Warm climate, sea coastline, a wide range of services, top-tier healthcare, quality education – these are the living criteria most often named by those who, for one reason or another, are seriously considering immigration.

In today’s article, we invite you to look at Spain and Israel as very favorable places to relocate and live, and we will outline their key features, highlighting advantages and disadvantages.

According to worldpopulationreview.com, Spain rounds out the top ten most popular destinations for immigration: 6,842,202 migrants live here, which is 14.63% of the country’s total population. At the same time, only 1,953,575 migrants live in Israel, but as a percentage of the total population the figure is higher than in Spain and stands at 22.57%.

These prosperous countries have attracted not only everyday migrants but also Russian celebrities. As for Spain, it has been chosen for long-term living by TV host Tatyana Lazareva, 90s star Natalya Vetlitskaya, former “Blestyashchie” soloist Yulia Kovalchuk, film actor Andrey Panin, singers Gluk’oza and Alyona Apina, the Ukrainian pop duo Potap and Nastya Kamenskykh, and some others.

In Israel (temporarily or permanently), some Russian showmen and TV hosts currently live as well – for example Ivan Urgant and Maksim Galkin, singer-songwriter Semyon Slepakov, singers Jasmine and Alla Pugacheva, journalist and opposition politician Ksenia Sobchak, rock musician Andrey Makarevich, and other well-known personalities.

What makes these countries attractive, and what “pitfalls” is it worth thinking about before moving? Let’s figure it out.

Spain vs Israel: pros and cons

Spain

A very friendly and open country filled with sunshine, lively carnivals, and celebrations at any time of year – and famous for its wonderful Mediterranean cuisine, which benefits not only your taste buds but also your health. And if you also adopt the Spanish tradition of the afternoon siesta, peace of mind is practically guaranteed even in these challenging times.

Pros:

• Relatively low prices (by European standards) for food, household goods, and services.
• A pleasant Mediterranean climate along the coast.
• Many well-equipped beaches, some awarded the Blue Flag for quality.
• A wide variety of tasty, healthy, and refined dishes in the national cuisine.
• A strong level of healthcare. In 2025 – 10th place in the world, according to Numbeo.com.
• A welcoming attitude toward foreigners and attentive care for children.
• Free preschool (from age 3) and school education. This applies to foreign children as well.
• Picturesque landscapes everywhere – for example: the sea and beaches of Costa Blanca, spacious national parks in Asturias, Cantabria, and Castile and Leon, Barcelona’s elegant architecture, Benidorm’s striking skyscrapers, Valencia’s ultra-modern City of Arts and Sciences, and more.
• A vibrant cultural life, enhanced by countless holidays and colorful festivals.
• Spain’s residents enjoy visa-free travel across the European Union, and overall the Spanish passport provides visa-free access to 173 countries.
• Low crime rates.

Are there any downsides to choosing Spain for permanent living? Let’s try to find them, too.

Cons:

• Bureaucracy in public institutions. Because of “mañana” (“come back tomorrow”), obtaining a required certificate or document can drag on for weeks, months, or even years (waiting for citizenship, for example).
• High taxes even by European standards, based on a progressive scale. Hiding income and late payments can result in huge fines, and in some cases even prison terms.
• A high unemployment rate. Young people often have to move to larger cities after graduation to find work, because small coastal towns tend to offer jobs mainly in tourism.
• Average salaries may not look as attractive as in some other EU countries. However, this is balanced by the fact that in Spain you can live comfortably and enjoyably even on a relatively modest income.

And what about Israel?

First of all, let’s note that the “Promised Land” has a unique geographic location, surrounded by three seas: the warm and gentle Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea with its colony of coral reefs, and the Dead Sea with unique healing minerals and salts. In addition, in the northeast of Israel there is the scenic freshwater Lake Kinneret, sometimes called the country’s fourth sea – the Sea of Galilee.

Traditionally, religious pilgrimage trips to Israel are organized from all over the world. Dead Sea spa resorts invite guests to improve health and rejuvenate. Ancient walls and architectural landmarks await explorers and history lovers.

There’s no doubt: Israel truly has many advantages.

Pros:

• Diverse climate zones and a wide choice of resorts.
• A socially oriented state that successfully supports a high standard of living for its residents.
• A multicultural society and a friendly attitude of locals toward foreigners.
• Well-developed public infrastructure.
• Quality education and cultural enrichment.
• High-quality healthcare using innovative methods and equipment.
• Low unemployment, staying within 5% for many years.
• Religious tolerance: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam coexist peacefully in the country.
• Low crime rates.

Is it possible to name any disadvantages of life in such a prosperous country?

