A recent CNN article told the story of Cristina and her husband, an American couple who sold everything, secured a non-lucrative visa, and moved to Spain, expecting to build a new life. But within a short time, they packed up and returned to the U.S.

So, what went wrong?

I’ve been living in Spain for seven years, and I know firsthand that moving here can be an incredible experience—but only if you come prepared and with the right mindset. Cristina and her husband faced challenges that many expats experience—adapting to the culture, understanding the cost of living, making local friends, and adjusting to Spain’s rhythm.

That’s why I wanted to break down some key lessons from their story—not to judge their experience but to help others avoid the same frustrations.

If you’re thinking about moving to Spain, this guide will give you an honest look at what to expect, how to integrate successfully, and how to truly enjoy life here.

1. Spain is not always sunny ☀️🌧

Cristina and her husband sold their Florida home, secured a non-lucrative visa, and moved to Santander in northern Spain—excited for their new adventure. But one of the biggest reasons their move failed? The weather.

“I wasn’t prepared for how gloomy it would be for several months of the year.”

“I just couldn’t take six months or five months of bad weather,” she says. “Sometimes, it just rains five days out of the week. It rains day and night…

Many people associate Spain with year-round sunshine, warm beaches, and endless blue skies, but that image only applies to certain regions.

Why expats struggle with this

✅ Spain’s climate varies greatly by region. While places like the Costa del Sol are warm most of the year, northern Spain is cold, wet, and often overcast.
✅ Santander and Cantabria have long, rainy winters. The region averages over 120 rainy days per year—far from the eternal summer that many expect.
✅ Madrid gets freezing winters too! Another common mistake—people assume that because Madrid is in central Spain, it’s always warm. In reality, Madrid regularly drops below freezing in winter.
✅ They moved from Florida—one of the warmest places in the U.S. The climate shock was severe. Florida has year-round heat, high humidity, and mild winters. The switch to Santander’s gloomy, wet weather was clearly a mismatch.

What to know before moving to Spain about the weather

✔️ Research your chosen city’s climate year-round—especially winter.
✔️ If you’re used to warm weather, consider Spain’s sunnier regions:

Costa del Sol (Málaga, Marbella, Almería) → 300+ sunny days per year
Valencia & Alicante → Mild winters, warm summers
Seville → Hot summers, mild winters
Northern Spain (Santander, Bilbao, Galicia) has an oceanic climate—expect rain, clouds, and cool temperatures most of the year.

Lesson Learned

👉 Don’t assume Spain is just “warm and sunny.” Climate varies widely—choosing the wrong region can make or break your experience.

2. Spain has a more relaxed lifestyle

Cristina was frustrated by Spain’s relaxed approach to time and business hours.

“All of their businesses and restaurants, for the most part, close at three or four o’clock in the afternoon. Banks close at two, and then you can’t do anything. There’s no services being provided.”

For someone used to a fast-paced, 24/7 culture like the U.S., this can feel restrictive at first.

Why expats struggle with this

This challenge is common among expats—Spain operates on a different rhythm, prioritizing quality of life over convenience.

Spain follows a different rhythm, one that prioritizes quality of life over convenience. In many parts of Spain, afternoons — even more so in the summer time — are a time to slow down, eat well, and take a break before the evening begins. The concept of slow living is deeply embedded in Spanish culture, where work-life balance is valued more than efficiency.

Key cultural aspects include:

Sobremesa – lingering at the table after a meal to talk and connect.
Weekends are for relaxation – long lunches and quality time with family and friends.
Traditional siesta hours – still observed in smaller towns, while major cities like Madrid and Barcelona remain open.

Adjusting your expectations

Spain isn’t designed for efficiency—it’s designed for balance. Expats who struggle the most are those who expect Spain to operate just like their home country. Those who thrive are the ones who embrace the change and adjust their routines

Lesson Learned

👉 Before moving to Spain, it’s important to ask yourself the following:

Can I adapt to a slower pace of life without feeling frustrated?
Can I embrace a lifestyle where socializing and relaxation are prioritized over efficiency?
How flexible am I when it comes to waiting longer for services or dealing with a more laid-back approach to time?

3. Spain is not that cheap after all

Cristina admits that some aspects of living in Spain were more affordable, particularly groceries and rent. However, she was surprised to find that utilities were comparable to the U.S., and she seemed disappointed by the quality of cheaper rental homes.

“I noticed that the cheaper homes for rent, you would find them on the outskirts of the big city in remote areas.”

This reaction highlights a common mistake many expats make—assuming that Spain is universally cheap. While Spain can be more affordable than the U.S. or Northern Europe, the cost of living varies greatly depending on the city, region, and lifestyle you choose.

Why expats struggle with this

Spain isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to affordability. Cities like Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastián, and Ibiza are among the most expensive places to live, while places like Valencia, Seville, Alicante, and Granada offer a much lower cost of living. Cristina expected low housing prices everywhere, but in reality, cheap rentals are often far from city centers or in less desirable areas—just like in any other country.

Her disappointment in utilities being "just about the same as the U.S." also reveals a lack of research. Electricity in Spain is expensive, particularly due to high energy taxes and the country’s dependence on imported gas. Many expats are surprised by high electricity bills, especially if they rely on heating in winter or air conditioning in summer.

However, other expenses—such as healthcare, public transport, and fresh food—tend to be significantly cheaper than in the U.S. or UK.

