Moving to Barcelona: What Expats Need to Know

Barcelona is a hugely popular destination for expats wanting to live the Mediterranean dream – and with its rich history, vibrant culture, great connections to the rest of Europe and excellent health and education infrastructure, it’s easy to see why.

We spoke to one of our experts, Tristan Barreiro, about what makes Barcelona such a great place to live, what expats need to know about living there, and his tips for settling in stress-free.

Why is Barcelona so popular with expats?

There are many reasons why so many expats choose to live in Barcelona – the most common being the Mediterranean lifestyle. Barcelona not only has beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean Sea, but the food is great, and it has good weather all year round – with typically very mild winter temperatures.

The city of Barcelona and its region, Catalonia, also has a rich culture and tradition. It’s a historical city dating back to Roman times, with more than 2000 years of stories to tell.

Barcelona is a diverse and cosmopolitan city, especially compared to many other parts of Spain. It’s a medium-sized city, which makes it ideal for expats wanting a more relaxed lifestyle – but there’s also plenty to do. Barcelona is vibrant and full of life, without the downsides that often come with much larger cities.

If you need to travel often, Barcelona is also very well-connected. It’s close to the airport and has a direct connection to France via high-speed train. Within the city, there is an excellent public transport system.

Just a couple of hours outside Barcelona, you have the stunning Costa Brava and the Pyrenees mountain range. Andorra is only a couple of hours away, so you could go skiing during the day then drive back to Barcelona and swim in the sea in the afternoon.

All these things make Barcelona a unique place to live and add to its popularity with expats from all over the world.

What makes Barcelona different to other parts of Spain?

The weather is one of the key differences in Barcelona. While Spain is famous for its sunshine, in some parts of the country it can get extremely cold in winter and hot in summer. In Barcelona, being close to the sea moderates the temperature so we have consistently good weather all year round.

Barcelona is also famous for its international, cosmopolitan and innovative feel. It feels more like a European city than other parts of Spain, which attracts a lot of expats.

Are there certain areas of Barcelona which are more popular with expats?

In Barcelona, if you walk for ten minutes in any direction, the landscape of the city changes dramatically. It feels like there are different cities within the city – all of which feel very distinctive.

One of the most popular areas to live is the old town, even though it’s the most touristy area. Many single expats, or couples with no children, choose to live here because it’s central and there is plenty going on during the day and night. These are also beautiful, gothic neighbourhoods – and it’s a special thing to live here.

Eixample is another very popular area of Barcelona. This is where you’ll find the famous Sagrada Família and other distinctive architecture by Antoni Gaudí.

Expats moving to Barcelona with family will often choose neighbourhoods further out of the city centre and closer to the mountains, like Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.

Gracia is also a popular area, known for its traditional flavour of Catalonia. Centuries ago, Gracia used to be a separate neighbourhood, and much of it still feels like it’s caught in the past. You’ll find more locals than expats living here, and there are no big shops or shopping malls.

Another popular area for expats is PobleNou which is close to the sea. This used to be an industrial area, and it has transformed over the last 10-15 years. Many IT companies now have offices here, including Oracle and Google, which makes it convenient for work – but it can also be difficult to find a place to live here as it is so in demand.

How much is the average rental property in Barcelona, and how easy is it to find a place to rent?

It can be challenging to find a place to live in Barcelona due to the high number of people coming to live in the city – but it's not impossible. It also has a reputation for being expensive, though it’s not as expensive as Madrid.

If you're planning to move to Barcelona, remember you don’t have to find your forever home straight away. Many rental contracts allow you to leave after six months or a year, during which time you can find the right place to settle long-term.

It’s common for expats to feel rushed when they arrive, and there’s no harm in starting out with a short-term rental. If you do come across a great flat, you’ll need to make a decision fast, as the best places tend to get snapped up quickly.

The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around €1400-2000.

What's the average property price in Barcelona, and how easy is it for expats to purchase property in the city?

Property prices in Barcelona are high for Spain, though not as high as in some European cities. The property market also isn’t as challenging to navigate as the rental market, and it’s fairly easy for expats to purchase a property. 

