital nomads. When Valencia is compared to Barcelona or Madrid, it has more affordable local prices, and the cost of living is relatively cheaper here. For instance, in this small city, long-term rental apartments approximately cost 850$ monthly, and studio or private room prices are between 300-650$ monthly. Social life in Valencia is almost equal to Madrid or Barcelona, and this city offers high-speed internet and many co-working spaces filled with expats and digital nomads.
4- Màlaga
Màlaga is one of the safest cities in Spain, and it is a popular destination for many expats and digital nomads. This city is located in the south, and it has many beaches, nightclubs, museums, and coworking spaces. It has a good internet speed. Additionally, in Màlaga local prices are fairly affordable, and public transportation is cheap. The cost of living isn’t high, and rental prices are cheaper than other cities. For example, in Màlaga, the average cost of long-term rental apartments is approximately 780$ monthly, and studio or private room prices are between 330-670$ monthly.
Last Remarks
Spain is a very popular destination for tourists, expats, and digital nomads. This country offers great social life and warm weather. Additionally, Spain is one of the cheapest countries in Europe and English proficiency is very high. That’s why people come to Spain from all around the world to live and work remotely.