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Side by side

Barcelona or Palma?

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 BarcelonaAll about PalmaChange a place

Data as of

City · Cataluña

Barcelona

The beach, Gaudí and an international crowd, packed into one compact, walkable city between the sea and the hills.

Quality of life62above average
Momentum36below average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Beach cityRegional capitalTourist-heavy centreDesign cityBilingual: Catalan & SpanishWatch your pocketsFast internetPricey rentGlobal airport

23rd of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

City · Illes Balears

Palma

Island life in a real city: a Gothic cathedral on the sea, a year-round centre and mountains behind.

Quality of life54average
Momentum53average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Island capitalPort citySailing and yachtsMild wintersInternational communityGlobal airportInternational crowd

92nd of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Barcelona

  • Stronger on prosperity (92 vs 78)
  • Stronger on healthcare (82 vs 40)
  • Stronger on digital (77 vs 35)
  • Stronger on transport (65 vs 53)
  • Stronger on jobs (56 vs 42)
  • Stronger on housing (42 vs 24)
  • Commute by public transport: 43% of commuters vs 10% of commuters
  • Airport passengers: 57.4 million a year vs 33.8 million a year

Watch out: Visitor crowds and noise in the old town for much of the year; Crowded beaches and sights in summer.

Why Palma

  • Stronger on connectivity (77 vs 65)
  • Robberies with violence: 229 per 100k people vs 730 per 100k people
  • Home burglaries: 67 per 100k people vs 204 per 100k people
  • Distance to the main airport: 8 km vs 12 km
  • Average commute (one way): 34 min vs 51 min
  • A real city that stays open in winter
  • Sea and cycling roads and mountain walks close by

Watch out: A housing market shared with visitors and second-home buyers; Quiet winters in the coastal resorts where many places close.

Of 40 figures both publish in the same unit, Barcelona is better on 13 and Palma on 13; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

92 · strongProsperity78 · strong
82 · strongHealthcare40 · average
77 · strongDigital35 · below average
65 · above averageConnectivity77 · strong
65 · above averageTransport53 · average
57 · averageClimate68 · above average
56 · averageJobs42 · average
42 · averageHousing24 · weak
13 · weakSafety23 · weak

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureBarcelonaPalmaDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€13.7 a month2024€9.8 a month2024Barcelona 39% higher
Rent for a 70 m² flat€958 a month2024€689 a month2024Barcelona 39% higher
Typical rent, existing lease€900 a month2024€800 a month2024Barcelona 13% higher
Rents, change in a year3.3%20244.2%2024Barcelona 0.9 pts lower
Buying price per m²€4,602Q2 2026€3,814Q2 2026Barcelona 21% higher
Price of an 80 m² flat€368,144Q2 2026€305,160Q2 2026Barcelona 21% higher
House prices, change in a year6.9%Q2 202614.3%Q2 2026Barcelona 7.4 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€20,326 a year2024€17,289 a year2024Barcelona 18% higher
Net income per household€49,915 a year2024€48,884 a year2024about the same
Unemployment7.7%202511.3%2025Barcelona 3.6 pts lower
Safety
Recorded crime103.5 per 1,000 people202480.6 per 1,000 people2024Barcelona 28% higher
Sexual offences0.75 per 1,000 people20240.79 per 1,000 people2024Barcelona 5% lower
Homicides0.58 per 100k people20250.46 per 100k people2025Barcelona 26% higher
Robberies with violence730 per 100k people2025229 per 100k people2025Barcelona 3.2×
Home burglaries204 per 100k people202567 per 100k people2025Barcelona 3.1×
Thefts without violence4,430 per 100k people20253,660 per 100k people2025Barcelona 21% higher
Vehicle thefts166 per 100k people2025215 per 100k people2025Barcelona 23% lower
Health
Life expectancy84.3 years202383.2 years2023about the same
Hospital beds6.0 per 1,000 people20256.0 per 1,000 people2025about the same
Climate
Days above 35 °C3 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Days above 30 °C50 a year2015–202418 a year2015–2024Barcelona 2.8×
Nights above 20 °C53 a year2015–2024137 a year2015–2024Palma 2.6×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)111 a year2015–2024120 a year2015–2024Barcelona 7% lower
Rainfall566 mm a year2015–2024542 mm a year2015–2024Barcelona 4% higher
Rainy days (≥1 mm)86 a year2015–202488 a year2015–2024about the same
Frost days4 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Getting around
Average commute (one way)51 min202134 min2021Barcelona 51% higher
Commute by public transport43% of commuters202110% of commuters2021Barcelona 32.6 pts higher
Commute by car24% of commuters202164% of commuters2021Barcelona 40.2 pts lower
Distance to the main airport12 km20268 km2026Barcelona 58% higher
Airport passengers57.4 million a year202533.8 million a year2025Barcelona 70% higher
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet99%202598%2025Barcelona 1.7 pts higher
Homes with fibre to the door99%202598%2025Barcelona 1.5 pts higher
Education
Adults with a university degree62%202438%2024Barcelona 23.5 pts higher
People
Population1,731,6492025434,7862025Barcelona 4.0×
Median age41.8 years202543.0 years2025about the same
Residents aged 65+21.0%202517.2%2025Barcelona 3.8 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad34.6%202530.3%2025Barcelona 4.3 pts higher
Residents with a foreign nationality23.3%202420.0%2024Barcelona 3.3 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years1.7 points20243.1 points2024Barcelona 1.4 pts lower

Who each suits, 0–100

83Culture, food and nightlife69
68Founders and self-employed60
62Young professionals53
62Beach, mountains and the outdoors58
60Remote workers52
60Students43
56Retirees49
56High earners and investors52
39Families with children35
29Budget-conscious movers28

Weather through the year

0°18°35°JFMAMJJASOND
Solid: average daily high · dashed: average nightly low, °C.

Our read of each

Barcelona

  • English gets you by day to day
  • Catalan is co-official here
  • Budget for the new-lease price
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • You can live without a car
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Easy to fly home
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work
  • Public waiting lists are long
  • A younger crowd

Palma

  • English gets you by day to day
  • Catalan 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
  • A younger crowd

Data through Jun 2026 (Barcelona) and Jun 2026 (Palma). 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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