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Side by side

Alicante or Madrid?

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 MadridChange 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 · Comunidad de Madrid

Madrid

Spain's biggest job market, world-class museums and a street life that runs late into the night.

Quality of life64above average
Momentum58average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Capital cityInland plateau cityLate-night cityHead-office cityHot summersFast internetScorching summersPricey rentGlobal airport

17th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Alicante

  • Frost days: 1 a year vs 46 a year
  • Days above 35 °C: 14 a year vs 33 a year
  • Buying price per m²: €2,279 vs €5,418
  • Price of an 80 m² flat: €182,336 vs €433,472
  • 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 Madrid

  • Stronger on healthcare (94 vs 48)
  • Stronger on prosperity (94 vs 30)
  • Stronger on jobs (72 vs 36)
  • Stronger on digital (70 vs 37)
  • Stronger on safety (28 vs 16)
  • Airport passengers: 68.0 million a year vs 19.9 million a year
  • Commute by public transport: 44% of commuters vs 18% of commuters
  • Nights above 20 °C: 11 a year vs 60 a year

Watch out: A competitive housing market that pushes many people to the suburbs; A city that sprawls into separate suburbs.

Of 40 figures both publish in the same unit, Alicante is better on 12 and Madrid on 17; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

55 · averageConnectivity62 · above average
53 · averageClimate43 · average
53 · averageTransport63 · above average
48 · averageHealthcare94 · strong
37 · below averageDigital70 · above average
37 · below averageHousing34 · below average
36 · below averageJobs72 · above average
30 · below averageProsperity94 · strong
16 · weakSafety28 · below average

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureAlicanteMadridDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€7.1 a month2024€14.0 a month2024Madrid 2.0×
Rent for a 70 m² flat€497 a month2024€978 a month2024Madrid 2.0×
Typical rent, existing lease€608 a month2024€869 a month2024Alicante 30% lower
Rents, change in a year5.1%20243.6%2024Alicante 1.5 pts higher
Buying price per m²€2,279Q2 2026€5,418Q2 2026Madrid 2.4×
Price of an 80 m² flat€182,336Q2 2026€433,472Q2 2026Madrid 2.4×
House prices, change in a year12.6%Q2 20269.4%Q2 2026Alicante 3.2 pts higher
Money & work
Household income per person€14,361 a year2024€20,861 a year2024Alicante 31% lower
Net income per household€36,891 a year2024€53,213 a year2024Alicante 31% lower
Unemployment14.8%20257.8%2025Alicante 7.0 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime67.9 per 1,000 people202468.9 per 1,000 people2024about the same
Sexual offences0.68 per 1,000 people20240.51 per 1,000 people2024Alicante 33% higher
Homicides1.37 per 100k people20250.48 per 100k people2025Alicante 2.8×
Robberies with violence244 per 100k people2025210 per 100k people2025Alicante 16% higher
Home burglaries185 per 100k people2025123 per 100k people2025Alicante 50% higher
Thefts without violence2,206 per 100k people20252,069 per 100k people2025Alicante 7% higher
Vehicle thefts111 per 100k people2025110 per 100k people2025about the same
Health
Life expectancy83.4 years202384.9 years2023about the same
Hospital beds4.1 per 1,000 people20253.6 per 1,000 people2025Alicante 16% higher
Climate
Days above 35 °C14 a year2015–202433 a year2015–2024Madrid 2.4×
Days above 30 °C75 a year2015–202478 a year2015–2024about the same
Nights above 20 °C60 a year2015–202411 a year2015–2024Alicante 5.3×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)127 a year2015–202484 a year2015–2024Alicante 51% higher
Rainfall399 mm a year2015–2024480 mm a year2015–2024Alicante 17% lower
Rainy days (≥1 mm)63 a year2015–202479 a year2015–2024Alicante 21% lower
Frost days1 a year2015–202446 a year2015–2024Madrid 66.4×
Getting around
Average commute (one way)42 min202154 min2021Alicante 23% lower
Commute by public transport18% of commuters202144% of commuters2021Alicante 25.7 pts lower
Commute by car57% of commuters202140% of commuters2021Alicante 17.0 pts higher
Distance to the main airport10 km202614 km2026Alicante 31% lower
Airport passengers19.9 million a year202568.0 million a year2025Madrid 3.4×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet98%202599%2025Alicante 1.2 pts lower
Homes with fibre to the door98%202599%2025Alicante 1.2 pts lower
Education
Adults with a university degree44%202457%2024Alicante 13.0 pts lower
People
Population366,22120253,506,7302025Madrid 9.6×
Median age45.8 years202543.9 years2025Alicante 4% higher
Residents aged 65+19.9%202520.2%2025about the same
Who lives here
Residents born abroad28.9%202529.3%2025about the same
Residents with a foreign nationality20.7%202418.2%2024Alicante 2.5 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years6.0 points20242.9 points2024Alicante 3.1 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

70Culture, food and nightlife85
56Students57
54Founders and self-employed68
52Remote workers53
51Beach, mountains and the outdoors44
48High earners and investors59
47Young professionals65
44Retirees51
38Budget-conscious movers29
34Families with children46

Weather through the year

-5°15°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

Madrid

  • English gets you by day to day
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Winters need real heating
  • You can live without a car
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Easy to fly home
  • Ready for remote work
  • A younger crowd

Data through Jun 2026 (Alicante) and Jun 2026 (Madrid). 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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