Best Cities in Spain for Expats (2025 Edition)

As Spain's capital and largest city, Madrid is a bustling metropolis known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and dynamic lifestyle. The city boasts world-class museums, theaters, and nightlife, making it a hub for art and entertainment enthusiasts.

Cost of Living

Average city-center rent is €1,250, and a menú del día costs around €14. Madrid is one of the most expensive cities in Spain.

Job Market

The capital offers one of the country's strongest job markets across finance, tech, and international business, with a mean gross salary of €2,920 (INE 2024).

Lifestyle & Downsides

The city's energy and connectivity are unmatched, but it can feel crowded and overwhelming. Summer highs exceed 38°C and traffic is among the worst in Europe.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is renowned for its stunning architecture, Mediterranean beaches, and cosmopolitan vibe.

Cost of Living

Rent averages around €1,350, and a T-Zone transit pass costs €40/month.

Job Market

Barcelona is a hotspot for tech startups and tourism. In 2024, the city saw a 17% increase in VC-backed ventures.

Lifestyle & Downsides

The weather is mild year-round, but central areas suffer from high tourist volumes. Catalan is widely used alongside Spanish, and learning both can help with social integration.

Valencia, located on Spain's southeastern coast, offers a blend of modernity and tradition, with futuristic structures alongside historic sites and beaches.

Cost of Living

Valencia is more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona. A single expat can live comfortably on around €1,650/month, and rent in Ruzafa starts around €800.

Job Market

There are opportunities in tourism, logistics, and remote tech. However, local unemployment remains higher than in Madrid or Bilbao at around 12%.

Lifestyle

Valencia offers a high quality of life: sandy beaches, a huge urban park, modern transport and a rich culture.

Situated on the Costa del Sol, one of my personal favorites, Málaga combines Andalusian charm with a tech-driven future. With over 320 days of sunshine per year, it's ideal for beach lovers and remote workers.

Cost of Living

The city is generally affordable. Rent for a 1-bedroom flat in central Málaga averages around €850 and day-to-day expenses remain lower than other major cities.

Job Market

Tourism and services dominate, but the local tech ecosystem (e.g. Málaga TechPark) is growing. However, average salaries remain modest at around ~€1,900/month.

Lifestyle & Downsides

Tourist crowds peak in summer and while there are cultural offerings, some expats report slower bureaucracy in public services.

Seville, the capital of Andalusia, is a charming and culturally rich city known for flamenco, festivals and its historic old town.

Cost of Living

One of Spain's most affordable large cities. Rent averages around €700 - €800/month, and groceries and entertainment are budget-friendly.

Family Appeal

There are three well-rated international bilingual schools: St. Mary's School, Yago School and San Francisco de Paula.

Transport & Downsides

A high-speed AVE line connects Seville to Madrid in under 2.5 hours. However, summers are extremely hot with average July highs reaching 42°C, air conditioning is a must.

Alicante, located on the Costa Blanca, offers beach life, low living costs, and a welcoming community and particularly for retirees.

Cost of Living

Rents in the city center start from €700/month and dining out is budget-friendly. Public healthcare is highly rated, scoring 8.3/10 and private insurance starts at €48/month.

Job Market

Tourism and services dominate. Not ideal for high-skilled job seekers unless working remotely. However, it's an attractive base for digital nomads and seasonal workers.

Investment Insight

Rental yields for long-term apartments average around 6.1%, making it an appealing destination for buy-to-let investors.

Nestled at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada is a culturally rich city with a strong student presence and deep Moorish heritage.

Cost of Living

Very affordable. Rent can be as low as €550/month. Tapas are often free with drinks, lowering daily costs.

Job Market

Centred around education, tourism, and hospitality. May be suitable for high-skill expats working remotely.

Lifestyle & Safety

Granada offers the rare combo of snow and sea: ski Sierra Nevada and sunbathe at Costa Tropical in the same weekend. Granada is among Spain's safest student cities.

Capital of Spain's Basque Country, Bilbao is a clean, modern city with strong salaries, low crime and excellent public transport.

Safety & Salaries

Bilbao has one of Spain's lowest crime rates: 22/100 (INE 2024). Median STEM salary is €3,100/month.

Economy & Jobs

The city's economy is tech-industrial, led by firms like Iberdrola, Siemens Gamesa and BBVA Next.

Lifestyle

With a Michelin-starred food scene, a sleek metro and green hills all around, Bilbao blends nature with urbanity. Though, rainy winters remain its main downside.

Palma mixes Mediterranean island beauty with Old-Town charm and modern European convenience. It's a favourite for UK and German expats.

Living & Legal Changes

34% of residents are foreign-born. In 2025, a rental cap was introduced limiting short-term lets in central Palma, increasing demand for long-term rentals.

Quality of Life

Excellent healthcare, international schools, yachting and creative industries fuel Palma's premium appeal. Traffic can be heavy in summer.

Las Palmas attracts digital nomads and remote workers seeking year-round spring weather and EU-level infrastructure.

Internet & Cost Advantage

Average fibre speed: 307 Mbps (Ookla Q2 2025). Groceries cost ~18% less than mainland cities and a reduced VAT rate (IGIC 7%).

Lifestyle & Downsides

Living near Las Canteras beach offers an unbeatable surf-to-desk rhythm. Downsides include fewer corporate career paths and higher airfare for mainland travel.