Spain shares many of the same cultural markers of success as the United States. These include pursuing and excelling in higher education, having a successful career, earning a high income, and starting a family. However, unlike the United States these markers do not seem to obstruct from or come at the cost of living a healthy life. Spanish culture recognizes the importance of a balanced, family-oriented lifestyle and generally does not glorify the “hustle culture” of constant productivity that the United States does in the pursuit of wealth.
This observation is not novel, nor was it a surprise to me. U.S. and European lifestyles have been compared in the media and everyday discourse for years. It’s a topic that makes Americans sigh and say, “wishful thinking” given how hard it is to implement public policies in our country that prioritize health and wellbeing over profit. In the U.S. many people have no choice but to prioritize work over everything else because it is the only way to afford adequate healthcare and the basics they need to survive.
As a young adult preparing to enter my last year of college and soon join the workforce, experiencing these differences firsthand during my study abroad made these previously abstract lifestyle comparisons concrete and pushed me to reshape the vision of my future. Though I will likely begin my career in the U.S., my time living in Madrid and traveling across Spain taught me to reevaluate what success means to me, and how I want to live.
One of the things I most appreciated about life in Madrid was its exceptional public transportation system. Not a single day went by that I didn’t rely on the metro or bus to get around the city. The metro was impressively reliable, running from 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., and consistently clean and on time. As a young woman, I felt safe riding at any hour thanks to well-lit stations and the steady presence of other passengers. It costs just 8 euros a month for unlimited access to all public transport for persons under 26. Madrid’s safe, dependable public transportation system made it easy for me to explore and feel integrated into daily madrileño life. I didn’t have to worry about driving everywhere or navigating non-pedestrian friendly infrastructure like I do in the United States. This felt like freedom to me and reaffirmed my belief that well-being is not just personal, but dependent on having good public infrastructure.
Health care was another major contrast. When I shared the cost of basic medical procedures in the United States, my host family was shocked. Most Spaniards I spoke with said they couldn’t imagine not seeing the doctor when they had a medical concern, while in the U.S. millions forgo treatment due to the lack of affordable healthcare. Witnessing a system that prioritizes people’s health made me a stronger advocate for health care reform in the U.S. It also challenged me to think differently about what it means to live a good life – not just getting quality care, but not having to worry about the financial consequences of getting sick.
When it comes to family life, it was interesting to see how common it is for young adults in Madrid and throughout Spain to live at home well into their twenties (the average age for moving out is around 30). This would surely surprise many Americans, where early independence is seen as a rite of passage into adulthood. I came to appreciate the Spanish perspective that living with an extended family can foster stronger emotional and financial stability during a transitional period of life. While I am not sure I would do the same, it helped me to view staying at home into young adulthood not as a sign of immaturity, but as a meaningful way to stay connected, share responsibilities, and ease the transition to (and costs of) full adult independence.
Finally, I will never forget how it felt to walk home from a day of classes and see the streets teeming with people socializing at cafes and tapas bars after work. There was a sense of intentional camaraderie in how people spend their free time. It’s not that they don’t work hard – the job market is tight and academics in Spanish universities are demanding – they just do not seem consumed by it. It reminded me that success isn’t just about achieving milestones, but how we enjoy life along the way.
While I knew the Spanish lifestyle would show me a different way of living, it also helped me imagine a different version of success. Ironically, Spaniards consider Madrid fast-paced compared to other Spanish cities, yet even in this bustling capital I found a level of ease that felt refreshing. I want to work hard and build a successful career for myself, but at the same time, live within my means and leave space for family, friends, and joy.
