Moving to Spain: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
Spain: Beckham: 0% on most foreign income · 24% flat on Spanish work income up to EUR 600k (6 years). The cheapest route to residence is beckham law via a job or the start-up visa; non-lucrative visa needs ~EUR 28.8k a year shown: USD 30k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 1,500 in fees, in about 3 months. Living costs about USD 2,100 a month for one person in Madrid, USD 980 in Jerez de la Frontera, and around USD 930 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | Beckham: 0% on most foreign income · 24% flat on Spanish work income up to EUR 600k (6 years) |
| Foreign income | Beckham: most foreign income exempt (not foreign employment), 6 years |
| Gains · dividends | foreign: exempt under Beckham · 19-30% |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | wealth tax + solidarity tax (Beckham: Spanish assets only) · regional; Madrid/Andalusia low |
| Cheapest residence | Beckham law via a job or the start-up visa; non-lucrative visa needs ~EUR 28.8k a year shown |
| Money needed | USD 30k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 1,500 in fees |
| Time | about 3 months |
| Doable yourself? | Mostly; a local fixer for one step helps |
| Days you must spend there | 183 days |
| Citizenship | 10 years (2 for Latin Americans) |
| Online business | 24% effective, about USD 2,000 a year to run: Beckham: 24% up to EUR 600k, foreign income exempt |
| Living (one person a month) | Madrid ~USD 2,100; bare minimum ~USD 930; family of four ~USD 3,700 |
| Good for | Beckham regime for people moving for a job, a directorship of their own company (<25% stake) or the start-up/digital-nomad visa |
| Common set-up | a Spanish employment or start-up role + Beckham; the wealth tax ignores foreign assets under Beckham |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Programmes
| Programme | All-in, one person | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital nomad visa (+ Beckham) | USD 1,500 | 3 | Income ~EUR 2.8k/month from foreign clients; can elect the Beckham regime (24% flat on Spanish work income). |
Questions
- How much does residence in Spain cost?
- Beckham law via a job or the start-up visa; non-lucrative visa needs ~EUR 28.8k a year shown: USD 30k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 1,500 in fees, about 3 months.
- Does Spain tax foreign income?
- Beckham: most foreign income exempt (not foreign employment), 6 years. In one line: Beckham: 0% on most foreign income · 24% flat on Spanish work income up to EUR 600k (6 years).
- What does it cost to live in Spain?
- Living costs about USD 2,100 a month for one person in Madrid, USD 980 in Jerez de la Frontera, and around USD 930 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from Spain?
- Effective tax about 24% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 2,000 a year: Beckham: 24% up to EUR 600k, foreign income exempt.
- What is the catch in Spain?
- High tax afterwards; Wealth tax; Aggressive tax authority
- What residence or citizenship programmes does Spain have?
- Digital nomad visa (+ Beckham): about USD 1,500 all-in for one person, ~3 months
Compare
- Monaco: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income (French citizens excepted)
- Andorra: 10% on foreign income (credit for tax paid abroad) · 10% on local income · 10% top
- Switzerland (lump-sum taxation): lump-sum: a yearly fixed tax on living costs instead of tax on income (foreign income and gains included)
- Italy (flat tax for new residents): EUR 300k a year flat on all foreign income and gains, whatever the amount · 43% on Italian income
- Greece (non-dom): EUR 100k a year flat on all foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member) · up to 44% on Greek income
- Cyprus (non-dom): 0% on dividends and interest (non-dom, 17 years) · 20-35% on work income · 0% on securities gains
- Malta: foreign income: 0% unless brought to Malta (min. tax EUR 5k) · 35% top on Maltese income
- Portugal (IFICI): 0% on most foreign income (IFICI, 10 years) · 20% flat on qualifying Portuguese work income · 48% otherwise
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (livingcost.org, June 2026), rounded