Spain is one of the most popular countries for expats. It boasts great weather, a fantastic lifestyle, and delicious food.

So it is no wonder it is becoming increasingly popular for people from the UK and the US, with these countries making up almost a third of Spain’s Expat population in 2023.

While people usually ask how to move to Spain from the UK, those at Moving To Spain want to tell you why you should take the plunge.

They have collected data across a wide range of factors, including life expectancy, average salary, cost of living, and more, to reveal why Spain is the best country to live in.

Even better, they’ve compared Spain’s cost of living to the UK’s and the prices are quite significantly different.

Livability scores

Research found Spain is the best country to live in compared to the UK, with a livability score of 9.27 out of 10.

Spain topped the scores for many factors, including income inequality, healthcare, cost of living, and safety. It’s a diverse, welcoming country that welcomes Expats and has a laid-back lifestyle.

Meanwhile, the country’s education system is also excellent, emphasising languages and critical thinking to help students apply knowledge to real-life situations.

Cost of living costs with one person renting in the city centre and basic utilities (Spain) – £917

Cost of living costs with one person renting in the city centre and basic utilities (UK) – £1,287

Average annual salary (Spain) – £26,000

Average annual salary (UK) – £34,000

Income equality (Spain) – 10.3

Income equality (UK) – 13.8

Healthcare Index (Spain) – 77.72

Healthcare Index (UK) – 73.21

Average working hours per week (Spain) – 40

Average working hours per week (UK) – 36.4

Paid leave (Spain) – 22

Paid leave (UK) – 20

Minimum number of public holidays (Spain) – 12

Minimum number of public holidays (UK) – 8

Safety index (Spain) – 64.31

Safety index (UK) – 52.28

Life expectancy (Spain) – 64.31

Life expectancy (UK) – 81.4

Alison Johnson, relocation expert and owner of Moving to Spain said: “Unsurprisingly, we’ve seen Spain dominate many of the categories in the study, and that’s not just us saying this because we love living here.

“The country as a whole has such great quality of life attributes that set it apart from the likes of the US and the UK. That’s not to say that these other nations don’t have their own redeeming qualities.

“However, we continue to see growing numbers of full-time Expats from the US and UK choosing Spain as their new home and this highlights why they are making that choice.

“Healthcare quality and life expectancy in Spain surpass those of the UK and the US, with the average Spanish resident living until the age of 83 years. The Spanish lifestyle is wonderfully fulfilling, with the sun and sea providing ample vitamin D and fresh air, and the Mediterranean diet playing its part in resident health and wellbeing.

“These factors have likely contributed to the longer lifespan. The layouts of Spanish towns and cities encourage walking, making this a popular choice for many people in Spain, encouraging physical activity and a sense of community. For those thinking of taking the leap and moving abroad, Spain is definitely a country to consider.”