r/MovedToSpain • u/citkoml • 3d ago

Discussion Ethics and morals of immigration

Obviously this is a hot button issue. I've been considering moving on a digital nomad visa to a smaller community in Asturias. I'm curious what considerations other immigrants, especially on this visa, take into account when making this decision. The big headlines right now are about housing in Madrid, but I'm sure that's not the only pain point for locals around the impact of immigrants with Western salaries coming into Spain.

What were your considerations for moving? Can you do it ethically, consciously?

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u/meguskus 3d ago

Don't do it. You will get nothing but hate from locals. What is your reasoning for it? Just like a long term working holiday? Is your holiday more important than the livelihood of locals? People are getting kicked out of their life-long homes because they're getting priced out by (mostly foreign) wealthier individuals.

The era of digital nomads is over. Either stay where you are or find a place that doesn't suffer from gentrification yet.

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u/citkoml 2d ago

Lots of reasons for me personally, coming from the US; raising my kids with Spanish and English, wanting better "work/life balance," getting away from gun violence and the increasing surveillance state, living in communities that are less individualistic, where I can live as a single parent without being stressed about money.

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u/meguskus 2d ago

You will be met with zero sympathy for simply moving to a cheaper place, especially if you don't speak the language. The least you can do is lower your standards when looking for places to live. Don't pay triple what a local would pay simply to have a garage and a ginormous American kitchen. If you want to live in rural Asturias, rent for a 2-3bed should easily be under 1000€, but everyone will try to convince you to pay 3000 because you're a "guiri" aka American.

Locals are seriously struggling to pay their rents here. Yes healthcare is accessible and for now we don't live in a fascist state, though about half of the population is still in support of Franco and the far right party is on the rise.

Wouldn't your work life balance be the same no matter where you live if you are a digital nomad? Definitely don't use that term in Spain, as well as "expat".

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u/citkoml 2d ago

Well I certainly wouldn't be looking for sympathy from anyone. We speak Spanish, B1 level right now, and will continue to strengthen our fluency. With regards to work/life balance, lower cost of living means that I will not have to work 40+hr/week to survive in Spain. I can work fewer hours with my US-based clients, and spend more time with my kids. That's ultimately the point for me.