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Side by side

Alicante or Bilbao?

Each place uses its own local data. National rules (economy, geopolitical stability, governance, tax & finance) are the same for both, so they cannot separate them. Neither wins everywhere; the tradeoffs below are what matter.

All about AlicanteAll about BilbaoChange a place

Data as of

City · Comunitat Valenciana

Alicante

A sunny port city with a long town beach, mild winters and a big, settled international community.

Quality of life49average
Momentum60above average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Beach cityPort cityMild wintersInternational communityUniversity townWatch your pocketsInternational crowd

121st of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

City · País Vasco

Bilbao

A food city that reinvented itself around the Guggenheim, with green hills, cool summers and serious pintxos.

Quality of life66above average
Momentum68above average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Regional capitalFormer industrial portGreen and rainyFood cityCo-official BasqueFast internetPricey rentLive without a car

5th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Alicante

  • Airport passengers: 19.9 million a year vs 7.1 million a year
  • Rainy days (≥1 mm): 63 a year vs 153 a year
  • Rent for a 70 m² flat: €497 a month vs €806 a month
  • Rent per m²: €7.1 a month vs €11.5 a month
  • Mild bright winters and an airport close to the city
  • A walkable centre with a beach a few minutes away

Watch out: A seasonal population that swells in summer and at the Hogueras; Crowded beach and nightlife areas in summer.

Why Bilbao

  • Stronger on prosperity (93 vs 30)
  • Stronger on transport (76 vs 53)
  • Stronger on healthcare (74 vs 48)
  • Stronger on jobs (70 vs 36)
  • Stronger on climate (67 vs 53)
  • Stronger on digital (58 vs 37)
  • Commute by public transport: 37% of commuters vs 18% of commuters
  • Days above 35 °C: 0 a year vs 14 a year

Watch out: Rain on many days of the year; Hills that shape where and how the city can grow.

Of 39 figures both publish in the same unit, Alicante is better on 10 and Bilbao on 18; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

55 · averageConnectivity56 · average
53 · averageClimate67 · above average
53 · averageTransport76 · strong
48 · averageHealthcare74 · above average
37 · below averageDigital58 · average
37 · below averageHousing–
36 · below averageJobs70 · above average
30 · below averageProsperity93 · strong
16 · weakSafety27 · below average

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureAlicanteBilbaoDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€7.1 a month2024€11.5 a month2024Alicante 38% lower
Rent for a 70 m² flat€497 a month2024€806 a month2024Alicante 38% lower
Typical rent, existing lease€608 a month2024€800 a month2024Alicante 24% lower
Buying price per m²€2,279Q2 2026€3,529Q2 2026Alicante 35% lower
Price of an 80 m² flat€182,336Q2 2026€282,344Q2 2026Alicante 35% lower
House prices, change in a year12.6%Q2 20268.0%Q2 2026Alicante 4.6 pts higher
Money & work
Household income per person€14,361 a year2024€20,598 a year2024Alicante 30% lower
Net income per household€36,891 a year2024€47,550 a year2024Alicante 22% lower
Unemployment14.8%20259.0%2025Alicante 5.8 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime67.9 per 1,000 people202468.1 per 1,000 people2024about the same
Sexual offences0.68 per 1,000 people20240.57 per 1,000 people2024Alicante 19% higher
Homicides1.37 per 100k people20250.85 per 100k people2025Alicante 60% higher
Robberies with violence244 per 100k people2025217 per 100k people2025Alicante 12% higher
Home burglaries185 per 100k people2025122 per 100k people2025Alicante 51% higher
Thefts without violence2,206 per 100k people20252,993 per 100k people2025Alicante 26% lower
Vehicle thefts111 per 100k people202524 per 100k people2025Alicante 4.6×
Health
Life expectancy83.4 years202383.9 years2023about the same
Hospital beds4.1 per 1,000 people20254.0 per 1,000 people2025Alicante 5% higher
Climate
Days above 35 °C14 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024Alicante 137.0×
Days above 30 °C75 a year2015–20244 a year2015–2024Alicante 21.5×
Nights above 20 °C60 a year2015–202423 a year2015–2024Alicante 2.6×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)127 a year2015–2024107 a year2015–2024Alicante 18% higher
Rainfall399 mm a year2015–20241,146 mm a year2015–2024Bilbao 2.9×
Rainy days (≥1 mm)63 a year2015–2024153 a year2015–2024Bilbao 2.4×
Frost days1 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Getting around
Average commute (one way)42 min202140 min2021Alicante 5% higher
Commute by public transport18% of commuters202137% of commuters2021Alicante 18.7 pts lower
Commute by car57% of commuters202130% of commuters2021Alicante 27.6 pts higher
Distance to the main airport10 km20265 km2026Alicante 2.1×
Airport passengers19.9 million a year20257.1 million a year2025Alicante 2.8×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet98%202599%2025Alicante 1.1 pts lower
Homes with fibre to the door98%202599%2025Alicante 1.0 pts lower
Education
Adults with a university degree44%202458%2024Alicante 13.8 pts lower
People
Population366,2212025351,1242025Alicante 4% higher
Median age45.8 years202550.5 years2025Alicante 9% lower
Residents aged 65+19.9%202525.3%2025Alicante 5.4 pts lower
Who lives here
Residents born abroad28.9%202517.6%2025Alicante 11.3 pts higher
Residents with a foreign nationality20.7%202411.7%2024Alicante 9.0 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years6.0 points20242.0 points2024Alicante 4.0 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

70Culture, food and nightlife54
56Students51
54Founders and self-employed63
52Remote workers60
51Beach, mountains and the outdoors69
48High earners and investors63
47Young professionals56
44Retirees66
38Budget-conscious movers33
34Families with children48

Weather through the year

5°20°35°JFMAMJJASOND
Solid: average daily high · dashed: average nightly low, °C.

Our read of each

Alicante

  • Some English, but learn Spanish early
  • Valencian is co-official here
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Easy to fly home
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work

Bilbao

  • Plan on Spanish from day one
  • Basque is co-official here
  • You can live without a car
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work
  • An older, quieter population

Data through Jun 2026 (Alicante) and Dec 2025 (Bilbao). Figures are compared only when both places publish them in the same unit; a dot marks the better value where better is clear.

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