Barcelona is one of the safest cities in the world that also offers gorgeous weather, delicious Catalan cuisine, plenty of art museums, a buzzing nightlife, outdoor spaces for workouts, and a thriving expat community.
Madrid has got it all – stunning views, lots of activities, a buzzing nightlife, and a thriving expat community. It's no wonder almost one million expats call Madrid their home. Although the city's job market is competitive, expats have a better chance of getting a well-paid job here compared to other areas of Spain.
Where do most expats live in Spain? Madrid and Barcelona are the cities most loved by expats in Spain. Thousands of expats and digital nomads find their home here every year. There are plenty of work opportunities in Madrid and Barcelona for those looking to relocate to Spain.
1. Granada. The number one safest city for expats to live in is the Andalucian city of Granada. It's home to the famous UNESCO world heritage site the Alhambra, an Islamic fortress that towers over the city.
The safest big city in Spain is Valencia.
You will find just minor crimes in Valencia and very few violent crimes. With a safety index of 74.52, you can feel very safe in Valencia. Find out which neighbourhood in Valencia is suitable for you to live in.
Asturias, in Northern Spain, has one of the countries' lowest crime rates. With a population of 1 million people, it registered only 1 homicide during 2021. Its biggest city, Gijón, with more than 250,000 inhabitants, has not registered a homicide since February 2020 (as of June 2022), before COVID-19 lockdown.
Spaniards live life to the fullest, taking an open, carefree attitude to everyday events. It is this laidback approach that underpins life in Spain, whether it's the country's famous outdoorsy culture or the fact that the Spanish are so gregarious and welcoming of foreigners and expats.
The Costa Blanca town of Benidorm is the most British city in Spain!
The cheapest province in Spain to live in is known to be the Andalucia province, located in the southern region. Here, you can find cheap cities such as Almeria, Malaga and Granada with an average cost of living that is significantly lower than most other places in Spain.
According to Money's 2022 data, Valencia has everything it takes to win the title of the world's healthiest city for the second year in a row. The city is known for its weather, the best paella in the world, minimal pollution levels, and high-quality health care.
Valencia is the healthiest city in the world
Valencia is more than just a city famous for its Paella, it is also the healthiest city in the world! This beautiful Spanish city places joint third on our index for greatest life expectancy due to an array of lifestyle factors. Firstly, this city has the ideal climate.
Valencia is the healthiest overall
Spain was also named the healthiest country in the world. One of the contributing factors was its Mediterranean diet, which is high in omega-3, fats and protein, as well as its social mealtimes and walking as a popular mode of transport.
Portugal is an extremely safe country. According to the 2022 Global Peace Index ranking, the Portuguese country ranks sixth among the safest countries in the world. Spain, on the other hand, ranks 29th. So, all things considered, Portugal is safer.
You can settle in expat communities, like Almeria, Alicante, Benahavís, Benijofar, Marbella, San Fulgencio etc. There is no need to study Spanish: Radio and TV programs, as well as restaurants and supermarkets are always available to English-speaking public of these areas. You can use only English here – no problem!
Can I live in Spain without speaking Spanish? Sure. If you're living in a major city, studying a course taught in English, interning or working at a company that requires English, or are living in expat areas such as Costa del Sol or Malaga, you can get by with just English in Spain.
British population in Spain by autonomous community 2022
The also coastal Andalusia ranked first, with 92,180 British residents making this southern area their homes in 2022. The number of British citizens that lived in Spain was slightly over under 293,171 as of January 2022.
Security. As mentioned before, one thing that contributes to the overall quality of life in any particular country is safety. While both countries are considered generally safe, Portugal is by far safer than Spain.
Uruguay. Top of the safest countries in South America, Uruguay is famed for its political stability and relative lack of violent crime. The GDP per capita is much higher than some of its neighbours, so there's less of a need for people to survive via desperate means. Education levels are high, and the climate is mild.
Both Madrid and Barcelona are perfect for a (more extended) stay and moving to. Barcelona is a rather modern, very touristy city by the sea with many European influences and Catalan culture and language. Conversely, Madrid is a more traditional Spanish city with great nightlife and is very open to visitors.
The report showed that the four poorest neighbourhoods in Spain can all be found in the cities of Seville and Alicante. The barrios (neighbourhoods) are Polígono Sur and Los Pajaritos y Amate in Seville and Juan XXIII in Alicante.
Stockholm, Sweden. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is a beacon of safety in Europe, with its low crime rate and police force that is proactive in deterring and preventing crime. The police in Stockholm focus on working together with the residents to address safety concerns.