13 Best Places To Live In Spain

If warm weather, delicious food and outstanding natural beauty are up your street then Spain might be the right place for you to call home.

Choosing to relocate is a big decision, so we’re here to help walk you through the best places to live in Spain for families, immigrants, students and more.

Let’s start by looking at the best places to live in Spain.

Sections

Best Places To Live In Spain

City	Reason
Madrid	Best for work
Toledo	Best for affordability
Marbella	Best for families
Barcelona	Best for immigrants
Valencia	Best for retirement
Barcelona, Poble Nou	Best for young adults
Madrid, Sol	Best for students
San Sebastián and Seville	Best for food and nightlife
Alicante	Best for singles
Madrid, Chueca	Best for the LGBT+ community
The Canary Islands	Best for weather
Nerja	Best for beaches
Ronda	Best for mountains

Best Places To Live In Spain for Work

Spain is known for its relaxed work-to-life balance – taking holiday and making time for breaks is an important aspect of Spanish culture. However, there is still an active working environment in the bigger cities.

Madrid is the capital city and the most populated city in Spain. It is rich in culture and has lots of renowned European art and beautiful architecture.

Madrid is a great place for digital nomads and offers lots of opportunities for freelancers. It is also a hub for digital companies – Microsoft, Google and Amazon all have offices in Madrid.

Meetups and events for networking are common and a great opportunity for those who are new to the country and looking to make connections.

Málaga is another Spanish city that offers great work opportunities, particularly for skilled workers. In all Spanish cities, a degree of knowing and speaking Spanish is vital.

Cheapest Places To Live In Spain

Spain can be affordable or expensive depending on where you choose to settle in the country. The bigger and most famous cities, like Madrid and Barcelona, are likely to be the most expensive.

Toledo is located in central Spain and is an ancient city up on a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha. It’s long been called the ‘Glass City’ due to its connections with the glass industry.

Toledo is one of the more affordable cities in Spain and housing, in particular, is much more affordable in Toledo than other cities. It’s a very walkable city, with stunning architecture and easy access to the natural world.

Almeria is noted as another affordable city. Based in the southeast of Spain, Almeria is in the Andalucia province and has a reasonable cost of living as well as lots of lovely beaches.

Best Places To Live In Spain for Families

Deciding to relocate with a family is a big decision and you want to be sure that the area you’re moving to is family-friendly, has good schools and easy access to healthcare.

Marbella is located in southern Spain and is a city and resort area in the Andalusia region. It’s fast becoming a favourite with families who are immigrating to Spain due to its high quality of life and beautiful setting.

There are a good range of schools including The International School Estepona and The British International School of Marbella, and there are plenty of outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy, such as visiting stunning beaches or walking through Marbella’s glorious countryside.

Madrid is another good option for families as it has a large existing expat community, though the costs of living are substantially higher and the city is fast-paced and busy.

Best Places To Live In Spain for Immigrants

Barcelona is the cosmopolitan capital of Spain and one of the best cities for immigrants. It’s located on the coast of northeastern Spain and is the capital of the Catalonia region.

Barcelona is the perfect mix for nature lovers – the city has a beautiful coastline and a stunning mountainous backdrop. Travelling in and out of the city is easy with the buses, trams and metro services.

The city also has a huge expat community, meaning that new immigrants can easily find connections and community once moving to Barcelona – meet-up events are regularly held and easy to find.

There are also lots of work opportunities in Barcelona, particularly for digital nomads and freelancers. Do note that salaries in Barcelona tend to be lower than in cities like Madrid.

Valencia is another city that is great for immigrants, as the city has gone through a revamp in recent years and is drawing in more and more local and international residents.

Best Places To Live In Spain for Retirement

Valencia is located on Spain’s Mediterranean southeast coast and is the third most-populated municipality in Spain. Valencia mixes the old and the new; though a medieval city Valencia also has many futuristic buildings such as a planetarium, an oceanarium and an interactive museum.

Though the English community in Valencia is smaller than in other cities, Valencia is mostly funded by tourism and the service industry. It has great rail connections, as well as easy access to good hospitals.

The city is also stunningly beautiful, with breathtaking natural parks and architecture. It’s known for hosting many festivals throughout the year which cultivates a strong sense of community and fun.

The cost of living in Valencia is lower than in other municipalities, making it a perfect retirement spot for those working on a smaller budget.

For those hoping to retire a little bit closer to beaches, Costa de Sol or the Costa Blanca, which is known for its sunny weather and beautiful stretches of coastline.

Best Places To Live In Spain for Young Adults

There are plenty of spots in Spain for young adults – the wonderful weather and fabulous beaches are a huge draw for the younger generation.

Top of the list for young adults in Barcelona. The city is aesthetically outstanding with fantastic and famous architecture such as the Sagrada Familia cathedral.

FC Barcelona is a huge pride of the city and there is plenty of opportunity for young adults to get involved in watching and supporting the matches.

Some of the most popular neighbourhoods in Spain are Poble Nou (a quieter, hipster district with cafes and restaurants), Eixample (a very trendy area with upscale bars and nightlife) and El Borne (a popular area with expats).

