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 | Europe | Southeast |
| 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) | $1,760 | $3,830 |
| Rent (1BR) | $800 | $1,350 |
| Groceries | $200 | $400 |
| Healthcare/Insurance | $80 | $500 |
| Tax & Residency | ||
| Retirement income treatment | Beckham Law: flat 24% on income up to €600k for up to 6 years | No state tax on Social Security, pensions, IRA/401(k)/Roth withdrawals — no state income tax at all |
| Tax system | Worldwide | — |
| US tax treaty (avoids double taxation) | Yes | — |
| Double taxation notes | Treaty in force since 1991, updated by a 2019 protocol. Provides pension/Social Security tie-breaker rules and reduced withholding rates, alongside the standard Foreign Tax Credit. | — |
| 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 |
| Property tax level | — | Medium |
| Healthcare | ||
| Medicare Advantage market | Mandatory private insurance $90-250/mo (60+) until Convenio Especial buy-in (~$157-160/mo) after 1 year | Excellent |
| 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 | Foreign employer must participate in Spanish social security or hold A1 certificate under a Totalisation Agreement. EES biometric border tracking live April 10, 2026. | 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. |