Spain may well be one of the top countries for digital nomads, but unlike its Iberian sibling Portugal or the budget-friendly Balkans, it is not exactly known for being ultra-cheap to live in.
Inflation is rising, and prices for long-term accommodation are quite high.
Still, nomads flock to it for the quality of life and sunny climate, and little do they know they don’t need to spend over $1,300 on one-bedroom rentals in central Barcelona or set themselves back $80 per meal staying in eye-wateringly expensive Ibiza to live their best Spanish life.
Opting for these five cheaper yet just as incredible destinations instead, they get the same lovely weather and lively social scene while keeping it under $3,000 a month:
Granada
Granada is a major cultural center in Andalusia, a region of Spain that is as widely known for its balmy winters as it is for its rich Muslim heritage.
Though not many Americans would know this, this part of Spain was seized and ruled by caliphs originating from North Africa for centuries.
Tucked away deep in the Andalusian mountains, Granada was one of the most important Muslim cities of Iberia.
Today, its monumental Alhambra Fortress, Moorish-style gardens, and whitewashed Old Town are recognized as invaluable World Heritage Sites.
As a nomad destination, Granada offers lingering visitors a selection of work-friendly cafeterias, open green spaces for unwinding, ‘great’ levels of safety, and most importantly, living costs under three grand a month (more specifically, an acceptable $2,927).
Mallorca
The largest island of the Balearic archipelago, Mallorca has been a popular sunny getaway for decades now, with coastal spots like Magaluf, Europe’s very own ‘Cancun’, the luxury yacht hub of Port de Sóller, and culturally-charged Palma drawing in millions of visitors every year.
Unbeknown to some, however, Palma can be incredibly affordable for digital nomads, especially if they’re living like locals, in residential zones where there’s not a Brit or German visitor in sight, and local restaurants serve delicious, homecooked seafood paellas for $14.
Believe it or not, you can live comfortably in this subtropical paradise, surrounded by turquoise waters, renting a modest room in an untouristy area, and eating locally-sourced, fresh fruit on the daily, for around $2,641 per month.
Menorca
Mallorca‘s smallest, lesser-known sister, Menorca, is a 99,000-people-strong island famous for its abundance of unspoiled white-sand beaches, vineyard-dotted hinterland, where some of the best Spanish wine is produced, and cobbled Mediterranean settlements with lost-to-time origins.
If it’s some culture you’re craving, you’ll want to base yourself in the ‘Citadel‘, a charming harbor town with a preserved old quarter and numerous rustic cafes hosting remote workers.
Looking for the modern, palm-lined boardwalks and youthful atmosphere instead?
Trendy Mahón is your preferred port of call.
Overall, it costs $2,527 to live in Menorca, with lower prices observed for both food and accommodation away from the resort-packed eastern coast: there are long-term rentals in the market starting from $756 monthly and restaurant meals can be pretty inexpensive, too, averaging $15.
Fuerteventura
A tiny Spanish island part of the Canaries archipelago, lying off the African mainland, Fuerteventura is characterized by arid landscapes, laid-back, undisturbed coastal villages interconnected by scenic dirt roads, and long miles of golden sands fringed by a bright-blue Atlantic.
It is somewhere digital nomads would go to escape the hustle and bustle of big cities and slow down for a while, as it is not as popular as the far larger resort islands of Gran Canaria or Tenerife, and the largest settlement on this island (Puerto del Rosario) has only 43,000 residents.
Remote as it may be, keeping costs down is unlikely to be your primary concern relocating to Fuerteventura for the slow-paced life and quaintness: it is one of Spain’s most affordable nomad havens, with living costs totaling $2,046 monthly.
Gran Canaria
Canary Islands for the win:
Gran Canaria is variously described as the Island of Eternal Spring, the LGBT capital of Spain, and Europe’s go-to spot for all-inclusives under $1,000.
These are all true and sound appealing enough, but when it comes to digital nomadism specifically, there’s so much more going unnoticed.
Did you know, for instance, that regional capital La Palma boasts a high concentration of coworking spots, or that despite the rural character of its hinterlands, foreigner-friendly services are widely available, the internet is super fast regardless of location, and expenses total roughly $1,763 per month?
Additionally, as the Canary archipelago is located off the coast of East Africa, miles away from the European mainland, in a different subclimate, it is typically warm year-round, with temperatures rarely dropping below 75.2°F throughout the year.
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