Best all-rounder
Valencian Community
Valencia
Beaches, a big city, mild winters and lower costs than Madrid or Barcelona.
€€€€ 2 to 3 days
The best places to live in Spain
There is no single best place to live in Spain: it depends on your budget, your work and how much sun (or rain) you want. These twelve cover the main choices. Each links to a full guide with neighbourhoods. Not sure? Try the town matcher.
The full list
Best for winter sun and flights
Andalusia
Málaga
Mainland Europe’s mildest winters and an airport with flights everywhere.
€€€€ 2 to 3 days
Best for jobs
Community of Madrid
Madrid
The biggest job market and the best transport hub.
€€€€ 3 to 4 days
Best big international city
Catalonia
Barcelona
World-class culture and a sea view, if you can find a flat.
€€€€ 3 to 4 days
Best sunny city with an English-speaking network
Valencian Community
Alicante
Dry and sunny with a huge international community around it.
€€€€ 2 days
Best year-round climate
Canary Islands
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Spring weather twelve months a year and a remote-work scene.
€€€€ 2 to 3 days
Best for Spanish culture on a budget
Andalusia
Seville
Big-city life at low cost, if you can handle July.
€€€€ 2 to 3 days
Best quality of life in the green north
Basque Country
Bilbao
Well run, good food, cheaper than San Sebastián.
€€€€ 2 days
Best small city for families
Catalonia
Girona
Safe, compact, 40 minutes from Barcelona.
€€€€ 1 to 2 days
Best island city
Balearic Islands
Palma de Mallorca
Island life with real city services.
€€€€ 2 to 3 days
Best cheap university city
Galicia
Santiago de Compostela
Beautiful, cultured and affordable, with a lot of rain.
€€€€ 2 days
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