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Side by side

Córdoba 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 CórdobaAll about MadridChange a place

Data as of

City · Andalucía

Córdoba

A compact, hot, deeply historic city of patios and a mosque-cathedral, with low prices and a thin job market.

Quality of life46average
Momentum33below average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Historic cityProvincial capitalUniversity townVery hot summersMild wintersScorching summers

142nd 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 Córdoba

  • Stronger on housing (76 vs 34)
  • Stronger on safety (45 vs 28)
  • Frost days: 11 a year vs 46 a year
  • Price of an 80 m² flat: €142,704 vs €433,472
  • Buying price per m²: €1,784 vs €5,418
  • Robberies with violence: 84 per 100k people vs 210 per 100k people
  • A very low cost of living in a World Heritage old town
  • Small enough to cross on foot with a slow family rhythm

Watch out: Extreme summer heat among the worst in Spain; Unemployment among the highest in the country and a very thin job market.

Why Madrid

  • Stronger on healthcare (94 vs 27)
  • Stronger on prosperity (94 vs 39)
  • Stronger on jobs (72 vs 4)
  • Stronger on digital (70 vs 30)
  • Stronger on transport (63 vs 46)
  • Stronger on connectivity (62 vs 0)
  • Commute by public transport: 44% of commuters vs 13% of commuters
  • Distance to the main airport: 14 km vs 111 km

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

Of 39 figures both publish in the same unit, Córdoba is better on 17 and Madrid on 13; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

76 · strongHousing34 · below average
46 · averageTransport63 · above average
45 · averageSafety28 · below average
43 · averageClimate43 · average
39 · below averageProsperity94 · strong
30 · below averageDigital70 · above average
27 · below averageHealthcare94 · strong
4 · weakJobs72 · above average
0 · weakConnectivity62 · above average

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureCórdobaMadridDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€7.1 a month2024€14.0 a month2024Madrid 2.0×
Rent for a 70 m² flat€500 a month2024€978 a month2024Madrid 2.0×
Typical rent, existing lease€540 a month2024€869 a month2024Córdoba 38% lower
Rents, change in a year2.4%20243.6%2024Córdoba 1.2 pts lower
Buying price per m²€1,784Q2 2026€5,418Q2 2026Madrid 3.0×
Price of an 80 m² flat€142,704Q2 2026€433,472Q2 2026Madrid 3.0×
House prices, change in a year13.0%Q2 20269.4%Q2 2026Córdoba 3.5 pts higher
Money & work
Household income per person€14,947 a year2024€20,861 a year2024Córdoba 28% lower
Net income per household€37,825 a year2024€53,213 a year2024Córdoba 29% lower
Unemployment20.9%20257.8%2025Córdoba 13.1 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime50.8 per 1,000 people202468.9 per 1,000 people2024Córdoba 26% lower
Sexual offences0.42 per 1,000 people20240.51 per 1,000 people2024Córdoba 18% lower
Homicides0.62 per 100k people20250.48 per 100k people2025Córdoba 28% higher
Robberies with violence84 per 100k people2025210 per 100k people2025Madrid 2.5×
Home burglaries108 per 100k people2025123 per 100k people2025Córdoba 13% lower
Thefts without violence1,362 per 100k people20252,069 per 100k people2025Córdoba 34% lower
Vehicle thefts50 per 100k people2025110 per 100k people2025Madrid 2.2×
Health
Life expectancy82.7 years202384.9 years2023about the same
Hospital beds5.2 per 1,000 people20253.6 per 1,000 people2025Córdoba 46% higher
Climate
Days above 35 °C65 a year2015–202433 a year2015–2024Córdoba 2.0×
Days above 30 °C119 a year2015–202478 a year2015–2024Córdoba 52% higher
Nights above 20 °C47 a year2015–202411 a year2015–2024Córdoba 4.2×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)100 a year2015–202484 a year2015–2024Córdoba 19% higher
Rainfall412 mm a year2015–2024480 mm a year2015–2024Córdoba 14% lower
Rainy days (≥1 mm)62 a year2015–202479 a year2015–2024Córdoba 21% lower
Frost days11 a year2015–202446 a year2015–2024Madrid 4.3×
Getting around
Average commute (one way)40 min202154 min2021Córdoba 26% lower
Commute by public transport13% of commuters202144% of commuters2021Córdoba 31.3 pts lower
Commute by car59% of commuters202140% of commuters2021Córdoba 18.7 pts higher
Distance to the main airport111 km202614 km2026Córdoba 7.9×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet98%202599%2025Córdoba 1.5 pts lower
Homes with fibre to the door98%202599%2025Córdoba 1.6 pts lower
Education
Adults with a university degree48%202457%2024Córdoba 9.0 pts lower
People
Population323,26220253,506,7302025Madrid 10.8×
Median age47.9 years202543.9 years2025Córdoba 9% higher
Residents aged 65+21.3%202520.2%2025Córdoba 1.1 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad6.2%202529.3%2025Córdoba 23.1 pts lower
Residents with a foreign nationality3.8%202418.2%2024Córdoba 14.4 pts lower
Foreign residents, change in 5 years0.9 points20242.9 points2024Córdoba 2.0 pts lower

Who each suits, 0–100

60Students57
52Culture, food and nightlife85
48High earners and investors59
45Budget-conscious movers29
43Families with children46
41Retirees51
40Founders and self-employed68
38Remote workers53
37Young professionals65
37Beach, mountains and the outdoors44

Weather through the year

-5°18°40°JFMAMJJASOND
Solid: average daily high · dashed: average nightly low, °C.

Our read of each

Córdoba

  • Plan on Spanish from day one
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Ready for remote work
  • Public waiting lists are long

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 (Córdoba) 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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