Of all the European destinations to retire to, it’s pretty easy to see why Spain is a number one choice. It has beaches. It has sunshine. It has great healthcare. It has history. It has culture. And it’s somehow still affordable.

But retiring in Spain is more than the sum of its many benefits. It also requires a lot of practical questions.

What visa do you need? What will it cost? Where should you move?

These questions and more are answered below.

Spanish Visa Options for Retirees

If you’re an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, retiring in Spain is extremely straightforward. Simply register with your local Extranjería office after arrival. You’ll need to show sufficient financial resources and health coverage, like an EHIC or an S1 form. Once registered, you’ll receive a foreigner’s ID number (NIE), making Spain your home. You’re done!

For non-EU retirees, the primary option is Spain’s Non-Lucrative Residence Visa, specifically designed for people who want to live in the country for a long time and who won’t be working. (It basically protects Spanish workers while still allowing the country to benefit from your spending and taxes.)

To qualify, you need to prove you have the financial independence necessary to not work while you’re here—around €28 a year annually for an individual, with around €7,000 extra per dependent.

Essential documentation will include:

  • pension statements,
  • proof of investment income,
  • substantial savings,
  • private health insurance
  • medical certificate confirming good health
  • a clean criminal record

 

After getting your visa through your home country’s Spanish consulate, you receive a renewable one-year residence permit. You can later use this to get permanent residency after five years. (Eventually, this can even lead to citizenship.)

Historically, Spain also offered a Golden Visa, granting residency in exchange for significant investments (e.g., €500,000 in property). However, note that from April 2025, Spain will discontinue this program. Existing Golden Visa holders will retain their rights, but new applicants must consider the Non-Lucrative Visa or other options moving forward. Learn more here.

Cost of Living for Retirees

Spain provides an appealing balance of affordability and lifestyle, particularly attractive to retirees from North America and Northern Europe. Everyday living expenses such as groceries, dining out, utilities, and transportation are typically lower. To see just how much lower, you can read more about the cost of living in Spain here.

It’s worth taking a look at a few key costs here.

  • Healthcare is obviously an important cost to consider for retirees, and Spain excels in this area. The country’s public healthcare system (SNS) is high-quality and universally accessible for residents. If you’re an EU pensioner, you may register using the S1 form, giving you free healthcare covered by your home country. Non-EU retirees must initially have private health insurance. But don’t worry, this is inexpensive compared to US rates—it ranges from €50 to €200 a month, depending on age and coverage.After your first year, you might transition into the Convenio Especial—a public healthcare access scheme costing roughly €157 monthly for those over 65. Private healthcare remains affordable even without insurance. A general practitioner visit typically costs €50–€80.
  • Housing costs vary widely by region. Popular coastal regions and large cities such as Barcelona and Marbella are pricier, with monthly rents for a two-bedroom apartment ranging from €600 to €1,200 or more. Smaller towns and inland regions are significantly more affordable. Many retirees end up buying property, which right now averages $232 per square foot.

 

So, what’s the overall damage? A comfortable lifestyle for a retired couple typically costs around €1,800–€2,200 a month in smaller towns and €2,500 in major cities.

Expat Retiree Community in Spain

Spain’s thriving expat communities give you a group of people you can easily patch in with and connect to. It gives you ample opportunities for socializing and integration.

This community is so large because retirees are drawn to the Mediterranean coast for great food, affordable prices, warm weather, and those gorgeous beaches. (Probably the same reasons you want to retire here!)

There are a few best choices for places to consider moving for expat retirees:

  • The Costa del Sol, including towns like Málaga, Marbella, and Nerja, hosts substantial British and European expat communities. You will find no shortage of social clubs, golf courses, English-language events, and healthcare services catering specifically to expats.
  • Similarly, Costa Blanca—centered around Alicante and Torrevieja—offers those quintessential stunning beaches, affordable housing, and an expat scene. These coastal regions are particularly attractive for retirees seeking an active social life and easy integration.
  • Wanting a little more energy? Cities like Barcelona, Valencia, and Málaga give you that urban feel and metropolitan amenities. And given their size, they have plenty of expats.
  • For peace and quiet, inland regions such as Almería and rural Andalusia offer quieter lifestyles and much lower costs. These areas require more immersion into local Spanish culture (especially the language), but if that isn’t a hurdle, they can be wonderfully authentic places to retire.

Climate Considerations

While expat communities are great, you also want to pick the right climate for you. There is some variability in Spain, so it’s worth taking time to get this right.

I Want Warm Summers and Mild Winters

If this sounds like you, you’ll love the Mediterranean coast. It enjoys hot, dry summers and mild, pleasant winters. The Costa del Sol is particularly famous for its 300 days of sunshine per year, which is perfect for retirees seeking year-round outdoor activities. Summers typically reach 30–35°C (86–95°F), while winters remain comfortably mild at 15–20°C (59–68°F).

You might also be interested in the Canary Islands. They have a subtropical “eternal spring” with year-round temperatures between 20–29°C (68–84°F), minimal rainfall, and fresh ocean breezes. That keeps things mild pretty much year-round.

I Want Four Seasons

There are plenty of options for those who like distinct seasons.

Northern Spain, or “Green Spain,” including regions like Galicia and Asturias, offers cooler summers, moderate winters, and higher rainfall. Summers here average 25°C (77°F), and winters 10–15°C (50–59°F).

Spain’s interior regions experience continental climates, with hot summers often exceeding 35°C (95°F) and colder winters, occasionally dropping below freezing, particularly at night.

For both an ocean setting and mainland climate, you should consider the Balearic Islands.

Congratulations on Retiring to Spain

Spain has so much going for it as a retirement locale. And among the thousands of clients we’ve worked with to make their dreams of moving to Spain a reality, we hear such positive things about their new lives here.

If you’d like more answers to your questions, or maybe some help for your own retirement odyssey, consider contacting our team.