13.01.2025 
How to Choose a City to Move to in Spain
Spain attracts residents of different countries with its diverse climate, rich culture, affordable education, and healthcare. However, the question of how to choose the most suitable city for emigration often causes difficulties. In this article, we will consider the key criteria and provide brief characteristics of popular destinations. The material will be useful for those who are planning to move to Spain and want to assess in advance the pros, cons, and potential "pitfalls" of living in this country.
Main Concerns and How to Solve Them
1. Difficulty Choosing a Location for Living
Many migrants strive to settle in Spain but don't know which region would be easiest to adapt to, find work, and provide quality education for their children. To avoid making a mistake, you need to consider:
- Climate of the region (hot southern coast, cooler north, warm and humid Mediterranean zone)
- Purchasing power and cost of living
- Availability of vacancies in the desired specialty
- Availability of housing and rental or purchase prices
- Availability of universities, schools, and language courses if you are moving with children
Solution: Make a list of priorities: is the sea climate important to you, work in a large metropolis, prospects for development in a particular industry? Then correlate these factors with real possibilities. This way you will immediately eliminate regions that do not fit your goals.
2. Expensive Housing or Difficulty with Renting
Popular cities, such as Barcelona and Madrid, offer many jobs, but real estate prices are significantly higher than in other regions of the country. The search for rental housing is complicated by the requirements for tenants: income, work experience, or a guarantor.
Solution: Pay attention to the nearest suburbs, where rent is cheaper. If you are planning to buy, study prices in less hyped but promising cities, such as Almeria or Murcia. Thanks to good transport links, you can work in a major center and live outside the expensive area.
3. Uncertainty in Finding a Job
Another difficulty of moving to Spain is insufficient awareness of the labor market. Aspects such as language skills, demand for the specialty, and readiness for retraining are important here. In megacities (for example, Madrid, Barcelona) there are vacancies with high salaries, but the competition is also serious. In coastal cities, workers in the tourism industry are in demand, and seasonal workers are often needed in agricultural regions.
Solution: Before departure, study major job portals: pay attention to the fields of IT, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and logistics. If you have a residence permit (VNZh) with the right to work, feel free to send your resume to foreign representative offices. You can also open a business if you have a well-thought-out business plan or apply for a startup visa.
Criteria for Choosing a City
1. Cost of Living
According to statistics, life in large cities – Madrid, Barcelona – is noticeably more expensive than the national average. If the budget is limited, you can consider Valencia, Alicante, Murcia. There are moderate prices for housing and food, with good infrastructure and a transport network.
2. Real Estate Market and Rental Prices
For those wishing to buy housing, it is more profitable to consider small cities with promising price growth. With a budget of up to 1200 euros per month for rent, pay attention to Seville or Malaga, where there are options for apartments by the sea and at the same time significantly lower costs than in Barcelona. A flexible approach to choosing a district will help reduce costs.
3. Quality of Healthcare
The Spanish healthcare system is considered one of the best in the world. In regions with good transport links to hospitals, it is easy to get there, and private clinics provide additional comfort. If you need more specialized medical services, you should consider Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia, where advanced centers are concentrated. However, in smaller cities, appointments may move faster due to the lower workload of doctors.
4. Influence of Climate on Lifestyle
In the north of Spain (San Sebastian, Bilbao) it often rains and can be cool, while in Andalusia (Seville, Cadiz) the temperature in summer can rise above +40 degrees. Madrid, although located in the center, is characterized by hot summers and cooler winters. The Mediterranean coast (Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante) is usually favorable for beach holidays and offers about 300 sunny days a year.
5. Education System
Families with children often choose large cities and provincial centers, where there are international and bilingual schools, as well as universities and Spanish courses. Barcelona and Madrid lead in the number of universities and schools offering education in different languages, but Valencia and Malaga are also popular among students due to affordable rent and the presence of university campuses.
City Overview: Brief Characteristics
Barcelona: Cultural Diversity
A large metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea, where prices for housing and food are above average. Suitable for those who appreciate urban dynamics and career opportunities. Traffic jams, high rents, but developed infrastructure and a huge number of museums, universities, and IT companies.
Madrid: The Heart of Spain
The capital with a wide selection of jobs in trade, services, finance, and manufacturing. There are many educational institutions and business schools here, however, housing is more expensive than in other regions. Suitable for highly qualified specialists and those who strive for career growth.
Valencia: Balance of Comfort and Affordability
The third largest city, which combines a maritime climate, an active economy, and a relatively low cost of rent. Industrial enterprises, a port, and a developed service sector. For families with children – an extensive educational network, including international schools, as well as a wide range of leisure activities.
Málaga: Life by the Sea and Moderate Prices
A resort city in the south, attracts with warm weather and a large selection of vacancies in tourism, trade, and the IT sector. Prices are lower than in Barcelona and Madrid, however, there is an influx of tourists in the summer. For children, there is a university, schools, and clubs of interest. A separate plus is a large airport.
Alicante: Sunny Costa Blanca
A popular coast among expats from different countries. The labor market needs people in the service sector, trade, as well as seasonal workers. The climate is dry, rainfall is rare. Housing is cheaper than in larger cities. The main disadvantage is high demand in the season, so rental rates may rise.
Seville: Traditions and Heat
The historical capital of Andalusia. In summer, the temperature reaches +45, but the city attracts with flamenco culture and color. Housing is cheaper than in Madrid or Barcelona. Suitable for those who are not afraid of the heat and who love a leisurely pace of life. For employment, service sector workers are more often in demand.
Conclusion: Step-by-Step Algorithm for Choosing
To avoid wasting time and money, decide on a strategy:
- Assess the budget: calculate the minimum monthly expenses – for housing, transport, food.
- Conduct an analysis of vacancies: view the requirements for potential employees.
- Consider options for a residence permit (VNZh): for example, a work contract, family reunification, startup visa.
- Consider the climate: if you are sensitive to heat, choose the north of Spain, if you love the sun – Costa Blanca or Andalusia.
- Study the infrastructure: transport network, hospitals, schools, shops – all this affects the comfort of everyday life.
- Don't rule out the suburbs: sometimes they are ideal in terms of price/quality ratio and are located just 30–60 minutes from the center.
Moving to Spain is an important step, but balanced planning and understanding the characteristics of each region help to avoid many difficulties. Make your own list of priorities, compare it with the capabilities of a particular city, and make a decision confidently.
