Anybody who has visited the principality will know that a holiday in Andorra is a magical experience. In fact, a break in Andorra, whether in winter or summer, may be so enjoyable that you start thinking about living in Andorra. Moving there permanently is obviously an entirely different prospect to visiting for a holiday, but living in Andorra might actually suit certain people.
Here, in this guide to how to live in Andorra, we’ll outline some of the living in Andorra pros and cons and some tips for where to live in Andorra. So, let’s get to it and answer the burning question, which is: Is Andorra a good place to live?
Pros and cons of living in Andorra
Let’s kick off this country guide with some living in Andorra pros and cons, with three of each.
In terms of pros of living in Andorra, the top three would be:
- Andorra is a very safe country: It is important to highlight that Andorra is an especially safe country, with extremely low crime rates. With this, you don’t even really have to consider where to live in Andorra, as the crime rates are low in the capital and in the smaller towns too.
- Andorra offers so many outdoor activities: The main attraction of Andorra is surely the beautiful scenery that the country has to offer. As a Pyrenean paradise, moving to this country means moving to a land that has some of the best ski resorts in the world in the winter and some of the most pleasant hikes in the summer.
- Andorra has several tax advantages: Although it is important to point out that both the European Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reject the idea that Andorra is a “tax haven”, the country does have several tax advantages due to its low tax rates. For example, the VAT rate of 4.5% is the lowest in Europe.
Moving on to some of the cons of moving to Andorra, three negatives would be:
- Andorra doesn’t have an airport: There isn’t actually an airport inside Andorra’s borders, with the nearest one being Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport over the border in Spain, which is 27km by car away from the capital of Andorra la Vella and which doesn’t fly to many destinations. As such, it can be a little harder to come and go for expats than some other destinations around Europe:
- Andorra’s official language is Catalan: The official language in Andorra is Catalan and, while this is a beautiful language, it is not a particularly common one. As such, most who move to Andorra have never had the chance to learn it. Other languages, such as Spanish, French and Portuguese, are commonly spoken there too. And, English is becoming a more and more common second language in the principality, especially in areas which welcome tourists. But, if you’re moving to the country permanently then there may be a language barrier.
- Andorra requires a work permit: If you’re moving to Andorra with the intention of working there, you’ll need to think about the visa and work permit situation. If you’re just going on holiday, you don’t need any kind of visa if going for under 90 days. But, since Andorra isn’t part of the EU, there may a decent amount of paperwork to sort if you end up living in Andorra for work.
Living in Andorra as a UK national
For some more information on what are the requirements to live in Andorra if you are moving from the United Kingdom, you should check the latest advice with the relevant agencies in the UK and in Andorra. But, it is important to note that Brexit has not changed the situation much, given that Andorra isn’t part of the European Union either.
Furthermore, and as mentioned above, the answer to the question of ‘Is English widely spoken in Andorra?’ is that it isn’t the most common language. That could be a problem for some UK nationals.
Cost of living in Andorra
Is it expensive to live in Andorra? This is one of the burning questions that most who are considering moving to the principality will have. And the simple answer to the cost of living in Andorra question is that it’s complicated.
Andorra is a unique country, as it has a very low tax system at the same time as being a microstate with limited space and limited local produce. The cost of living can vary greatly, depending on what kinds of products and services you’re most likely to buy.
To put some numbers on this, one recent ranking of cost of living had Andorra as the 37th most expensive country in the world and the 20th most expensive in Europe, at a cost of €1,222 euros per month for a single adult. Considering the number of countries in Europe, this puts Andorra near the middle of the pack and it’s interesting to note that neighbouring Spain is ranked 38th in the world and 21st in Europe.
Cultural immersion in Andorra: Festivals, traditions and local experiences
As mentioned when discussing the living in Andorra pros and cons, one of the main advantages is having incredible outdoor experiences on your doorstep. As well as the leisure activities, there are also many festivals, traditions and local experiences that you’ll be able to immerse yourself in if you move to Andorra.
Christmas is always a special time in Andorra, with markets popping up across the country. This is also a time of tradition in the country, and a moment when some of the most traditional Andorran foods are best enjoyed, such as the hearty dishes like Escudella or Trinxat. If you live in Andorra, then you’ll be able to enjoy these even more.
Job opportunities in Andorra
Unless you have a huge savings account, how to live in Andorra will involve working in Andorra. So, you’ll be scanning the job opportunities in Andorra. In terms of where to live in Andorra for work, the best place to live in Andorra would, in that case, be Andorra la Vella, the country’s capital, where most businesses are based. Away from the capital, there are also many job opportunities at Andorra ski resorts, although this is of course seasonal. It should also be noted that working remotely from Andorra is an option too.
With all of this, it is important to make sure you have the correct paperwork and permits in order to ensure you are working and living in Andorra legally.