Last Updated: August 12, 2021
Dateline: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Most of Nomad Capitalist’s clients tend to be from the Anglosphere, meaning that English is primarily their first and only language.
As languages go, English is the most useful one you could have in your arsenal, owing to the fact that the British Empire used to control most of the world. And now with the hegemony of the US, it’s the uncontested lingua franca wherever you go.
However, if you solely rely on English, you are often locking yourself out of many great opportunities. There are other language groupings so large that people don’t really need to bother learning English at all. However, here are 15 expat friendly countries that speak English.
Spanish is one such group.
There are Spanish-speaking countries on every continent and it is the fourth most spoken language in the world, making it one of our top languages to learn for business.
My wife and I made the effort of learning Spanish, and it has made a marked improvement in both our lives.
It isn’t particularly complicated either. According to The Foreign Service Institute – the US government’s primary training institution for employees of the US foreign affairs community – it takes an English speaker between 600-750 hours’ worth of practice to achieve fluency.
This would make it among the easiest languages for an English-speaker to learn and is doable with six months of concentrated effort.
So, if you actually want to explore the full breadth of possibilities out there, learning Spanish is definitely the way to go about it. As a reward, you will be able to gain access to citizenship (as many Spanish-speaking countries have a language requirement for citizenship) and also access to a wide array of countries all over the world.
Whether you’ve already mastered the language or are looking to immerse yourself in it, we’ve created a list of the seven best Spanish-speaking countries for nomads and expats to live in. In this article, we’ll discuss those seven countries, what they offer, and why you shouldn’t overlook Spanish-speaking countries.
The Seven Best Spanish-Speaking Countries for Nomads
Puerto Rico
I’ll admit, I am cheating a bit with this option, as some people consider Puerto Rico to be the 51st state of the US thanks to its status as an overseas territory. Puerto Rican citizens have been considered US citizens for over a century.
It has all the flair of seeming like a Latin American country, but if we were to consider it amongst this group, it would have the highest GDP per capita and the most advanced economy. With Puerto Rico, you can have many of the benefits of remaining in the US sphere of influence, while also enjoying the Latin American warmth.
Unsurprisingly, in order to live in Puerto Rico without having random obstacles in your day-to-day life, you will have to know Spanish and English.
For some – but not all – American businesses and their owners, Puerto Rico is the ultimate tax haven. And as of January 1, 2020, the incentives are even better with the overhauled tax laws contained in Act 60.
If you move there via certain programs you can reduce your tax to essentially nothing – you can have as little as a 0% income, dividend, and capital gains tax rates. Plus, you won’t be subject to US Federal taxes on any income earned in Puerto Rico.
And if you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll be eligible for a corporate tax rate as low as 4%. But, of course, there are caveats such as becoming a bona fide resident and ensuring that your business services are performed in Puerto Rico and then exported.
In theory, even a US resident, without citizenship, could also enjoy these stellar tax rates.
This territory has a vibrant tradition born of its rich history with Spain, its Caribbean heritage, and its connections to the United States.
Mexico
When people think about Mexico, often their first thoughts are tequila, deserts, and siestas in the middle of the day. Yet, much gets lost in this stereotype. Mexico is that and so much more.
Just to put it into context, Mexico can fit half of the surface area of the EU into its borders. And each of its 31 states has a different culture, cuisine, climate, and natural offerings.
If you want the hustle and bustle of a metropolis, you can go to Mexico City. If you want a beach villa, you can go to Tulum. If you enjoy fishing, there’s Puerto Vallarta. And if you enjoy mountains you can go to Queretaro — there are jungles, forests, beaches, deserts, and everything in between.
It’s also worth mentioning that moving to Mexico won’t cause too much of a culture shock. The US expat community is rather large, and there are many restaurant chains like you would see in the US.
However, if you have no interest in restaurant chains, there is enough variety with the food in Mexico to keep one trying new things for a lifetime.
As a matter of fact, ten years ago, Mexican cuisine was included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – yes, it’s that good!
I’ve been saying for a while that US citizens should look into living in Mexico. The process of gaining residency, or even citizenship, is rather straightforward.
However, as with many Latin American countries, taxes aren’t particularly great, and they do require some strategic planning.
Colombia
Until recently, not that many people talked about Colombia as its drug history still cast a dark shadow. But for those in the know about Spanish-speaking countries, it has been a hidden gem with beautiful beaches, mountains, and jungles.
From an economic standpoint, it is the second freest economy in South America and is set to develop even more in the future.
I’ve previously written about the numerous benefits of living in Colombia. In short, it’s a country with a unique culture, fantastic cuisine, cheap cost of living, and a lot of business opportunities.
And for full disclosure, I have an apartment in Bogota. You can find a full tour here.
Moving to Colombia and even gaining citizenship is also rather straightforward, but I would not advise you to live there permanently as, like Mexico, you’ll be subject to some nasty taxes.
