Moving from San Francisco to Barcelona

Moving to Barcelona is a dream come true. More and more Americans are making the leap, starting a new life in this incredible city on the Mediterranean coast. 

If you’re thinking of making the move to Barcelona from San Francisco, you’ll need to be ready. Here’s our guide on why you should make the move, plus a 10-step plan of action to make it happen.

Why move to Barcelona from San Francisco?

There are so many reasons to make the move to Barcelona. Here are a few to get you inspired.

Cost of living

Spain is a more affordable place to live than the US. And although Barcelona is one of the more expensive Spanish cities to live in, it’s definitely way cheaper than San Francisco. Let’s take a look at the data:

Source: numbeo

Culture

Barcelona offers an incredible array of cultural experiences. From regular neighbourhood street festivals to city-wide celebrations, there’s something to do every day in Barcelona.  offer on pretty much every street corner in Barcelona. Plus, the city  is full of quality museums and galleries, many of which are affordable if not completely free.

The great outdoors

Barcelona and the wider region of Catalonia is full of natural beauty. From the Montjuic hill in the city to Collserola national park on the outskirts of the city, or even the Pyrenees a little further afield, there are lots of opportunities to explore the great outdoors when living in Barcelona.

The chance to learn Spanish

Living in Barcelona gives you an amazing opportunity to immerse yourself in the Spanish language – the best way to learn! 

Great public transport

Barcelona’s public transport system is affordable and reliable, making it really easy to explore the city. Plus, Barcelona’s bike share scheme, Bicing, is a fantastic way to get around.

Great healthcare

Barcelona has a publicly-funded healthcare system. This means that, as a resident, you will be entitled to free healthcare. Free doesn’t mean poor quality – the city is actually known for its high-quality public healthcare. Barcelona’s private hospitals are also excellent and, according to World Population Review, Spain has the 7th best healthcare system in the world.

How to move to Barcelona from San Francisco

For anyone moving to Barcelona from outside the EU, the best route is to become an English teacher. Teaching English as a foreign language, otherwise known as TEFL, is the quickest and easiest method to be able to live and work in Barcelona as a non-EU citizen.  

There are a lot of opportunities for English teachers in Barcelona. That’s because being able to speak English is an increasingly valued skill in Spain. As a TEFL teacher, you can find work in schools, language academies and businesses. You can even set up private classes.

At TEFL Iberia, we’re one of the most highly rated TEFL academies in Spain. At our central Barcelona campus, we host students from all over the world, helping them move to the city, become a fully-accredited teacher and find employment after graduation.

A 10-step guide for moving from San Francisco to Barcelona

1. Choose a TEFL school

Barcelona is home to some of the best TEFL courses in Spain. Do your research, browse brochures, get in touch with the school’s communication team and only consider fully-accredited TEFL schools. Here’s our guide on how to know if a TEFL course is accredited.

2. Get a visa

Getting a visa is essential when it comes to living and working in Barcelona. When you move to Barcelona to study to become an English teacher, you’re entitled to a student visa. This is the easiest way to move from San Francisco to Barcelona. At TEFL Iberia, we have a dedicated Student Visa Programme that helps you through every step of the visa process. Here’s our visa guide to find out more.

3. Find a place to live

Finding accommodation in Barcelona can be tricky. The city has been suffering a housing crisis in recent years, with demand for homes outweighing the supply of available places to live. Check out our step-by-step accommodation guide for tips and advice. We also provide an accommodation service for our students.

4. Get an identity card

All non-EU citizens need a TIE (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero), which is a foreign ID card. It’s annoyingly hard to get one, but we can help with everything from booking the appointment to guiding you through the whole process.

5. Open a Spanish bank account

Most companies in Barcelona will only pay a salary into a Spanish bank account. We can help you set one up. In fact, we have a close relationship with a bank in the city, where most of our students open their own Spanish bank accounts.

6. Pass your TEFL course

Once you’ve passed your TEFL course, you’ll be fully qualified to start working as an English teacher in Barcelona or anywhere in the world. You can also take a Developing Teacher Course to hone your teaching skills. 

7. Get a job teaching English

Now you’re ready to launch your career as an English teacher in Barcelona. We’ll give you full post-graduation preparation and support. This includes resume preparation, interview masterclasses and exclusive access to our employer database and jobs board. 

8. Start learning Spanish

Having a decent level of Spanish will help you in your first few months living in Barcelona. Once you’ve graduated as a TEFL teacher, start Spanish classes to help settle into the city.  

9. Make friends

Barcelona is an extremely social city. During your TEFL course, you will almost certainly make friends – you’ll be immersed in an intense journey, living a shared learning experience in an exciting new city. You’ll have a lot to talk about! There are also plenty of meet up events in Barcelona offering lots of opportunities to meet people and make new friends.

10. Settle into life in Barcelona 

When you first move to Barcelona, it all feels like a whirlwind of excitement. You’ll feel a little overwhelmed wandering around the city, gazing at the incredible architecture, and you’ll be living out memorable moments every day. Once you’ve spent a little time in the city, life will find its natural rhythms. You’ll discover your favourite coffee shops, restaurants and quiet little nooks. You’ll develop your own routines and see the city in a different way. And you’ll start to understand the nuances of the local culture.

It’s all part of the joy of moving to a new place. And when it comes to moving to a new place, it doesn’t get much better than Barcelona. 

Want to find out more about moving to Barcelona? Get in touch with the team at TEFL Iberia.