Cristina’s complaints about housing costs suggest that she may have been looking for cheap rentals without fully considering location, quality, or trade-offs. Instead of seeing the bigger picture—that housing costs are relative and that lower prices may come with compromises—she seemed frustrated by a reality that is true in most countries: the best locations come at a higher price.

Lesson Learned

👉 Spain isn’t automatically cheap—you have to do your research. Expats who set realistic expectations and choose their city wisely will find great value, while those who expect luxury living at bargain prices may be disappointed.

4. Fast food is trash everywhere (Spain included)

Cristina moved to Spain without strong opinions about the food, but over time, she grew to dislike it, calling it “fried, greasy, and unhealthy.” However, it’s important to note that this perception may have been shaped by eating out too often or focusing on fast food options.

No matter where you live, relying too much on fast food isn’t the best approach, and that applies to Spain as well.

Why expats struggle with this

While Spain does have fried tapas and heavier dishes, traditional home-cooked meals are rooted in the Mediterranean diet—one of the healthiest in the world—featuring fresh vegetables, olive oil, seafood, and legumes.

Unlike in the U.S., where fresh fruits and vegetables can be expensive, in Spain, they are affordable and widely available. This makes home cooking both a cost-effective and healthy way to eat.

A common mistake new expats make—one that Cristina seemed to fall into—is relying too much on eating out, rather than adapting to Spain’s home-cooking culture.

Lesson Learned

👉 Cooking at home in Spain is a game-changer. Those who embrace it save money, eat healthier, and enjoy one of Spain’s biggest lifestyle perks—fresh, affordable food.

5. It takes time for people to let you in (both figuratively and literally)

Cristina felt that while Spanish people were friendly, they didn’t invite her into their homes easily, which led her to see Spain as having a “closed culture.”

“They don’t open up their house to people very easily,” she says. “They talk to you, but it’s not like, ‘Oh, come over to my house and have some drinks.’”

In some cultures, particularly in the U.S., inviting new acquaintances into one’s home can happen quickly, even after just meeting. However, in Spain, home invitations usually come after a friendship has developed—not right away.

This isn’t a sign of a closed or unwelcoming culture; it’s just a different way of socializing. Spanish people spend much of their social life outside the home, gathering at bars, cafés, plazas, and restaurants rather than hosting at home.

There’s also a regional aspect to this. In bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona, where apartments tend to be small, people prefer to socialize outside. In smaller towns and among older generations, home gatherings are more common, but usually reserved for close friends and family.

Why expats struggle with this

This isn’t unique to Spain—it’s a pattern seen in many countries where people socialize in public spaces rather than private homes.

From my own experience, all of my closest Spanish friends came through work. But for those moving on a non-lucrative visa, where working isn’t an option, finding other ways to socialize is key. Signing up for local activities, taking language classes, and engaging in community events can help fill that gap and create meaningful relationships.

Age and personal interests also play a role. Younger expats might find it easier to meet people through nightlife, university programs, or casual social events, while older expats may need to be proactive in finding communities that align with their interests.

6. The honey phase always wears off

Cristina had visited Spain multiple times before moving and assumed that life as a resident would feel the same as life on vacation.

“We wanted to be in Europe and live the European lifestyle.”

She fell in love with the idea of living in Spain and the excitement of exploring new places—but vacation mode doesn’t last forever. Once she settled in, the reality of daily life hit hard.

Bureaucracy, unexpected costs, and the challenge of building a social network made her feel like an outsider rather than a carefree traveler. The honeymoon phase wore off quickly, and Cristina realized that adapting to a new country requires more than just enthusiasm; it requires patience, resilience, and a willingness to embrace discomfort while adjusting to a different way of life.

Why they struggled

✅ Visiting Spain for a few weeks is very different from dealing with its daily realities—bureaucracy, schedules, and long winters.

✅ The honeymoon phase wore off, and Cristina realized she hadn’t fully prepared for the everyday challenges of expat life.

✅ Day-to-day life includes responsibilities that don’t exist on vacation—dealing with medical appointments, securing residency paperwork, and handling local bureaucracy.

✅ Many expats underestimate the adjustment period and expect Spain to feel like an extended holiday, which leads to frustration.

Lesson Learned 👉 If you’re serious about moving to Spain, spend at least a few months living there before making the leap. Short trips won’t prepare you for the realities of everyday life.

What Cristina’s experience teaches us about moving to Spain 🇪🇸✈️

Cristina and her husband moved to Spain with high hopes, but ultimately, their experience didn’t match their expectations. From struggling with the climate and daily schedule to finding it difficult to integrate into Spanish social life fully, their challenges highlight common mistakes that many expats make when relocating to Spain.

But their story doesn’t mean Spain isn’t a great place to live—it simply underscores the importance of preparation, adaptability, and an open mind.

If there’s one key takeaway from Cristina’s experience, it’s this: Moving to Spain isn’t just about choosing a destination—it’s about choosing a lifestyle.

Spain offers a slower pace, a strong community culture, incredible fresh food, and affordable living—but to truly enjoy it, you need to:

✅ Research your city thoroughly – Weather, lifestyle, and costs vary greatly.
✅ Be willing to adapt – Spanish schedules, bureaucracy, and customs are different, but embracing them leads to a richer experience.
✅ Make an effort to integrate – Learning Spanish, joining activities, and being patient with friendships will help you feel at home.

Cristina’s story could have been different with better preparation and a mindset shift, but her challenges serve as valuable lessons for anyone considering a move to Spain.