Cost of Living: Las Palmas vs Malaga (2026)

Spain vs Spain — relocation comparison

TL;DRLas Palmas is 25% cheaper on rent ($1049/mo vs $1392/mo). Las Palmas has milder winters (16°C vs 8°C lows). Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
70
Livability Score
🇪🇸 Las Palmas
Spain
Full profile
66
Livability Score
🇪🇸 Malaga
Spain
Full profile
Too close to call — 70 vs 66. Las Palmas has a slight edge, but Malaga might suit you better depending on your priorities.
💰
Cost of Living
Las Palmas
$344/mo cheaper on rent alone
☀️
Weather
26°C vs 29°C summers
Las Palmas
Metric
Malaga
$1049/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1392/mo
$462/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$534/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$6,603
0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.6 / 100k
26°C
☀️
Summer high
29°C
16°C
❄️
Winter low
8°C
8.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.1 / 10
High (62/100)
🗣️
English ease
High (62/100)
$58k
💼
GDP per capita
$58k
2.8%
📈
Inflation
2.8%
70 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
66 / 100

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

477
PISA
country avg
477
15
Intl schools
15
$499/mo
Childcare
full-day
$861/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 25% cheaper in Las Palmas ($1049/mo vs $1392/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Malaga (29°C vs 26°C).

Las Palmas vs Malaga — Common Questions

Is Las Palmas cheaper than Malaga?

Las Palmas is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1049/month in Las Palmas vs $1392/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Las Palmas or Malaga?

Malaga is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Las Palmas has a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 and Malaga has 0.61 per 100,000.

Should I move to Las Palmas or Malaga?

Too close to call — 70 vs 66. Las Palmas has a slight edge, but Malaga might suit you better depending on your priorities. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Which has better weather, Las Palmas or Malaga?

Malaga is warmer in summer (29°C vs 26°C). Las Palmas has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

Factor in your salary, family size, weather preferences, and deal-breakers.