Cost of Living: Las Palmas vs New York (2026)

Spain vs United States — relocation comparison

TL;DRLas Palmas is 76% cheaper on rent ($1049/mo vs $4281/mo). Las Palmas is safer — homicide rate 0.6 vs 5.8 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
70
Livability Score
🇪🇸 Las Palmas
Spain
Full profile
57
Livability Score
🇺🇸 New York
United States
Full profile
Las Palmas scores 70 to New York's 57 on livability — the gap is real. New York has its charms, but the numbers favor Las Palmas.
💰
Cost of Living
Las Palmas
$3232/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Las Palmas
0.6 homicides per 100k
🗣️
English
New York
higher proficiency score
Las Palmas
Metric
New York
$1049/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$4281/mo
$462/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$997/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$13,582
0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
5.8 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
51 / 100
26°C
☀️
Summer high
28°C
16°C
❄️
Winter low
-1°C
Internet speed
162 Mbps
8.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
7.8 / 10
High (62/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (100/100)
$58k
💼
GDP per capita
$86k
2.8%
📈
Inflation
2.9%
70 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
57 / 100
Grid reliability
83/100 — Mostly stable
🗽
Freedom House
80/100
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

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

477
PISA
country avg
489
15
Intl schools
15
Public school
Yes (English)
Pediatric care
CHIP covers children in low-income families; otherwise depends on employer plan
Specialist wait
2–6 weeks
$499/mo
Childcare
full-day
$3390/mo

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

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
Industries
financemediatechfashion
Startup ecosystem
hub
Grid reliability
83/100
Time to PR
5 yrs
EU visa
Moderate
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Moderate
Spouse works
⚠️ Your partner can exist, not earn

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

The Short Version

  • Rent is 75% cheaper in Las Palmas ($1049/mo vs $4281/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in New York (28°C vs 26°C).
  • Las Palmas is safer by homicide rate (0.6 vs 5.8 per 100k).
  • English is easier to get by in New York (100/100 vs 62/100 English proficiency).

Las Palmas vs New York — Common Questions

Is Las Palmas cheaper than New York?

Las Palmas is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1049/month in Las Palmas vs $4281/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Las Palmas or New York?

Las Palmas is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Las Palmas has a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 and New York has 5.80 per 100,000.

Should I move to Las Palmas or New York?

Las Palmas scores 70 to New York's 57 on livability — the gap is real. New York has its charms, but the numbers favor Las Palmas. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Las Palmas or New York?

Las Palmas: no specific remote work visa. New York: US Employment-Based Green Card (complex process, Permanent residence). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Can I live in Las Palmas or New York without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in New York (EF EPI score: 100/100) than in Las Palmas (62/100). In New York, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Las Palmas, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

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