Cons:

• Tense relations with neighboring countries. On the streets of Israel’s thriving cities, you can often see armed soldiers protecting public safety. It should be noted that the Israeli army has excellent training and modern equipment; it aims to protect civilians as much as possible amid ongoing interstate conflicts.
• The second follows from the first: military service in Israel is mandatory for both young men (30 months) and young women (20 months).
• High prices for real estate and services.
• In some parts of Israel, summers are very hot – temperatures in August rise above 40°.
• Successful integration requires deep study of the language, cultural norms, and religious traditions, which can take a lot of time and effort.

Spain vs Israel: ways to relocate

Both Spain and Israel offer many legal programs that allow you to settle in these countries. Let’s look at the most common options.

Spain

There are several routes to stay in the country:

1. Non-lucrative residence permit. This requires the applicant to have €28,800.00 in a bank account for one year. For each additional family member, you must show funds of €600.00/month or €7,200.00 per year. You also need accommodation in Spain (owned or rented) and private health insurance. You must also demonstrate passive income, for example from renting out property or dividends from deposits and securities. Recently, this type of residence permit is not issued if the income comes from remote work: only passive income or savings are considered.
2. Residence permit for remote workers. An active program (Digital Nomad Visa) that allows you to live legally in Spain based on remote employment, provided you meet the established requirements for income, documents, and insurance.
3. Student visa. This option is mainly suitable for people under 30. It allows residence in Spain for the duration of the study program (university or language school), but it does not grant a residence permit. However, a student can work up to 20 hours per week, and later the chances of getting a residence permit increase significantly with work experience, good language skills, and a Spanish diploma.
4. Residence by social roots (arraigo). Suitable for those with patience and readiness to overcome difficulties. This residence type is available to people who have lived continuously and illegally in Spain for 3 years. In addition to the residence period confirmed by registration, you will need to provide a preliminary one-year employment contract. Another option is to show funds and a business plan to open your own company. You can also regularize your status with a sufficient amount of money in a bank account (though in that case it is usually more reasonable to choose the first option from our list as a more comfortable and reliable route).

Israel

What are the reliable and legal ways to settle in this country?

• Jewish origin: you will need documents proving that your father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother is Jewish. You will also need documents confirming your kinship, which will serve as the basis for granting Israeli citizenship. There is no need to buy property, win a lottery similar to the American “green card,” or look for a job in Israel. You can receive your new passport right at the airport upon arrival. You will not need to renounce Russian citizenship.
• For non-Jews:
  • marriage to an Israeli citizen (who does not have to be Jewish by ethnicity);
  • conversion to Judaism, which will require serious study of the Torah, passing a special exam in a rabbinical court, and undergoing a required medical procedure (for men);
  • naturalization through obtaining residence, purchasing property, studying Hebrew, living in the country for three years, and renouncing Russian citizenship – unlike confirmed ancestry, a positive outcome is not guaranteed.

Both countries – Spain and Israel – currently accept refugees. According to new entry rules, Israel plans to accept up to 25,000 refugees from Ukraine, allowing temporary stay in the country. If the war in Ukraine becomes prolonged, Israel is also ready to issue work permits.

As for Spain, the country is currently ready not only to accept refugees from Ukraine, but also to legalize those Ukrainian citizens who arrived before February 24, 2022 and still did not have grounds to obtain a residence permit.

Spain vs Israel: cost of living

It is convenient to compare the cost of living in Spain and Israel using the capitals of these two countries as an example. In our calculations, we rely on Numbeo.com data, according to which you would need €4,062.24 per month in Jerusalem to maintain the same standard of living that you can have by earning €3,600.00 in Madrid (assuming you rent housing).

1. Consumer prices in Jerusalem are 19.85% higher than in Madrid (excluding rent).
2. Consumer prices including rent in Jerusalem are 12.84% higher than in Madrid.
3. Rent prices in Jerusalem are 1.50% higher than in Madrid.
4. Restaurant prices in Jerusalem are 39.50% higher than in Madrid.
5. Grocery prices in Jerusalem are 20.00% higher than in Madrid.
6. Local purchasing power in Jerusalem is 17.10% lower than in Madrid.

Restaurants

Food

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Utilities (monthly)

Sports and leisure

Childcare and education

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Salaries and financing

Choosing Spain or Israel depends on your preferences, priorities, and of course your opportunities. Both countries provide a достойный standard of living for their residents, both have warm climates, quality services and products – and whether your “dance of life” features flamenco or seven-forty is up to you. If you are considering buying property in Spain, take a look at the property catalog.

You may also find our articles interesting:

• Spain vs Germany for immigration and living
• Canada vs Spain: where is better to live?

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