Compare Spanish cities side-by-side
Pick up to three cities to see what life as an expat actually looks like — cost of living, climate, community, and more.
Side-by-side comparison
Comparing your selected cities
Compare Spanish cities for expats — cost of living, climate, community
Choosing where to live in Spain is the hardest part of moving here. The Spain City Explorer compares twelve major cities side-by-side across the dimensions that actually shape daily life — what you'll spend, how hot it gets in July, how big the expat community is, how much English you'll hear, how easy it is to get to the beach, and how the public transport actually works.
Whether you're researching the non-lucrative visa (NLV), planning a digital nomad stint, or scoping out where to retire, this tool gives you a clear-eyed view of the trade-offs between the country's autonomous communities. Barcelona and Madrid deliver world-class infrastructure at a price; Valencia and Málaga sit at the top of expat satisfaction rankings without the metropolitan cost; Seville and Granada reward those who lean into Andalusian culture; Bilbao and San Sebastián offer the foodie north for those who don't need year-round sun. Murcia is the budget play, Marbella the luxury one, Palma the island life, and Alicante the all-rounder for British and Northern European retirees.
How to use it
Click up to three cities on the map (or tap on mobile) to add them to the comparison. Each city pin shows a quick preview on hover. Click again to deselect. The comparison panel below the map updates in real time.
What we compare
Cost of living for singles and couples, summer and winter highs, annual sunshine hours and sunny days, expat density, English fluency, beach access, public transport, safety index, and the size and identity of the autonomous community each city sits in.
About our data
Cost of living from Numbeo, climate from Climates to Travel, sunshine hours from AEMET (Spanish meteorological agency), expat density from INE 2025 census and InterNations 2024 rankings, and regional facts from Wikipedia. Sources are cited on every badge and section.
Cities included in this comparison
Twelve of Spain's most popular cities for expats, spanning eight autonomous communities:
Full city guides are live for Valencia, Barcelona, Málaga, Madrid, Alicante, and Bilbao — with honest cost breakdowns, neighborhood guides, and who each city is really for. Browse all city guides at ExpatWires Spain Cities →
Map: Wikimedia Commons (NordNordWest, CC BY-SA 3.0) · Data refreshed quarterly · v1.0