🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇬🇷 Greece: moving abroad in 2026
Spain and Greece side by side for a move in 2026 — 7 visa and residency routes between them, a comfortable month from $1,700, and how each system treats a new resident. Information with official sources, not advice.
Visa route figures checked against official government sources · July 2026
At a glance
The tinted cell marks the lower figure (or the higher care-standard label) — a factual comparison, not a recommendation. The right country depends on your situation.
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 🇬🇷 Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa & residency routes | 3 | 4 |
| Lowest income route | $2,600/molower | $3,750/mo |
| Lowest investment / deposit route | — | $290,000 |
| Second passport possible? | Yes — see routes | Yes — see routes |
| Comfortable month (one person) | $1,700–2,500 · Valencia | $1,700–2,600 · Athens |
| Rent, 1-bed | $900–1,500 | $650–1,050lower |
| Healthcare system | Universal public | Public + private mix |
| Care standard | Stronghigher standard | Good |
| Private health cover | $50–110/mo | $50–120/mo |
The routes, side by side
The most accessible active program per route type. Full requirements and official sources are on each country's page.
Spain
- Digital nomadDigital Nomad Visa (Startups Law)$3,050/mo income
- RetirementNon-Lucrative Visa$2,600/mo income
- AncestryIbero-American 2-Year Residency RouteNationals of Latin American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, or Equatorial Guinea (heritage/nationality-based fast track, not pure bloodline)
Greece
- Digital nomadDigital Nomad Visa$3,750/mo income
- RetirementFinancially Independent Person (FIP) Visa$3,750/mo income
- InvestmentGolden Visa (Real Estate)$290,000 investment
- AncestryCitizenship by Descent (Greek Ancestry)Greek parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, evidenced by an unbroken chain of registration in a Greek municipality (dimos)
What living there costs
🇪🇸 Spain
- Comfortable month
- $1,700–2,500
- Rent (1-bed)
- $900–1,500
- Reference city
- Valencia
- Private health cover
- $50–110/mo
Great weather, world-class food and healthcare, and cities like Valencia or Málaga cost roughly 40% less than Madrid or Barcelona.
🇬🇷 Greece
- Comfortable month
- $1,700–2,600
- Rent (1-bed)
- $650–1,050
- Reference city
- Athens
- Private health cover
- $50–120/mo
Some of the lowest costs in the Eurozone outside the islands, plenty of sun, and an easygoing Mediterranean lifestyle.
Directional 2026 bands for the main expat city — a starting point, not a quote. Information only, not financial or medical advice.
Which one do you actually qualify for?
Run your income, savings, or heritage against every route in both countries — free, 2 minutes, nothing filed.
Weighing Spain against Greece?
Add your email for new Spain and Greece guides and a heads-up when either country's rules or figures change. We never file anything ourselves.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
Spain vs Greece: FAQ
Is Spain cheaper to live in than Greece?
They start from a similar level: a comfortable single-person month runs about $1,700–2,500 in Spain (around Valencia) and $1,700–2,600 in Greece (around Athens). City and lifestyle move the number more than the country does.
Which is easier to qualify for, Spain or Greece?
On the published income bars alone, Spain's most accessible route starts lower — about $2,600/month versus $3,750/month. That's the entry figure, not a verdict: each government makes the actual eligibility decision.
Do both Spain and Greece have digital nomad visas?
Yes. Spain's Digital Nomad Visa (Startups Law) asks about $3,050/month; Greece's Digital Nomad Visa asks about $3,750/month. Both figures reset and drift with exchange rates — verify at the official source.
How does healthcare compare between Spain and Greece?
Spain runs a universal public system (Strong care standard; private cover about $50–110/month), Greece a public + private mix one (Good; about $50–120/month). Spain carries the higher care-standard label in our dataset. The labels are directional, not medical advice — resident access rules are on each country's page.
Are these figures official?
Every visa program and healthcare profile links its official source, and visa figures are 2026 USD-equivalents that drift with exchange rates and annual resets. Cost-of-living bands are directional estimates — no single source is authoritative for those. Treat this as a starting point for a shortlist — verify with the official source or a licensed advisor before acting on any of it.