Compare countries · Spain vs United States
Spain vs United States
Spain(Europe)·
United States(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Spain leads on 7, United States on 5. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Spain cheaper than United States?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Spain at 51.6 and United States at 68.8. Spain is about 25% cheaper overall.
Which has the higher quality of life, Spain or United States?
On the UN Human Development Index, Spain scores 0.918 and United States scores 0.938. United States scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Spain compared to United States?
GNI per capita runs $37,120 in Spain against $88,810 in United States; people live 83.9 years on average against 78.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 77 against 67. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Spain
51.6
Worse than 70% of countries
United States
68.8
Worse than 90% of countries
Spain: 25% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Spain
23.2
Worse than 78% of countries
United States
40.7
Worse than 95% of countries
Spain: 43% cheaper rents.
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Spain
62.4
Better than 67% of countries
United States
50.8
Worse than 63% of countries
Spain: higher perceived safety (62.4 vs 50.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Spain
0.918
Better than 86% of countries
United States
0.938
Better than 91% of countries
United States: higher human development (0.938 vs 0.918).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Spain
$59,868
Better than 83% of countries
United States
$90,027
Better than 95% of countries
United States: 50% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Spain
83.9 yrs
Better than 94% of countries
United States
78.9 yrs
Better than 75% of countries
Spain: 5.0 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Spain
77.2
Better than 90% of countries
United States
67.0
Better than 59% of countries
Spain: better-rated healthcare (77.2 vs 67.0).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Spain
277 Mbps
Better than 92% of countries
United States
308 Mbps
Better than 96% of countries
United States: 11% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Spain
75/100
Better than 83% of countries
United States
63/100
Better than 64% of countries
Spain: freer press (75 vs 63 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Spain
6.54
Better than 72% of countries
United States
6.82
Better than 85% of countries
United States: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.82 vs 6.54).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Spain
540
Better than 65% of countries
United States
700
Better than 94% of countries
United States: stronger English proficiency (700 vs 540).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Spain
92.8
Better than 83% of countries
United States
75.8
Worse than 60% of countries
Spain: more pleasant climate rating (92.8 vs 75.8).
Not comparable for this pair
- Peace — Global Peace Index: The Global Peace Index doesn't cover one of these countries.
Deciding between Spain and United States for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Spain profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full United States profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.