{"id":87531,"date":"2025-08-16T15:49:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T15:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/87531\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T15:49:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T15:49:10","slug":"california-couple-moved-to-spain-and-say-theyre-happier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/87531\/","title":{"rendered":"California couple moved to Spain and say they’re happier"},"content":{"rendered":"

Citizens of the United States aren\u2019t very happy<\/a>. That\u2019s not just a mood, it\u2019s data. According to the World Happiness Report<\/a>, a report that polls residents of over 140 countries with questions<\/a> regarding their quality of life, the United States ranked 24th, the lowest in its 13-year history<\/a>. This is an especially growing issue with Americans under the age of 30<\/a>. With this in mind, in 2022, Dr. Colleen Crowley and her family decided to relocate from their comfortable home in Santa Barbara, California to San Sebasti\u00e1n, Spain to try living abroad. The result? Everyone is her family is happier<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sounds so trite, but I think everyone is much happier here,\u201d Dr. Crowley told CNN<\/a>. The move has especially been a positive change for her children, who were 16, 13, and eight when they relocated to Spain.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll three of them say, \u2018\u2018We wish we had done it sooner.\u2019 Which is really kind of amazing to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crowley says that that move has been transformative. While she and her family enjoyed the natural wonders around California, they were significantly closer to equally beautiful landscapes of the Spanish countryside. The kids were learning the native languages and everyone was acclimating to the new surroundings, new culture, and new norms around them. Crowley even wrote a book<\/a> about her experience to encourage others to consider moving abroad.<\/p>\n

– YouTube youtu.be<\/a> <\/p>\n

But there is an odd discrepancy. The World Happiness Report did rank the U.S. in 24th place in happiness, but ranked Spain 38th overall<\/a> in the world. <\/p>\n

Why are these Americans happier in Spain than native Spaniards?<\/p>\n

There could be multiple reasons and factors at play. First, Crowley mentioned that she and her family were able to relocate into a much larger living space, moving into a house rather than an apartment like many locals.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause we work from home and have a big dog, apartment living was a stretch for us,\u201d Crowley said. \u201cThere are not many homes like this in the area so we were lucky to find it.\u201d<\/p>\n

So in this case, it\u2019s likely that his happiness factor is more in the \u201chouse versus apartment\u201d comparison rather than \u201cU.S. versus Spain.\u201d Especially both residents in the U.S.<\/a> and in Spain<\/a> are dealing with housing issues. Many Spaniards have blamed their housing problem<\/a> on foreign homebuyers like the Crowley family. <\/p>\n

Crowley mentioned to CNN<\/a> that a big boost in their happiness was the ability to ride a bike or walk to most of their day-to-day errands. \u201cIn the United States, you have two cars. You\u2019re always driving, and it\u2019s horrible. So that\u2019s been amazing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A 2019 study<\/a> found that Americans spend collectively 18 days of time driving their cars each year, with another study<\/a> showing that extended periods of driving causes stress. There are experts who argue that the United States\u2019 dependence on automobiles<\/a> to get to where we need to go is a big factor in our collective unhappiness. Considering Spain\u2019s cities are more condensed with places that are easier to travel to via bike or walking along with more investment in public transportation, this makes their commutes possibly longer at some points but overall less stressful and expensive compared to buying a car with insurance, maintenance, and fuel costs.<\/p>\n

Crowley also cites the public healthcare of Spain being one of the perks since moving there. \u201cThe level of care\u2026 the responsiveness has been amazing,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

This can be a major factor, as 70% of Spanish healthcare is covered through taxes with citizens being given the option to purchase supplemental insurance. To put it in numbers, 2025 data<\/a> shows that Spain\u2019s healthcare system costs $3,282.41 per person per year while in 2023<\/a> the American healthcare cost $14,570 per person and the average American spent $1,450 out-of-pocket on healthcare in 2022. Knowing that you\u2019re freely able to visit a doctor and get your health needs addressed without worrying about a huge bill can obviously impact a person\u2019s happiness, as U.S. citizens\u2019 satisfaction with their healthcare is at an all-time low<\/a> while Spain has statistically the best healthcare system<\/a> in Europe. It might even make you live longer as data shows the average lifespan of a Spanish citizen is 84 years<\/a> and the average American lives to age 79<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want better collective happiness? Slow down.<\/p>\n

Crowley said that the biggest adjustment to her and her family is just how slow moving the country is, both in terms of government bureaucracy and overall culture. She had to visit multiple buildings and resubmit various applications to get certain things moving. On top of that, she and her husband frequently forget that many businesses and buildings can be closed during the middle of the day and on Sundays<\/a>, to either give employees longer lunches, coffee breaks, or do a traditional siesta nap. <\/p>\n

\u201cMan, siesta gets me every time,\u201d says Crowley<\/a>. \u201cI work in the morning, I get all my paperwork done. So then I\u2019m ready to run errands at 1:30 p.m. And I get there, and of course, they\u2019re closed.<\/p>\n

@_anagildersleeve<\/a><\/p>\n

Reply to @luciaarguu Spaniards need their siestas\ud83d\udca4 #spain #spanishculture #hispanic #tiktokespa\u00f1a #cultureshock #PutMeFirst #fyp\u30b7 #parati<\/p>\n

