Moving to Barcelona from New York: Challenges & Opportunities

Looking to swap the Big Apple for sun, sea and epic adventures in Barcelona? You’re not the only one! Every year, more and more New Yorkers are making the move to Spain, specifically the sparkling city on Catalonia’s coast. And with good reason.

With its combination of year-round sunshine, fascinating culture and amazing food, this is a city you’re destined to fall in love with. And with so many different types of people from all over the world, Barcelona’s cosmopolitan vibe means it’s easy to fit in and find your tribe.

You’ll open yourself up to so many opportunities when moving to Barcelona from New York. But you’ll also face a few challenges too. Let’s take a closer look.

Getting a visa to live in Barcelona 

As a non-EU resident, the first thing you need to think about when moving to Barcelona is getting a visa. There are a few different types – some are very difficult to obtain, like the regular work visa and the entrepreneur visa. But by far the easiest option if you’re moving from New York to Barcelona is the student visa. 

Many New Yorkers decide to take the TEFL route to secure their student visa in Barcelona. Studying to teach English as a foreign language means you can work, study and live in Barcelona, enjoying the experience of a lifetime while making new friends and learning new skills.  

At TEFL Iberia, we offer our expertise via a dedicated Student Visa Programme. This means we help you with every step of the visa application process. Once you’ve got your visa, you’ll be able to live and work in Spain for up to a year. 

Moving logistics

Our advice? Travel light.

The move from New York to Barcelona is best made with just a few sentimental items and essentials. Most apartments come fully furnished and you’ll no doubt discover a few hidden treasures in and around the city. Plus, the cost of shipping will probably be almost as much if not more than the cost of the furniture itself.

Most clothes and household items are far less expensive in Barcelona than they are in New York. So, save your time and money and focus on finding your perfect home from home... 

Finding a place to live in Barcelona

Getting a place to live in Barcelona can be tricky. 

In recent years, rental prices have soared in the city, with increasing demand and opportunistic landlords making it hard to find good, affordable accommodation.

However, since the introduction of price cap laws, rental prices in Barcelona have fallen by 6.4%. 

If you’re moving to Barcelona from New York and you’re interested in teaching English, you could take advantage of our accommodation service. As one of Barcelona’s leading TEFL schools, our stress-free housing helps our students settle into life in the city with accommodation near the center of Barcelona. 

Setting up a Spanish bank account

It’s essential to have your own Spanish when living and working in Barcelona. The vast majority of employers will only pay your salary into a Spanish bank account. You’ll also avoid the hefty fees that come with using your American overseas bank account in Barcelona.

Lots of people find opening a bank account in Barcelona difficult. But as a student at  TEFL Iberia, you’ll get expert help. We collaborate with a local bank here in Barcelona, making the sign-up process a breeze. 

Find out more about opening a bank account in Spain.

Getting your Spanish ID card

Everyone who moves to Barcelona from outside Spain needs a national ID card. For non-EU residents, this is known as a TIE (pronounced tee-ya), which stands for Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero. It’s essentially your foreign ID card and it enables you to live in Spain. 

Getting your TIE is not only crucial. It’s notoriously difficult!  

But we’ve got your back. As a New Yorker studying at TEFL Iberia in Barcelona, you’ll get help from start to finish of the process, from booking and attending your appointment to obtaining your TIE.

Setting up healthcare

One of the key benefits of living in Spain vs the US is healthcare.

Spain’s healthcare system is ranked 26th in the world by Statista. That’s 43 places higher than the US, which has a ranking of 69th. 

Many New Yorkers who move to Barcelona cite access to free healthcare as one of the things they like best about the city.

Still, as a student in Barcelona, you’ll need to buy health insurance, so you’ll have access to private healthcare. See our Spanish student visa checklist for details on getting health insurance and the other documents you’ll need for your visa.

Making friends in Barcelona

So, you’re used to your social scene in New York and you’re worried about feeling lonely when moving to Barcelona? 

You’ve got nothing to worry about!

Making friends in Barcelona is easy, especially if you’re studying at a TEFL school. At TEFL Iberia, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people who, like you, are on an amazing overseas adventure.

Our students come from all over the world, so you’ll get to learn about new cultures, share life stories and savor the journey together. 

And between the beaches and the surrounding mountains, the restaurants and bars and vibrant streets, this is a city that is made for living life to its fullest. You’re going to love it!

Learning new languages

While English is widely spoken in some parts of the center of Barcelona, many locals living in residential areas don’t speak English. And as you’ll discover when you become a TEFL teacher, to learn a new language is to evolve as a person.

Learning simple Spanish will help you better settle into life in Barcelona. Sign up to Spanish lessons and you’ll find daily life so much easier. However, be aware that Spanish isn’t the only native language spoken in the city. 

The official language in the whole of Catalonia is Catalan, and it’s not until you move to the city do you realize just how important Catalan is to local daily life in Barcelona. So, learning basic Catalan will certainly be beneficial. 

Integrating into a new culture

One of the best things about living and teaching English in Barcelona is being able to truly immerse yourself in the culture. The buzzing streets filled with sun-kissed terraces, the warm evenings alive with people sharing stories and kids playing happily, and the fun-filled weekends that seem to go on forever.

The amazing food, the museums, the architecture, the street parties – we could go on and on! You’ll have to move here to find out for yourself!

Come with an open mind and a curious spirit and you’ll find Barcelona a truly wonderful city with endless discoveries to be made.  

Finding work in Barcelona

The easiest route to employment when moving to Barcelona from New York is teaching English. The standard of English in Spain is relatively low – the country is 36th in Europe on the English Proficiency Index – but in big cities like Barcelona there’s a drive to improve English language skills, which means excellent job opportunities for English teachers.  

At TEFL Iberia, we give you post-course preparation and support. This makes sure you have the best chance to find well-paid work once you’ve passed your course. You’ll get in-depth resume prep, mock interview sessions and insider access to the TEFL Iberia jobs board. We’ve got a large network of contacts in and around the city, all of which increases your chances of finding a job in Barcelona.

Understanding taxes

Once you’ve secured a job in Barcelona, you’ll need to have at least a basic understanding of the tax system in Spain.

Like most countries, Spain operates a progressive tax rate. Essentially, this means the more you earn, the more tax you’ll pay. The two employment taxes you’ll pay are IVA (goods and services tax) and IRPF (personal income tax).

If you work as a freelancer in Spain, you’ll need to calculate both IVA and IRPF. As a TEFL Iberia student, you’ll benefit from our wisdom on being self-employed in Barcelona, including advice on getting your own gestor (accountant). 

Having fun!

Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once wrote, ““Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

Write your own story and make the move from New York to Barcelona. Make the Trinity CertTESOL Course at TEFL Iberia your first chapter. We’ll help you relocate and find your feet in Barcelona, before giving you the skills, experience and confidence you need to teach English in Spain. 

And with a globally recognized qualification under your belt, you’ll be able to use your teaching skills anywhere in the world!

Want to know more? Contact us today to take your first steps to living and working in Barcelona.