In many ways, Seville feels like an escape. Not that it's disconnected from the rest of the world or anything like that. But there's just such different energy to it that it'd help you forget your worries and let you enjoy life. Everyone knows that the spirit of Spain is a lively one, but here in Seville, it's a whole other vibe. It's no wonder that more and more people are taking notice of the place. It's on its way to becoming one of the top cities in Spain worth relocating to! Here is a guide to help you with that!
Overview
With only 702,386 residents as of 2021, Seville is one of the more populous cities in Spain. Though it pales in comparison to bigger cities like Barcelona and Madrid. The populations in these cities are in the millions. Nevertheless, the city flourished with a warm Mediterranean climate, which Spain is famous for. It's the common sunny weather that has tourists flocking here, especially during winter. However, even though many foreign visitors and expats alive have traveled here, Spanish remains the city's dominant language. If you're not fluent in it, you might want to enroll in the
language schools here to brush up on your skills.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Visa
You probably already know that you need a
Schengen Visa in order to gain entry to Spain and the rest of the EU. Especially if you're coming from a non-EU country. There's also the option of getting into the country via the
ETIAS Visa Waiver Program. If you're eligible, you can travel to Spain even when you don't have a Schengen Visa. But to stay here for more than 90 days (approximately three months), you'll need to apply for a
Tarjeta de Residencia (residence card). This will jumpstart your process of becoming a legal resident of Spain.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Getting Around
As Seville is the fourth major city in Spain, you can expect that the
public transport here is alive and well. There are a ton of options you can go for to get around. For one thing, it has its own metro system, akin to the likes of those in London and New York but way smaller in comparison. If you're more into traveling above ground, you can always take the trams or buses! They're relatively cheaper than the metro system too. And when all else fails, you can always rely on
transportation apps to help you book a ride!
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Where to Live
It's easy to think that since Seville isn't as big as the likes of Madrid and Barcelona, that it's not as diverse as those places. Don't get it twisted!
Seville's many neighborhoods are different from each other. And when you want to relocate here, you should prioritize which district you want to settle down in first. Arenal, for instance, is a central neighborhood that's also one of the more expensive. Feria, on the other hand, is famous for its nightlife scene. While Los Remedios is a lot more residential than the two and definitely an affluent neighborhood to check out!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Real Estate
Now, let's talk about living costs! The
living costs in Seville aren't that high. They're definitely not low, but compared to other cities, it's a lot more affordable here. Just take a look at the common rental fees. While other cities, both in Spain and the rest of Europe, have common rental fees that range in the thousands, you can actually get a nice space for less than €1,000.00! Specifically, a one-bedroom can cost you just €600.00 to €800.00 a month. While a three-bedroom will often go for €900.00 to €1,500.00 a month. Not bad, right?
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Employment
Since Seville is an urban city, it's highly likely there are a lot of job opportunities to go for here. With that said,
Spain's job market has been a bit shaky over the past few years. Its unemployment rate is one of the higher ones in Europe and even before the Covid-19 global pandemic, thousands of Spaniards have moved outside of the country to look for work. Nevertheless, in a city like Seville, you can still
find the job you want that pays well. And since the living costs here aren't that high, you can still achieve a comfortable lifestyle!
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Education
Moving to Seville with your entire family? You don't have to worry about your kids. Since
Seville's international schools are some of the best in the country, they'll be in good hands! A few of them include the
Spanish American Institute of International Education and the
International School Andalucía, among others. Offering quality education, many of them are preparatory schools that will help them get into the world's best universities. Surely, they can continue their studies here with no problem at all. Who knows? They might even excel here—whether academically, artistically, or in sports—better than they would have in your previous home!
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Healthcare
What about healthcare? Will you be covered here in Seville? The great thing about
Spain's healthcare is that it's a universal system. The moment you relocate to Seville, or any other Spanish city for that matter, and become a legal resident of the country, you will automatically be allowed to go for public healthcare. This will help subsidize the rates of your medical costs, connect you with the best doctors, and let you gain access to
Seville's finest hospitals. Some of them include
Hospital San Juan de Dios and
Hospital Infanta Luisa, among many others!
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Safety
Living in a big city like Seville is convenient in a lot of ways, But at the same time, one of the biggest cons of living in an urban city is that, more often than not, the crime rates tend to be higher. Fortunaely, it's doesn't necessarily apply to Seville. As of 2021,
the city's crime rate is 26.74%, considered low on the scale. Compared to those in other cities, Seville's general crime rate practically makes it seem like it's a safe haven. However, though it is low, there's still crime committed here. So much so that its rate of increasing crimes over the past few years is 52.15%, considered moderately high.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Taxes
Relocating to Seville and becoming a legal resident of Spain means you'll automatically become a taxpayer here. And, of course, you'll also have to adhere to
the country's tax system. If you don't you risk facing high penalty fees or possibly even some jail time too! When it comes to your income tax, your rate will depend on how much you earn each year. It's the same as those in other countries so it's particularly hard to understand. As for the VAT, the rate here is generally 21% for most goods and services.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Relocation Tips
Finally, for some last-minute relocation tips! Firstly, you shouldn't forget to
open a local bank account when you get here. In fact, depending on the Spanish bank you choose, if you can apply to set it up even before you get to Seville, do it! It will be a lot easier if you already have a Spanish bank account the moment you arrive here. Secondly,
join a local mobile network too! Get a local SIM card and put it in your phone ASAP! This will benefit you a lot, not just with communicating with others, but also with small finances too!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Over the years, Seville has become one of those cities that many people have relocated to! There's a lot to love about living in this city, after all! And if you're looking to move here yourself, let this guide show you the ropes!
