A different definition of success
Business Insider reported in 2025 on a financial educator who moved from Chicago to Valencia with her husband.
Her account was not a story about Spain being perfect. That is precisely what makes it useful.
She described enjoying Valencia's walkability, safety, welcoming atmosphere and a slower rhythm that allowed her to work fewer hours while maintaining a quality of life she valued.
But there were trade-offs
She also described Spain as more difficult for entrepreneurship, particularly around taxes and business expenses, and noted the challenge of adapting when one partner has limited Spanish.
The OleXpat view
A successful move is not only an approved permit.
It is a legal route that fits the way you work, your family, your finances and the kind of life you are trying to build.
