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Side by side

Alicante or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

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 Las Palmas de Gran CanariaChange 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 · Canarias

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

A big Atlantic port city with a city beach, an all-year spring climate and a growing remote-working crowd.

Quality of life47average
Momentum34below average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Island capitalBeach cityPort cityYear-round mild climateSurf cityPleasant weather

132nd of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Alicante

  • Stronger on connectivity (55 vs 19)
  • Stronger on healthcare (48 vs 5)
  • Stronger on jobs (36 vs 11)
  • Nights above 20 °C: 60 a year vs 156 a year
  • Distance to the main airport: 10 km vs 22 km
  • Homicides: 1.37 per 100k people vs 2.10 per 100k people
  • Airport passengers: 19.9 million a year vs 15.7 million a year
  • Mild bright winters and an airport close to the city

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

Why Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

  • Stronger on climate (72 vs 53)
  • Stronger on prosperity (58 vs 30)
  • Stronger on safety (32 vs 16)
  • Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 319 a year vs 127 a year
  • Hospital beds: 7.0 per 1,000 people vs 4.1 per 1,000 people
  • Home burglaries: 63 per 100k people vs 185 per 100k people
  • Robberies with violence: 130 per 100k people vs 244 per 100k people
  • One of the steadiest climates in Europe and a city beach in town

Watch out: A small low-paid job market and high unemployment; Distance from the mainland with flights of several hours.

Of 40 figures both publish in the same unit, Alicante is better on 11 and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 12; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

55 · averageConnectivity19 · weak
53 · averageClimate72 · above average
53 · averageTransport56 · average
48 · averageHealthcare5 · weak
37 · below averageDigital48 · average
37 · below averageHousing48 · average
36 · below averageJobs11 · weak
30 · below averageProsperity58 · average
16 · weakSafety32 · below average

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureAlicanteLas Palmas de Gran CanariaDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€7.1 a month2024€8.1 a month2024Alicante 12% lower
Rent for a 70 m² flat€497 a month2024€567 a month2024Alicante 12% lower
Typical rent, existing lease€608 a month2024€600 a month2024about the same
Rents, change in a year5.1%20243.3%2024Alicante 1.8 pts higher
Buying price per m²€2,279Q2 2026€2,337Q2 2026about the same
Price of an 80 m² flat€182,336Q2 2026€186,992Q2 2026about the same
House prices, change in a year12.6%Q2 202614.2%Q2 2026Alicante 1.6 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€14,361 a year2024€16,088 a year2024Alicante 11% lower
Net income per household€36,891 a year2024€41,738 a year2024Alicante 12% lower
Unemployment14.8%202517.4%2025Alicante 2.6 pts lower
Safety
Recorded crime67.9 per 1,000 people202451.3 per 1,000 people2024Alicante 32% higher
Sexual offences0.68 per 1,000 people20240.68 per 1,000 people2024about the same
Homicides1.37 per 100k people20252.10 per 100k people2025Alicante 35% lower
Robberies with violence244 per 100k people2025130 per 100k people2025Alicante 88% higher
Home burglaries185 per 100k people202563 per 100k people2025Alicante 3.0×
Thefts without violence2,206 per 100k people20251,182 per 100k people2025Alicante 87% higher
Vehicle thefts111 per 100k people202581 per 100k people2025Alicante 37% higher
Health
Life expectancy83.4 years202381.3 years2023about the same
Hospital beds4.1 per 1,000 people20257.0 per 1,000 people2025Alicante 41% lower
Climate
Days above 35 °C14 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Days above 30 °C75 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Nights above 20 °C60 a year2015–2024156 a year2015–2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2.6×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)127 a year2015–2024319 a year2015–2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2.5×
Rainfall399 mm a year2015–2024163 mm a year2015–2024Alicante 2.4×
Rainy days (≥1 mm)63 a year2015–202435 a year2015–2024Alicante 78% higher
Frost days1 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Getting around
Average commute (one way)42 min202142 min2021about the same
Commute by public transport18% of commuters202125% of commuters2021Alicante 6.6 pts lower
Commute by car57% of commuters202158% of commuters2021Alicante 0.9 pts lower
Distance to the main airport10 km202622 km2026Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2.3×
Airport passengers19.9 million a year202515.7 million a year2025Alicante 27% higher
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet98%202597%2025Alicante 0.6 pts higher
Homes with fibre to the door98%202598%2025about the same
Education
Adults with a university degree44%202442%2024Alicante 2.2 pts higher
People
Population366,2212025381,8682025Alicante 4% lower
Median age45.8 years202548.7 years2025Alicante 6% lower
Residents aged 65+19.9%202520.7%2025Alicante 0.8 pts lower
Who lives here
Residents born abroad28.9%202516.6%2025Alicante 12.3 pts higher
Residents with a foreign nationality20.7%20248.9%2024Alicante 11.8 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years6.0 points20241.3 points2024Alicante 4.7 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

70Culture, food and nightlife64
56Students55
54Founders and self-employed48
52Remote workers52
51Beach, mountains and the outdoors75
48High earners and investors45
47Young professionals44
44Retirees50
38Budget-conscious movers35
34Families with children33

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

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

  • Some English, but learn Spanish early
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Easy to fly home
  • Ready for remote work

Data through Jun 2026 (Alicante) and Jun 2026 (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria). 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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