Madrid is another good city for young adults as there is such a large population and vast opportunities for meeting people, finding jobs and building a community.

Best Places To Live In Spain for Students

Schooling options in Spain are varied depending on location. Madrid is one of the best cities in Spain for students, with prestigious universities such as The Autonomous University of Madrid, Charles III University of Madrid and Complutense University of Madrid.

Students who are interested in research and technology will have good schooling options in Madrid as the city has post-graduate job opportunities in this field.

Madrid is a vibrant city with a mix and range of diverse cultures and community which is ideal for students who are looking to make new friends and have new experiences.

It’s also a very well-connected city; there are efficient metros, trains and buses as well as three airports. Some of the best neighbourhoods for students are Sol, Malasaña, Cheuca, Lavapiés, and La Latina.

International students also have wonderful experiences in Valencia with the University of Valencia recognised internationally, and the surrounding beaches are a favourite spot for relaxing after studying.

Best Places To Live In Spain for Food and Nightlife

Spain has some delicious national dishes such as Paella de Marisco and appetising meats like Chorizo Sausage. San Sebastián is the food capital of Spain and is a coastal town on the Bay of Biscay.

The town is outstandingly beautiful with beaches that bring in tourists and nationals alike during the summer months. It also has some incredible restaurants with a total of nineteen Michelin stars between them.

The culture of the town is dedicated to producing and consuming the local produce and you can expect shops and markets to be packed with quality food.

In terms of nightlife, Seville is the capital and largest city of Andalusia. It is renowned for its nightlife as it is a walkable city that still offers a lot of bars and clubs.

Bars open in the early evening and the nightlife continues until the early morning. You can also head to the island of Ibiza, one of the Balearic islands, an archipelago of Spain, which is internationally known as a party island.

Best Places To Live In Spain for Singles

Various cities in Spain are perfect for singles, and they aren’t just Madrid or Barcelona. Alicante is a port city in southeastern Costa Blanca and is a great location for single people.

Affordable housing can be difficult to find in Madrid or Barcelona, but Alicante is one of the most affordable beach locations in Spain which is ideal for single people.

The Old Town is a great place for dating and the beauty of Alicante is a fantastic backdrop for romantic dates. With great restaurants and lively bars and clubs, there is ample opportunity for individuals to make new connections and meet new people.

Single people will also do well in Madrid or Barcelona as there is a large population there to mingle with, plus plenty of work opportunities and easy access to healthcare. However, the cost of living in these cities is higher.

Best Places To Live In Spain for the LGBT+ Community

Spain is a welcoming country for members of the LGBT+ community, with very liberal views in both the city and the more rural towns. Despite this, public displays of affection may not be welcomed in more conservative areas so, as always, discretion is advised for safety.

Madrid has one of the largest Pride parades worldwide (held during June) and draws thousands of people worldwide. The Chueca district is most renowned for being the ‘gay neighbourhood’ of Madrid.

There are businesses, bars, restaurants and clubs all orientated for the LGBT+ community in Chueca and it’s common to find both heterosexual and same-sex couples in the area.

Barcelona is another good city for the LGBT+ community, with the Eixample as the best district for LGBT+ settlers.

Best Places To Live In Spain for the Weather

The weather in Spain is notably sunny but during the summer time, it can become very hot in some of the larger cities. For those who want a more temperate weather climate, then heading to the Canary Islands is your best bet.

The Canary Islands are volcanic islands off the coast of northwestern Africa, famous for their stunning black and white sandy beaches. The Canaries are a popular tourist location during summer due to the sunny but not unbearable climate.

Lanzarote tends to be the hottest island, as it is the closest to the Saharas but all have lovely weather during the summer and mild winters.

Best Places To Live In Spain Near Beaches

When looking for the best beaches in Spain, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Nerja is located in Costa de Sol with a seafront promenade and is a favourite resort town in the country.

Nerja lies east of Málaga and is connected by a highway.

The beaches of Nerja have crystal clear water and allow some fun outdoor activities and watersports like snorkelling, swimming and paddleboarding.

Many of the beaches are protected by rocky cliffs that protect the shores from harsh winds. There are lots of kiosks and restaurants scattered along the beachfront for tasty snacks and hydration.

All of the Canary Islands also have beautiful beaches and exciting activities and amenities for residents and visitors.

Best Places To Live In Spain Near Mountains

‘Mountain’ isn’t the first thought that comes to mind when one considers Spain, but the country does have some mountainous ranges. Ronda is one of the best mountainous cities in Spain.

It’s located in Spain’s Málaga region and is set atop a massive gorge. The gorge – El Tajo – separates the Old and New Town. It has lookout spots along the top which offer some magnificent views.

Ronda is one of the most popular spots in Andalusia with tourists travelling internationally to see the historic old town and bridge over the El Tajo gorge.

Another good mountain city is Granada, which is located in southern Spain’s Andalusia region in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. As well as the mountains, Granada has many beautiful beaches.