Cost of Living: Madrid vs Seville (2026)

Spain vs Spain — relocation comparison

TL;DRSeville is 35% cheaper on rent ($980/mo vs $1498/mo). Seville has milder winters (7°C vs 1°C lows). Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
69
Livability Score
🇪🇸 Madrid
Spain
Full profile
67
Livability Score
🇪🇸 Seville
Spain
Full profile
Madrid and Seville are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
💰
Cost of Living
Seville
$518/mo cheaper on rent alone
☀️
Weather
31°C vs 34°C summers
Madrid
Metric
Seville
$1498/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$980/mo
$627/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$491/mo
$7,448
🧳
Cost to land
0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.6 / 100k
29 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
31°C
☀️
Summer high
34°C
1°C
❄️
Winter low
7°C
94 Mbps
Internet speed
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%
69 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
67 / 100
70/100 — Mostly stable
Grid reliability
90/100
🗽
Freedom House
5 years
📋
Time to PR

For the Kids

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

477
PISA
country avg
477
3
Intl schools
15
Yes (Spanish)
Public school
Pediatric coverage included in public system
Pediatric care
4–12 weeks
Specialist wait
$720/mo
Childcare
full-day
$625/mo

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

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
financeconsultingtechmedia
Industries
hub
Startup ecosystem
70/100
Grid reliability
5 yrs
Time to PR
Easy
EU visa
Complex
RU visa
Moderate
UA visa
Your partner can also work
Spouse works

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

The Short Version

  • Rent is 35% cheaper in Seville ($980/mo vs $1498/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Seville (34°C vs 31°C).

Madrid vs Seville — Common Questions

Is Madrid cheaper than Seville?

Seville is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $980/month in Seville vs $1498/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Madrid or Seville?

Seville is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Madrid has a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 and Seville has 0.61 per 100,000.

Should I move to Madrid or Seville?

Madrid and Seville are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. 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 Madrid or Seville?

Madrid: Spain Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements, 1 year (renewable to 5)). Seville: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Madrid or Seville?

Seville is warmer in summer (34°C vs 31°C). Madrid 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.