Gonzalez in front of the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe in Valencia, Spain. Courtesy of Giovanna Gonzalez

Gonzalez in front of the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe in Valencia, Spain. Courtesy of Giovanna Gonzalez

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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Giovanna Gonzalez, a 35-year-old who moved from Chicago to Valencia, Spain, in April 2025. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

In college, I wanted to study abroad in Italy or Spain, but I didn’t have the means. I was a low-income, first-generation Mexican American student, going to school entirely on student loans.

Studying abroad would have meant borrowing an additional $5,000 to $10,000, and since I was already graduating with debt, I felt it would have been reckless to take on more.

Still, over time, I came to regret that decision.

Gonzalez during her college internship. Courtesy of Giovanna Gonzalez

In 2019, I returned to my former hometown, El Centro, California — a small agricultural border town — for a high school career day.

I’m a financial educator and influencer who offers career tips to first-generation professionals. At the school, I spoke with Algebra 2 students about my path since leaving college and my career.

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We discussed how to navigate college, and I encouraged everyone to study abroad if they had the opportunity. I shared how the people I know who did still light up when they talk about their experience — being young, free of major responsibilities, and surrounded by other young people in a new culture.

After career day, I had a moment of self-reflection. Was my current life really for me? Would I ever get to experience life abroad?

I knew it was time to make a change.

Moving to Spain was a fast but expensive process

My husband and I would have left the US around 2022, but the world was still in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, and things hadn’t returned to normal. We decided to wait a few more years, while continuing to live in Chicago.

When 2024 came around, we had a conversation about the presidential election and decided that, regardless of the outcome, we were going to move to Spain. It felt like a now-or-never moment.

Gonzalez in downtown Chicago, across from the Tribune Tower. Courtesy of Giovanna Gonzalez

My husband and I researched how to get a Spanish visa. The easiest option was for me to apply for a digital nomad visa and add him as my dependent.

That’s because by then, I had left my desk-bound corporate job and had been running my own business for four years. While my husband’s employer was open to transferring him to their Spanish branch, they weren’t willing to sponsor his visa.

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To help us through the process, we worked with an immigration attorney who guided us every step of the way.

Gonzalez at a Madrid restaurant. Courtesy of Giovanna Gonzalez

I’m a dual citizen of Mexico and the US, so I used my Mexican passport when applying for the digital nomad visa. Because Mexico was once a Spanish colony, Mexican citizens can apply for Spanish citizenship after just two years of legal residency, compared to 10 years for US citizens.

We flew to Spain to apply, which qualified us for a three-year visa instead of one. We were approved in about two and a half weeks.

The process was fast but expensive. Flights alone cost us around $3,590, and the Airbnb we stayed in while applying for the Visa was about another $652. We also paid roughly $4,000 in legal fees and spent more money on things like apostilles, certified translations, and other required documents.

Valencia was the perfect city for us

I wanted to live in a big city so I could easily travel to other parts of Europe. Madrid came to mind, but housing is very scarce and competitive there. The same thing is true in Barcelona, if not worse. I found that the next biggest city that we liked was Valencia.

Valencia is right on the beach. It has a Mediterranean climate, and is sunny almost every day — a big change coming from Chicago. The city has a lot of beautiful architecture and a rich history.

It’s walkable, has great public transportation, and is clean and safe.

We lived in a nice neighborhood in Chicago, but even there, I had to constantly check my shoulder when it was dark. Here, I’ve been able to go for a walk in the park at 10 p.m. and have never felt unsafe. I’m very thankful for that.

Valencia, Spain. Sergio Formoso/Getty Images

We live in a multi-unit building next to the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, and we have a beautiful view of it from our terrace. We live on the top floor in a two-story condo, which costs €1,900 ($2,226) a month.

In Chicago, we were bougie and lived downtown in a high-rise building with a doorman and amenities in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment.

Although our rent in Valencia is significantly cheaper than what we paid in the US, our utilities are not. Summers in Spain are extremely hot, and since homes here aren’t as well-insulated as in the US, you have to run the air conditioning almost constantly. Our electricity bill alone has been over €500 ($586) for each of the past two months.

It’s more difficult to be an entrepreneur in Spain

Living in Spain has had some challenges. My husband doesn’t speak Spanish fluently, so it’s been an adjustment for him to make doctor’s appointments or reservations at restaurants in Spanish. I speak Spanish, so it’s been much easier for me to integrate.

I’ve made a friend in Valencia who was introduced to me by another friend. We’ve met twice for coffee and to go for a walk in the park. But honestly, I haven’t put too much effort into making more friends yet because I’m so focused on the immigration process.

I still need to get my residency card, and once that happens, I’ll feel like I truly have the free time to put myself out there, go to meetups, and meet more people.

Gonzalez inside the Royal Alcázar of Seville. Courtesy of Giovanna Gonzalez

I’ve recently learned that Spain isn’t as entrepreneur-friendly as the US, especially when it comes to taxes. Many expenses I used to deduct without issue are either not allowed here or have stricter requirements.

For example, during a recent work trip, I submitted an Uber receipt to my Spanish accountant, only to be told I needed a formal invoice, something that’s not typically required in the US. And meals during travel can only be written off if you’re dining with a client.

In the US, there’s a bit more grace when you’re starting a business. That first year, you’re not typically required to pay quarterly taxes, since you’re just getting started.

Usually, you file your full-year return first, then begin making quarterly estimated payments in the following years. I expected something similar in Spain, but at the end of the second quarter of this year, my accountant informed me that I needed to pay my taxes right away.

I don’t plan on moving back to the US

Given the political climate in the US and my Mexican background, my long-term goal is to stay in Spain. There’s a lot to love here. The weather is great, and we’ve been very welcomed by the locals. It’s been pretty easy to integrate so far.

Gonzalez in front of the Assut de l’Or Bridge and the L’Àgora building in Valencia. Courtesy of Giovanna Gonzalez

I would definitely say that living abroad is quite different from what my experience would have been studying abroad, but I’m really grateful for that.

I have a lot of friends who studied abroad in their 20s, and I know their time was filled with wild nights, partying, meeting new people, and traveling. I’m going to be turning 36 this week, and I’m married and a homebody who enjoys relaxing and watching TV at home.

I’ve definitely learned the art of slowing down. Chicago was a fast-paced, big-city life where you were power-walking everywhere — that’s just not a thing here.

With the slightly lower cost of living in Spain, I’m working part-time. Instead of working 30 to 40 hours a week like I did in the US, I now work 15 to 20 hours and am still maintaining a great life.