Side by side
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 CataluñaAll about Vilanova i la GeltrúChange a place
Data as of
Region
Barcelona, the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees in one region, with its own language, food and festivals.
21st of 34 European metro regions
City · Cataluña
88th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000
Cataluña is a region and Vilanova i la Geltrú a city. Each figure is that place’s own; scores compare each with its own peers (regions with regions, cities with cities), so read them side by side rather than as a contest.
Watch out: Housing that is dear and tight around Barcelona and the best-known coast; Petty theft in Barcelona and the resort towns and some of the highest regional taxes.
Nothing where it is clearly ahead.
Of 14 figures both publish in the same unit, Cataluña is better on 2 and Vilanova i la Geltrú on 3; the rest are close or have no better direction.
| Figure | Cataluña | Vilanova i la Geltrú | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Rent per m² | €9.8 a month2024 | €8.8 a month2024 | Cataluña 11% higher |
| Rent for a 70 m² flat | €689 a month2024 | €619 a month2024 | Cataluña 11% higher |
| Typical rent, existing lease | €700 a month2024 | €701 a month2024 | about the same |
| Typical rent, new lease | €861 a monthQ1 2026 | €877 a monthQ1 2026 | about the same |
| Rents, change in a year | 3.1%2024 | 3.2%2024 | about the same |
| Buying price per m² | €2,753Q2 2026 | €2,738Q2 2026 | about the same |
| Price of an 80 m² flat | €220,232Q2 2026 | €219,008Q2 2026 | about the same |
| House prices, change in a year | 10.1%Q2 2026 | 11.5%Q2 2026 | Cataluña 1.4 pts lower |
| Money & work | |||
| Unemployment | 8.4%2025 | 9.5%2025 | Cataluña 1.1 pts lower |
| Safety | |||
| Recorded crime | 61.0 per 1,000 people2025 | 61.7 per 1,000 people2024 | about the same |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 84.3 years2024 | 83.2 years2023 | about the same |
| Education | |||
| Adults with a university degree | 47%2025 | 48%2024 | Cataluña 0.8 pts lower |
| People | |||
| Population | 8,124,1262025 | 71,6412025 | Cataluña 113.4× |
| Who lives here | |||
| Residents born abroad | 25.1%2025 | 19.7%2025 | Cataluña 5.4 pts higher |
Data through Jun 2026 (Cataluña) and Jun 2026 (Vilanova i la Geltrú). Figures are compared only when both places publish them in the same unit; a dot marks the better value where better is clear.
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.