That said, she still thinks those small frustrations are worthwhile in the big picture.<\/p>\n

\u201c[It\u2019s] part of the ethos of Spain, which is nice. There\u2019s just more balance and less panic,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

The work\/life balance of each nation is a major difference between the U.S. and Spain, which creates an impact on overall happiness. The United States has one of the worst work\/life balances<\/a> in the entire world. While the average Spanish worker works 40 hours per week<\/a> like an American full-time employee, it\u2019s typically spread out throughout the week from Monday through Saturday. However, the biggest difference is Spanish citizens are granted at least 30 days<\/a> of paid vacation per year whereas the average American isn\u2019t guaranteed any paid time off by law but usually gets two weeks<\/a> of paid vacation through their employer.<\/p>\n

Other challenges<\/p>\n

Crowley mentions how in the region of Spain she and her family moved into, it hasn\u2019t been easy making close relationships. While no one has been hostile toward them, many of the locals socialize in cuadrillas \u2014 close-knit groups of friends that are usually formed early in youth. \u201cWe will never be in a cuadrilla, but you find some special relationships and that sustains you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

It can be difficult to develop close friendships, especially in such a culture, so it\u2019s understandable that Crowley is concerned. Having close relationships and connections with friends and family members is a major factor in happiness and in overall health<\/a>. It can be difficult to maintain strong connections when living halfway across the world in a different time zone, even with Zoom, Discord, online gaming, and other methods that help keep in touch. However, Crowley did mention how everyone is still giving it time and being social to help establish strong connections in the country.<\/p>\n

That said, loneliness is indeed a factor in overall happiness, and a 2023 poll showed that one in three Americans felt lonely every week<\/a>. While loneliness is considered a worldwide problem<\/a>, Spain included<\/a>, current culture in the United States possibly makes people feel lonelier and more isolated. For example, the World Happiness Report<\/a> mentioned that 2023 data showed roughly one in four Americans ate alone the previous day, and countries that had more of a meal-sharing culture tended to have higher levels of social support and lower levels of loneliness. Living in the United States or not, it appears that loneliness could still be an issue regardless whether a person stays or goes.<\/p>\n

@the.truth.doctor<\/a><\/p>\n

Loneliness kills 100 people every hour. That stat is real and it\u2019s preventable. Social connection isn\u2019t just nice to have. It\u2019s essential for your health and well-being. It\u2019s not about how many friends you have. It\u2019s about feeling seen, safe, and supported. Ask for connection. Reach out. Start today. #Loneliness #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #HealthForAll #TikTokHealth #YouAreNotAlone #EndLoneliness #Wellbeing #PublicHealth #WHO #WorldHealthOrganization #fyp #foryou #WHOFides<\/p>\n

So is it actually better to live in Spain than it is to live in the United States?<\/p>\n

There are several factors involved. The people of Spain are used to the amenities and benefits of their country, so they may be overlooking the benefits that many Americans would dream to have and Americans could be overlooking the positives of living in the U.S. as many legitimate problems continue to grow. Spain isn\u2019t a magical place, and living there has its own pros and cons<\/a> like anywhere else.<\/p>\n

It should be noted that Crowley and her family had the finances to make the move abroad, and even get a house, which is something many Americans cannot afford. In fact, Spain is imposing more taxes<\/a> on foreigners that plan on moving into the country and is overall making it more expensive<\/a> to move there<\/a> in general. There are also protests<\/a> against the giant swath of tourists-turned-residents<\/a> that have turned Spain from a vacation destination to their home in recent years. It\u2019s speculation, but that could be in part why Spain reported less happiness in the World Happiness Report.<\/p>\n

@destinationinspiration<\/a><\/p>\n

What do you think about these Anti-tourism protests happening in Spain? \ud83e\udd2f \u2b07\ufe0f Last year, Spain received over 94 million tourists, and the locals are saying they\u2019ve had enough. Locals are turning to the streets with signs and water shooters, spraying tourists and telling them to go home! \u2708\ufe0f\ud83d\udeab If you want to avoid these protests and travel better, here\u2019s what you can do: 1\ufe0f\u20e3 Travel in the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) 2\ufe0f\u20e3 Find hidden gems to visit (if you need inspo, check out the rest of my page!) 3\ufe0f\u20e3 Respect local customs and shop local! What do you think? Do you agree with the local protests, or is this not going to stop you from traveling? #spain #spaintravel #barcelona #barcelonatravel #europeansummer #airbnbfinds #placestovisit #traveltips #greenscreenvideo #greenscreen<\/p>\n

The answer to whether it\u2019s happier to live in Spain than it is in the United States is a personal one. While there is data that makes living in Spain more appealing, the costs to uproot to a new country might not make it as worthwhile as it did with the Crowleys. It depends on your circumstances, health, and where you currently are financially. If your finances are good and you have close connections, you may not be happy but you could be happier than you would be if you chose to move out. It\u2019s all about choice and opportunity. If you have those, you are already a step ahead than many.<\/p>\n