Compare Destinations
Put any two countries or U.S. states side by side — tax treatment, visa rules, healthcare, and monthly budget, pulled live from Notion.
| Cost & Region | ||
| Region | Southeast | Europe |
| Cost of living vs. US | — | ~35% lower overall; Madrid ~53% cheaper than NYC, rent varies sharply by region |
| Cost level | Above Average | — |
| Est. monthly budget (all categories) | $3,830 | $1,760 |
| Rent (1BR) | $1,350 | $800 |
| Groceries | $400 | $200 |
| Healthcare/Insurance | $500 | $80 |
| Tax & Residency | ||
| Tax system | — | Worldwide |
| Visa / residency path | — | Digital Nomad Visa (Startup Act) |
| Visa income threshold | — | ~€2,700–2,850/month (200% of Minimum Interprofessional Salary) |
| Visa duration / renewal | — | 1 yr (abroad) or 3 yr (in-country) → renewable to 5 yr → permanent residency |
| Visa difficulty | — | Moderate |
| Currency | — | Euro (EUR) |
| Schengen member | — | Yes |
| State income tax | None | — |
| Social Security taxed? | Exempt | — |
| Retirement income treatment | No state tax on Social Security, pensions, IRA/401(k)/Roth withdrawals — no state income tax at all | — |
| Property tax level | Medium | — |
| Healthcare | ||
| Medicare Advantage market | Excellent | Mandatory private insurance $90-250/mo (60+) until Convenio Especial buy-in (~$157-160/mo) after 1 year |
| Key senior benefits | No state income tax. Homestead exemption up to $50k on primary residence. Additional $50k homestead exemption for 65+ with limited income. No estate or inheritance tax. SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is one of the country’s best-staffed SHIP programs with trained counselors statewide. | — |
| 2026 Notes | ||
| Recent changes | Best MA market in the country — lowest average premiums and highest plan variety, driven by massive senior population and insurer competition. $0 premium MA plans widely available. Highly recommended to compare annually via medicare.gov/plan-compare. SHIP program: SHINE Florida. | Foreign employer must participate in Spanish social security or hold A1 certificate under a Totalisation Agreement. EES biometric border tracking live April 10, 2026. |