Spain vs Italy: which to choose in 2026

7 min read · Published 7 October 2026

Spain offers more jobs and a flat 24% rate for incoming professionals but has closed investor residence. Italy has kept it, allows dual citizenship and offers reliefs for the wealthy. We compare residence, the passport, taxes and life.

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Key facts	Verdict
Investor residence	Italy - yes, Spain - closed
Dual citizenship	Italy - yes, Spain - for citizens of certain countries
Citizenship	10 years in both countries
Cheaper to live	Spain: $2,200-2,700 versus $2,300-3,000 a month
Relief for incoming professionals	Spain 24%, Italy 50% of income tax-free
Minimum wage	Spain €1,221, none by law in Italy

Data checked: 07.10.2026

In short: who each country suits

Spain - for those who will work on the local market and want the 24% rate and a wide choice of seaside cities.
Italy - for investors, the wealthy with foreign income and descendants of Italians: investor residence, dual citizenship and a flat tax on foreign income.
For citizens of Latin American countries - Spain: a passport after 2 years.

Spain and Italy are two large Mediterranean countries with a similar pace of life but different policies for newcomers. In 2025 Spain closed investor residence but remains the liveliest job market in southern Europe, with a 24% rate for incoming professionals. Italy has kept residence for investment, allows dual citizenship and offers regimes for the wealthy and retirees.

Below is a 15-row table and five key differences: residence, the path to citizenship, taxes, cost of living and everyday life. Amounts are in US dollars at the European Central Bank rate on the check date.

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Key facts in one table

Parameter	Spain	Italy
Residence on passive income	from €2,400 a month, ~$2,800	~€31,000 a year, ~$35,000
Remote worker visa	income from €2,849 a month, ~$3,300	income from ~€28,000 a year, ~$32,000
Investor residence	closed since April 2025	from €250,000 in an innovative start-up to €2 million in government bonds
Citizenship	10 years, 2 for Latin Americans	10 years; by descent if a parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship
Current passport	renounced, except for citizens of certain countries	can be kept
Who is a tax resident	more than 183 days in a calendar year	more than half of the calendar year in the country, partial days included
Income tax	19-47% on a scale	23-43% plus regional and municipal surcharges
Reliefs for newcomers	24% on Spanish income up to €600,000	50% of income tax-free for 5 years for professionals; €300,000 a year instead of tax on foreign income
Single person budget with rent	$2,200-2,700 a month (Madrid)	$2,300-3,000 a month (Rome)
One-bedroom flat in the centre	$1,570 (Madrid)	$1,130-1,700 (Rome)
Family with a child	from $4,000 a month	from $4,500 a month
Country's passport: visa-free travel	EU passport: living and working across the EU	EU passport: living and working across the EU
Minimum wage	€1,221 in 14 payments, ~$1,400	none, set by sector agreements
Climate	from hot Madrid to the green north	from the Alpine north to hot Sicily

Spain and Italy are chosen by the residence ground and the newcomer tax regime

Both countries grant residence on passive income and remote work, but Italy has kept investor residence and allows dual citizenship, while Spain offers more jobs and a flat 24% rate for incoming professionals. The usual mistakes: applying with income just at the threshold, moving without working out tax on foreign income, missing the deadline for a special regime. We choose the country and ground, work out the tax and handle the case until the card.

The cost of support depends on the country, the ground and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.

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Residence: where it is easier to get

In Spain the non-working residence visa requires €2,400 a month, about $2,800, plus about $680 for each family member, and the remote worker visa from €2,849 a month. Investor residence has been closed since April 2025.

In Italy non-working residence is granted with passive income of about €31,000 a year, about $35,000, and the remote worker visa with income from about €28,000 a year. Investors can get residence for €250,000 in an innovative start-up, €500,000 in a company or €2 million in government bonds.

Citizenship: where it is faster

Spain grants citizenship after 10 years, and after 2 to citizens of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal. Others declare renunciation of their previous citizenship on naturalisation.

In Italy a non-EU foreigner needs 10 years of residence, and you can keep your current passport. Citizenship by descent is recognised if a parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship - a rule narrowed in 2025.

Taxes: where they are lower

In Spain the scale runs from 19% to 47%, and incoming professionals can choose a regime with a flat 24% rate on Spanish income up to €600,000 a year.

In Italy the rates are 23%, 33% and 43% plus regional and municipal surcharges. Incoming professionals can leave half their income untaxed for 5 years, retirees in the south can pay 7%, and wealthy new residents can pay €300,000 a year instead of tax on foreign income: the amount rose from €200,000 in 2026.

Cost of living: where it is cheaper

A single person in Madrid needs $2,200-2,700 a month including rent, in Rome $2,300-3,000. A one-bedroom flat in central Madrid costs about $1,570, in Rome $1,130-1,700.

A family with a child needs from $4,000 a month in Spain and from $4,500 in Italy. Outside the capitals both countries are much cheaper: rents in Valencia and southern Italy are well below the capitals'.

Everyday life: banks, climate, schools

Spain means hot Madrid, Mediterranean Valencia and Barcelona, the green north and Spanish, which is useful well beyond the country. There are many international schools in Madrid, Barcelona and on the coast.

Italy runs from the Alpine north to hot Sicily, with big regional differences in prices and services. Public offices and banks are unhurried, and Italian is needed for almost everything.

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FAQ

Which is better to move to: Spain or Italy?

Spain for work on the local market and the 24% rate for newcomers; Italy for investor residence, dual citizenship and reliefs for the wealthy.

Where is residence easier?

On passive income: Spain requires from €2,400 a month, Italy about €31,000 a year. Only Italy grants residence for investment.

Where is citizenship faster?

10 years in both countries. Latin Americans need 2 years in Spain, and descendants of Italians can be recognised by descent.

Can I keep my current passport?

In Italy, yes. In Spain renunciation is declared on naturalisation, except for citizens of certain countries.

Where are taxes lower: Spain or Italy?

The scales are close: 19-47% in Spain and 23-43% plus surcharges in Italy. Reliefs decide: 24% for newcomers in Spain, 50% of income tax-free for 5 years and a €300,000 flat tax in Italy.

Where is it cheaper to live?

A single person needs $2,200-2,700 a month in Madrid and $2,300-3,000 in Rome.

Is there a visa for remote workers?

Yes: in Spain with income from €2,849 a month, in Italy from about €28,000 a year.

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Programs in these countries

Spain:

Citizenship by birth Digital nomad Talent visa

Italy:

Digital nomad