Never Retire: Moving Abroad Isn’t Cheap—But It’s Worth More Than It Costs
We spent $7,500 to move to Spain. And I’d do it again tomorrow. Because the real return wasn’t financial—it was structural, cultural, and psychological.
When people talk about moving abroad, they often frame it as a hack to save money. Lower rent, cheaper groceries, fewer car payments.
That’s true in some ways. But if you lead with “cheap,” you miss the real point.
Because here’s the truth: moving abroad isn’t cheap. It’s a privilege.
Not everyone even gets the chance to consider it, which is why I want to be transparent about what it really costs—and what it gives back.
We spent nearly €2,800 on our residence permit alone (fees, apostilles, facilitator services) plus another $4,200 on travel and temporary housing. Add it up, and we’re just shy of $7,500 before even getting our keys in Valencia.
But here’s the thing—$7,500 was just the start.
If you want the full itemized costs—what we spent and what we made back—and why moving and not waiting to do other cool shit is worth it: Unlock the rest: $5/month, $50/year, or $100 lifetime (about €5/month, €43/year €90/lifetime).
Because the real lesson isn’t about saving money. It’s about knowing what’s worth paying for, and what’s just fear being sold back to you.
Later this week, we develop this thought on “saving money” by looking at how much a typical day out cost in LA vs. Valencia.