Best cities to live in Spain (2026)
7 cities ranked by Livability Score — affordability, safety, internet, democracy & climate.
Country at a Glance
Freedom House score
Press freedom rank
Grid reliability
Path to PR
Corporate tax
Valencia
73/100Bilbao
72/100Madrid
72/100Tenerife
72/100Seville
71/100Malaga
70/100Barcelona
69/100Compare cities in Spain
❓ Living in Spain — Common Questions
What is the best city to live in Spain?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Valencia ranks #1 in Spain with a score of 73/100, and city-centre rent from around $1429/month.
What is the cheapest city in Spain?▾
Seville has the most affordable city-centre rent in our Spain data, at around $980/month for a 1-bedroom apartment.
What is the safest city in Spain?▾
By UNODC homicide rate data, Madrid is the safest city in Spain in our database, with a rate of 0.6 per 100,000 people.
Should I move to Valencia or Bilbao?▾
Valencia scores 73/100 on our Livability Score vs 72/100 for Bilbao. Rent is $1429/mo in Valencia vs $1259/mo in Bilbao. See the full comparison at the bottom of this page.
How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Spain?▾
Spain offers the Spain Digital Nomad Visa (moderate process). Duration: 1 year (renewable to 5). Key requirement: Proof of remote income ≥ €2,849/mo (200% of SMI). Work must be primarily for non-Spanish clients.. The process is moderate difficulty. Check individual city pages for full details.
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