What lands in your account
Take-home on a US salary (federal tax + FICA, no state tax) next to the same earning power in Spain, converted at current exchange rates. Single filer, standard deductions.
| US salary | US take-home /mo | Spain gross /mo | Spain take-home /mo | In dollars | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $80,000/yr | $5,389 | €5,695 | €3,977 | ≈ $4,655 | 30.2% vs 19.2% US |
| $120,000/yr | $7,731 | €8,543 | €5,602 | ≈ $6,558 | 34.4% vs 22.7% US |
US take-home is a national baseline — add state income tax where it applies (0% in Texas or Florida, up to ~13% in California). Spain figures use its own tax calculator. Run your exact pay below.
Where to land in Spain
One-bedroom rent ranges from AffordWhere's data. Open any city with a $80,000 US salary already plugged in.
| City | 1BR rent /mo | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murcia | €440 – €772 | 3/5 | See my budget |
| Granada | €456 – €800 | 3/5 | See my budget |
| Zaragoza | €590 – €950 | 2/5 | See my budget |
| Las Palmas | €611 – €1,070 | 4/5 | See my budget |
| Alicante | €620 – €1,160 | 3/5 | See my budget |
| Málaga | €650 – €1,500 | 3/5 | See my budget |
| Seville | €700 – €1,100 | 2/5 | See my budget |
| Bilbao | €700 – €1,250 | 2/5 | See my budget |
| Madrid | €750 – €1,800 | 3/5 | See my budget |
| Valencia | €750 – €1,700 | 2/5 | See my budget |
| Palma | €774 – €1,360 | 4/5 | See my budget |
| Barcelona | €800 – €2,000 | 3/5 | See my budget |
Healthcare, after the US
Spain runs a Public + Private common system. Public healthcare if employed. Private very affordable (~€50-100/month). Often faster for specialists. private sits around €60 a month — against roughly $400–700 for a US marketplace plan before any employer contribution.
Getting in from the US
Work route: Digital Nomad visa available (2023). Standard work visa requires employer sponsorship. Processing typically takes 1-3 months.
Remote-work route: Spain runs the Digital Nomad Visa (Visado de Teletrabajador Internacional) (1 year initial (from consulate) or 3 years (if applied from inside Spain), renewable up to 5 years total), generally needing proof of about $2,900 a month in remote income. Qualifying applicants can opt into a special non-resident tax regime (informally "the Beckham Law for digital nomads" under Ley 28/2022). It caps Spanish income tax at a flat 24% on employment income up to €600,000 per year for the first six tax years — the year you arrive plus five more. Without it, standard IRPF runs 19-47%. You cannot have been a Spanish tax resident in the previous five years.
Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current route with the Spain immigration authority before you commit.
Up-front to move in
Deposit: 2 month(s) of rent.
Agency fee: 1 month(s) of rent.
Typically 2 months deposit. Agent fee usually 1 month. Furnished common in expat areas.
The weather trade
In Barcelona, summers average about 27°C (81°F) and winters about 10°C (50°F).
Run your own salary against Spain
Enter your US pay. We'll show what lands after Spaintax, which neighborhoods you can actually afford, and what's left over each month.
Weighing other countries?
Questions Americans ask
How far does a US salary go in Spain?
Earning the equivalent of a $80,000 US salary in Spain — about €5,695 a month gross — leaves roughly €3,977 after tax and contributions, or about $4,655 in dollar terms. A single American on that salary keeps about $5,389 a month at home after federal tax and FICA.
Do Americans pay more tax in Spain?
On the US-equivalent of $80,000, the effective rate is about 30.2% in Spain versus 19.2% in the US (federal + FICA). At $120,000 it is about 34.4% versus 22.7%. These are single-filer baselines with standard deductions and no US state tax; your own rate shifts with state, city, and situation.
What does healthcare cost in Spain compared to the US?
Spain runs a Public + Private common system. Public healthcare if employed. Private very affordable (~€50-100/month). Often faster for specialists. private sits around €60 a month. For contrast, a US marketplace plan typically runs $400–700 a month before any employer contribution.
Can I move to Spain from the US on a remote-work visa?
Yes — Spain runs the Digital Nomad Visa (Visado de Teletrabajador Internacional) (1 year initial (from consulate) or 3 years (if applied from inside Spain), renewable up to 5 years total). It generally requires proof of remote income of around $2,900 a month. Qualifying applicants can opt into a special non-resident tax regime (informally "the Beckham Law for digital nomads" under Ley 28/2022). It caps Spanish income tax at a flat 24% on employment income up to €600,000 per year for the first six tax years — the year you arrive plus five more. Without it, standard IRPF runs 19-47%. You cannot have been a Spanish tax resident in the previous five years. Verify current terms with the official immigration authority before applying.
How much is rent in Spain?
In AffordWhere's Spain data, one-bedroom rents start around €440 a month in Murcia and climb from there in the larger cities. City-by-city ranges are on each Spain city page.