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Real answers about
moving to Barcelona

From someone who actually did it — with a wife, two kids, a dog, and a stack of Spanish paperwork.

Ask me a question → Who is this guy?

What people ask about

If you're confused about it, I've probably figured it out.

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Visas & paperwork

Digital nomad visa, TIE cards, NIE numbers, and family dependents.

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Finding housing

Neighborhoods, lease types, dog-friendly buildings, what's realistic on your budget.

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Schools & kids

Public, concertada, international — what the differences actually mean for your family.

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Cost of living

Groceries, utilities, transport, eating out — real numbers, not blog estimates.

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Healthcare

Public vs private, getting a tarjeta sanitaria, finding an English-speaking doctor.

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Day-to-day life

Supermarkets, phone plans, making it actually feel like home.

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Transportation

Metro, buses, T-Casual cards, getting around the city without a car.

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Sports & kids' activities

Football academies, local clubs, signing kids up for sports in Spain.

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Real questions, real answers

What people actually ask me

These are real questions from people who've reached out. Click any question to read the answer.

Q Did you have visas before you came, or did you apply once you arrived? ▼

Stephen's answer

We're on a Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), but we applied after we arrived in Spain — not before. We got all our paperwork together while still in the States, flew over, and then submitted the application here. That approach worked well for us because it gave us the full 3-year residency from the date of approval. It's worth knowing that you can enter on a tourist visa and apply from within Spain — you don't have to have everything approved before you board the plane.

Q What neighborhood did you choose, and how did you handle schools for your kids? ▼

Stephen's answer

We started in Encants, near Gloriès — great area, well-connected, and we loved it. We eventually landed in Sant Martí, near the Forum and Diagonal Mar, which has been a great fit for us. We're on an 11-month lease and still figuring out long-term plans. Having a dog made the apartment search harder, just a heads up.

For schools: it's not as simple as just picking one. Once you get your empadronamiento (padron), you make an appointment with the local education department and they show you what's available in your area. Our older son goes to a concertada (semi-private) school — we pay about €90/month and we're happy with that. Our younger son is in a public school nearby where they teach almost entirely in Catalan, which has been a challenge, but four months in he's adapting. The third option is private/international schools — fully English, but expensive. The education feels like a step back from the U.S. in some ways, but there's a much bigger focus on life skills, which we genuinely appreciate.

Stephen and family

Who answers your questions

Hi, I'm Stephen.

I'm an American from Texas who moved my whole family — wife, two kids, and our dog — to Barcelona. We figured out the digital nomad visa, hunted for a dog-friendly apartment, enrolled our sons in Spanish school, and learned what nobody tells you in the expat blogs.

I'm not an immigration lawyer or a relocation consultant. I'm just a dad who went through it and is happy to help you avoid the mistakes we made.

Ask me anything. It's free. If my answer saves you time or stress, a small donation is always appreciated — but never required.

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