So, while it’s a fantastic country, I think it should be considered under the trifecta method.
Peru
In most circles, if someone were to say that they are moving to Peru, people would instantly think that they had committed a crime. After all, why on Earth would anyone consider living in Peru?
Well, I think this will be a country that you’ll be hearing more about. It’s right in the middle of the action – it’s close to Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador – so it can easily serve as a Latin American hub if you have business dealings there.
On top of that, the country has a lot to offer by itself, such as beautiful beaches, impressive Andean highlands, and magnificent rainforests. Peru offers plenty of amenities and outdoor activities, and all for a remarkably low cost of living.
It’s also a rather open country. And it’s very welcoming to foreigners. You’ll never feel like an outsider as people make you feel right at home.
However, the government is quite different from the people. It’s not the most tax-friendly nation if you live there on a permanent basis.
Additionally, the requirements for immigration are being raised behind closed doors. That means that while the law says one thing, you’ll likely have to have more than the minimum requirements to be accepted.
With all that said, my personal recommendation is the capital, Lima. And if you want to be even more specific, I would suggest the district of Miraflores – it’s the most affluent region in the city and has lots of hotels, bars, restaurants, and department stores.
Argentina
If you would like a place where life is lived with passion and raw emotion, for good or ill, then living in Argentina is for you. Whether it’s tango, wine, or the succulent prime cuts of beef, there is something in its vast culture to make you fall in love with this country.
It’s also just as large and diverse as it looks on the maps. You can live in vineyards, beaches, or mountains – there’s something for everyone.
Overall, it’s a perfect place to feel at home, far away from home. Around 85% of Argentina’s population is of European descent, mostly from Spain and Italy. It has a distinctly European flavor but is still very much Latin American as well.
As with any emerging economy, there are some risks. I would caution against banking there or buying a large, expensive property, given that inflation rates and the economy as a whole are a bit volatile.
Costa Rica & Panama
For some more tax-friendly, and even tax-neutral, options we can now go to Central America.
But before that, I have to say that I’m not a huge fan of Central America. I consider it a bit of a mixed bag – for example, Nicaragua is the one place where I’ve had a gun pointed at me.
Hence, some caution is advised. There are places in this region where pale skin would already mark you as a target. So, I would suggest that you stay on the beaten path and go where other expats are.
Costa Rica – Its main selling points are its beautiful beaches, rather than its capital. If you do choose to live there, the requirement is being able to prove an income of $2,500 per month. However, applications can often take years, only for them to be arbitrarily denied.
Costa Rica operates a territorial tax system, wherein residents and non-residents are only taxed on their Costa Rican-sourced income. So, if you don’t have any income that comes from this country, it may well be worth it to consider living in Costa Rica, from a tax point of view.
Panama- Its capital, Panama City, is often considered the Miami of Central America, due to the fast pace life and sweeping skyscrapers in a tropical setting.
Living in Panama City feels an awful lot like living in the US – both in its culture as well as its currency – as the USD is legal tender. And prices are higher than you would expect in that side of the world, though real estate is decently priced.
In my opinion, the city is a bit on the dry side, and I wouldn’t advise going outside of the city to explore as it can get a bit dangerous.
So, while it’s not the most exciting place in the world, the city does offer major benefits in terms of banking, investment, and residency opportunities.
Don’t Overlook Spanish Speaking Countries
Latin America is one of the world’s most important economic zones in the world. However, it is often overlooked thanks to headlines that focus more on drug cartels than economic productivity.
Partially, it’s this ill-gotten reputation that has stopped many expats from exploring the wide diversity available in these countries. But it’s important not to paint with a broad stroke.
Yes, as with any emerging economy, Latin America is not devoid of problems. But they’re often far more manageable than the news would have you believe.
It’s easy to forget that Latin American countries can be half the size of the EU by themselves, so news and warnings that may apply to one region are completely irrelevant in another.
If you are willing to give it a try, there is plenty of opportunity from a business standpoint, as the economies there are finally picking up steam. And you will be spoiled from a quality-of-life standpoint as well – it’s not uncommon for upper-middle-class families to have cleaners, cooks, gardeners, and personal assistants.
You can also enjoy nature alongside some of the most vibrant cultures — and that’s not even mentioning the food!
Live life on your own terms, not by the guidelines that the media tries to manipulate you into believing.
Summary: The Best Spanish-Speaking Countries for Nomads
Spanish is one of the most spoken languages on earth. And if you’re thinking of living in Spanish-speaking countries, then it’s worth learning.
In this article, we discussed our list of the seven best Spanish-speaking countries for Nomad Capitalists and what benefits they can offer. From beautiful beaches, to UNESCO-ranked cuisine, to tax breaks, you really can’t go wrong.
If you want to explore what it would take to move to a Spanish-speaking country, contact Nomad Capitalist today. We’re ready to help you strategize.