If you're already living in Barcelona, you’ll have a Spanish tax number (NIE), which is required to buy property. But if you’re looking to purchase before moving, you’ll need to apply for a tax number.

As an expat buying property in Spain, you'll generally have the same rights as local citizens. However, a new law is coming in which will introduce an additional tax for non-residents. If you’re planning to live in Spain full-time though, this shouldn’t affect you.

Property prices will depend on the property condition, local amenities and location, but for a two-bedroom apartment you are typically looking at a cost of between €300,000 and €500,000.

Do you need to have an address in Barcelona before you can apply for a Spanish visa?

Whether you need to have an address in Spain before starting your visa application depends on the type of visa you are applying for. For a detailed view of Spanish visas, click here.

If you are applying for a non-lucrative visa – perhaps you want to retire to Barcelona and you have the resources to live there without needing to work – the application process will need to be initiated in your local consulate. You cannot be in Spain when you begin.

For visas like the digital nomad visa – which are designed for people who can work – your application can be either started in your home country or in Spain. For example, you could come to Spain on a tourist visa and start the visa application process from there.

What is the healthcare system like in Barcelona, and how do expats access healthcare?

Everyone living in Spain has access to the Spanish public healthcare system, which is ranked among the best globally and in Europe.

To access public healthcare for yourself and your family, you are expected to make monthly Social Security contributions. These contributions will come directly out of your pay slip if you are working for a company, or you will pay them yourself if you are self-employed.

Public healthcare in Catalonia is generous. Even if you're not paying into the Spanish Social Security system – perhaps because you're in Spain on a non-lucrative visa and can’t work, or you've temporarily lost your job – you can still access medical care when needed.

If you have private health insurance, you’ll be able to access private healthcare in Spain. Private health insurance is generally very affordable and offers extensive coverage – most private healthcare plans cover a wide range of doctors’ visits and other essential medical services.

What is the process for expat parents to get their children into a school in Barcelona?

There are three school systems in Barcelona: public (state-owned) schools, semi-private schools (known as concertades) which receive partial support from state, and fully private schools –many of which are international schools.

Public schools are open to everybody, but there are application procedures to follow, and access to a certain school depends on the area you live in. Semi-private and private schools aren’t as bureaucratic when it comes to the application process.

Many expats choose to send their children to international schools, which cost on average around €10,000-20,000 per year – though there are some exceptions which are more or less expensive.

What are some top tips for getting settled into Barcelona as an expat?

• Secure your housing as soon as possible. As soon as you have a place to live, even if it’s not the place you want to stay in long term, you can start building your new life.
• Open a local bank account. While it’s possible to get by in Barcelona without a local bank account – especially if you’re from elsewhere in Europe – there are limitations. For instance, if you need to pay taxes in Spain, you’ll need a Spanish bank account to do so.
• Get a local SIM card. It might seem unnecessary if you have EU roaming and your phone works perfectly well in Spain, but in some situations – like receiving SMS codes to verify your identity for certain services – foreign numbers won’t always work.
• Learn some Spanish (or Catalan if you prefer). Spanish will be more useful if you want to travel around Spain or to other Spanish-speaking countries, and all Catalans are totally bilingual, speaking both Catalan and Spanish.
• Don’t expect to get everything sorted out in your first week. It will take quite a few weeks, even months, before you’re able to sort everything and feel settled. Don’t rush or put pressure on yourself.
• Get expert help. Some things – like navigating the housing market or getting your paperwork sorted – aren’t necessarily all that complicated but can feel difficult if you’re new to the country and don’t speak the language. Getting local, expert support will make things feel less overwhelming.

What is one main thing expats can do to reduce their stress when moving to Barcelona? 

Get professional help with your relocation. It’s probably more affordable than you think, and it will save you a lot of headaches and stress.

But it’s not just about getting help – it’s about finding the right help. Look for a professional with a trusted reputation, who really listens to you, understands your needs and offers a dedicated, personalised service.