Spain for high earners 2026: 5 addresses ranked after tax

Spain, for a high earner.

5 addresses in Spain on the Patrician.ch board, ranked by what a $1M earner keeps. Madrid leads at 43%.

In short, current to October 2026

On $1,000,000 of income, Madrid keeps the most in Spain, $569K after an effective 43%. Barcelona keeps $523K at 48%.
A resident pays about 28% on a capital gain in Spain.
A wealth tax applies at every address, top rate 3.5% of net assets a year.
Inheritance: Children pay 5% or less in Marbella and Madrid, spouse and children exempt in Ibiza and Palma, children taxed in Barcelona.
5 of the 5 addresses offer a special regime for new arrivals. At Madrid: Beckham law: 24% flat on Spanish employment income up to €600K for 6 years for inbound hires and remote workers, and Madrid waives its wealth tax except for the amount the national solidarity tax charges above €3M, which Madrid collects instead. In figures, 24% up to €600K and 47% above it on Spanish employment income: about $72K on $300K (24%), $315K on $1M (32%) and $1.26M on $3M (42%). Every other figure and ranking on this site uses the standard system.
Rules moved in April 2025: the golden visa closed.

Each address on this page was last checked against its official sources between 21 October 2026 and 28 October 2026. The sources for each are named on its page.

Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 47 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to October 2026. Updated 5 November 2026. Cite as: Patrician.ch, Spain for high earners 2026: 5 addresses ranked after tax, patrician.ch/countries/spain/, October 2026.

Ranked

5 addresses in Spain, by what a $1M earner keeps.

Madrid 🇪🇸 Spainkeeps $569K of $1M, gains 28%, safety 8 of 10, schools 8 of 10

43%

Marbella 🇪🇸 Spainkeeps $549K of $1M, gains 28%, safety 7 of 10, schools 7 of 10

45%

Palma 🇪🇸 Spainkeeps $531K of $1M, gains 28%, safety 8 of 10, schools 7 of 10

47%

Ibiza 🇪🇸 Spainkeeps $531K of $1M, gains 28%, safety 7 of 10, schools 6 of 10

47%

Barcelona 🇪🇸 Spainkeeps $523K of $1M, gains 28%, safety 6 of 10, schools 8 of 10

48%

Address	Tax on $1M	Kept after tax	Gains	Wealth tax	Heirs	Cost
Madrid	43%	$569K	28%	3.5%	Children pay 5% or less	70
Marbella	45%	$549K	28%	3.5%	Children pay 5% or less	82
Palma	47%	$531K	28%	3.5%	Spouse and children exempt	70
Ibiza	47%	$531K	28%	3.5%	Spouse and children exempt	105
Barcelona	48%	$523K	28%	3.5%	Children taxed	72

Simplified marginal model, indicative 2026 brackets, non-US single filer. Wealth tax is the top rate. Cost is the Patrician.ch index where Zurich is 100.

Who gets in

The route into Spain.

EU nationals register on arrival. Others use the digital nomad or highly qualified visa. The Golden Visa closed in April 2025. Elect the Beckham regime within 6 months of starting work in Spain.

Remote work visa · 5 of 5Founder & talent · 5 of 5

The regime for new arrivals.

Madrid. Beckham law: 24% flat on Spanish employment income up to €600K for 6 years for inbound hires and remote workers, and Madrid waives its wealth tax except for the amount the national solidarity tax charges above €3M, which Madrid collects instead

Marbella. Beckham law: 24% flat on Spanish employment income up to €600K for 6 years for inbound hires and remote workers, and Andalusia waives its wealth tax except for the amount the national solidarity tax charges above €3M, which Andalusia collects instead

Palma. Beckham law: 24% flat on Spanish employment income up to €600K for 6 years, but the Balearics keep a regional wealth tax and a tourist rental clampdown

Ibiza. Beckham law: 24% flat on Spanish employment income up to €600K for 6 years, but the Balearics keep a regional wealth tax

Barcelona. Beckham law: 24% flat on Spanish employment income up to €600K for 6 years, but Catalonia keeps the regional wealth tax at up to 3.48% and a 50% top income tax rate against 45% in Madrid, so the flat regime matters more here than in Madrid

Every regime for new arrivals, compared

Questions

The short answers.

Where should a high earner live in Spain?

On a $1,000,000 income, Madrid keeps the most in Spain, $569K after 43% income tax. Marbella follows at 45%, and Barcelona keeps the least at 48%.

Ties on tax are broken by the Patrician.ch engine score at its default weights (safety, schools, sun, beauty, cost and ease of entry). Your own income and passports can reorder the list.

How much income tax does a $1M earner pay in Spain?

43% to 48% effective across the 5 addresses on the Patrician.ch 2026 model, single filer, before social contributions.

5 of the 5 addresses offer a special regime for new arrivals. At Madrid: Beckham law: 24% flat on Spanish employment income up to €600K for 6 years for inbound hires and remote workers, and Madrid waives its wealth tax except for the amount the national solidarity tax charges above €3M, which Madrid collects instead. In figures, 24% up to €600K and 47% above it on Spanish employment income: about $72K on $300K (24%), $315K on $1M (32%) and $1.26M on $3M (42%). Every other figure and ranking on this site uses the standard system.

Does Spain tax capital gains?

Yes.

A resident pays about 28% on a capital gain in Spain, about $280K on a $1,000,000 gain.

Does Spain have a wealth tax?

Yes, at every address. The top rate runs 3.5% of net assets a year.

Andalusia waives its wealth tax except for the amount the national solidarity tax would charge above 3M EUR, at 1.7%, 2.1% and 3.5% above 10.7M EUR, which Andalusia collects instead.

Does Spain have an inheritance tax?

It depends on the address. Children pay 5% or less in Marbella and Madrid, spouse and children exempt in Ibiza and Palma, children taxed in Barcelona.

Source: Andalusia Law 5/2021, articles 28 and 39, current to October 2026.

How does a foreigner get residence in Spain?

EU nationals register on arrival.

Others use the digital nomad or highly qualified visa. The Golden Visa closed in April 2025. Elect the Beckham regime within 6 months of starting work in Spain. Routes that matter for money: Remote work visa, Founder & talent.

Are millionaires moving to Spain?

No. Spain saw a net outflow of 500 millionaires in 2025 on the Henley Private Wealth Migration Report.

That is a country figure, not a city one. Henley's 2026 report published no new flow estimates, so 2025 is the latest.

The Dossier: your top 3, on your numbers.A written report on the 3 places that rank first for you, compared line by line on your income, a sale, your passports and your family. 10 chapters, written the moment you pay. Every tax figure carries its official source and the date it was last checked. The Dossier is $500. The founding price, $250, holds until 30 November. Refunded in full within 7 days of delivery, no reason needed.

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Spain, for a high earner.