The cost of living is another major area in which Spain and France diverge, with life in Spain appearing to be quite a bit cheaper than in France, according to Numbeo. Consumer prices average around 30% higher in France, with some areas (such as an average grocery shop) costing around 50% less in Spain.
Cost of living in Spain is 18% cheaper than in France.
In general, France has a stronger economy than Spain, and the higher cost of living translates into higher prices for visitors. This is particularly true in cities like Paris, where affordable accommodation can be hard to come by. Coastal France can also be quite expensive.
France is 37.4% more expensive than Spain.
Cost of living in Spain is one of the lowest in Western Europe, even in the cities. (And the famous Spanish sunshine you get for free.) Leaving aside rent or mortgage payments—and depending on your lifestyle—a couple could easily live on $20,000 to $22,000 a year and still eat out regularly.
On average, the cost of living in Spain is 4.3% more expensive than in Portugal, with Spain being cheaper on average for public transport and grocery costs.
Spain is 11.9% cheaper than Italy.
All in all, Spain is generally cheaper to visit than Italy. For one, food and hotels are more affordable, even in larger Spanish cities, like Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville. Nonetheless, the cost of transportation (for example, train tickets) in both countries is pretty comparable.
Well, it depends on what you're looking for. If it's traditional culture, Madrid can offer classy museums and easy day trips to historic cities, but if it's a more laidback, perhaps beachy break then it has to be Barcelona.
Spain has both public and private healthcare systems. The public system provides free basic healthcare to those who contribute to the Spanish social security system and their families. The public system also provides free healthcare for retirees, including those from other EU countries.
Good Work-Life Balance
The French work to live and don't live to work, and they have a great work-life balance. In terms of paid vacation days, the standard is 25, but some positions offer more than 40! (That's WAY better than the 14 many people get living in Canada).
Living in a village in the south of France brings with it a great feeling of security and relaxation. We have found our French friends and neighbours to be nothing short of friendly and helpful. Everyone mixes together very well indeed. The feeling of a strong community is very evident here.
Is France expensive? Overall, I'd say yes. Most things cost more here than they do in the United States — and I'm saying that about life in the country, not Paris. Luckily right now, the Euro isn't super strong, so things aren't as bad as they could be for us Americans.
According to Numbeo, the overall average cost of living in Spain is 18.2% cheaper than in the UK as a whole. One major area contributes to this fact, as rent is on average 33.19% lower in Spain than Britain.
Cultural similarities
On a general level, France, Italy and Spain are similar nations. They are neighboring Western European nations whose cultures, languages, and social identities share many similarities. The French, Italians, and Spanish have a similar approach to life and value the same types of qualities.
The dramatic scenery in Italy, from the Dolomites mountain range to the islands of Sardinia and Scilly, and the beautiful lake district in the north, means Italy is arguably more beautiful than Spain. At least in our eyes.
Americans who want to visit Spain for less than 90 days for tourism, study, or business do not need a visa. You can enjoy this visa-free access until the end of 2022. Towards the end of 2022, US citizens need to apply for a visa waiver called ETIAS to enter Spain.
Granada is the cheapest place to live in Spain and the favorite to visit. The city is 250km east of Sevilla and is ideal for people who prefer cooler or smaller environments.
Although the prices aren't dramatically different, France is slightly more expensive than Italy, particularly in cities like Paris or along the coast. France's accommodation is typically more expensive, even for the most basic hostels and hotels.
For the first time, Spain has overtaken Italy in terms of GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP), according to figures released on Thursday by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Portugal has a lower cost of living, and the NHR program makes it a more favorable tax environment than Spain. Plus, the weather is more moderate in Portugal. For our money, Portugal has more benefits for retirees than its next-door neighbor (though we might be a tiny bit biased).
Portugal is in the top 3 of the 2020 Global Peace Index, the ranking of the safest countries in the world. Portugal is beaten only by Iceland and New Zealand on this list of the safest countries, and is ranked far higher than neighbouring countries such as Spain and France.
If you have lived and worked in Spain, you will be able to claim a Spanish pension if you have been a resident for at least ten years between the ages of 16 and pension age, and are over 65 when filing for the claim and have a low income.