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Side by side

Córdoba 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 CórdobaAll about PalmaChange 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 · 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 Córdoba

  • Stronger on housing (76 vs 24)
  • Stronger on safety (45 vs 23)
  • Vehicle thefts: 50 per 100k people vs 215 per 100k people
  • Nights above 20 °C: 47 a year vs 137 a year
  • Robberies with violence: 84 per 100k people vs 229 per 100k people
  • Thefts without violence: 1,362 per 100k people vs 3,660 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 Palma

  • Stronger on prosperity (78 vs 39)
  • Stronger on connectivity (77 vs 0)
  • Stronger on climate (68 vs 43)
  • Stronger on jobs (42 vs 4)
  • Stronger on healthcare (40 vs 27)
  • Distance to the main airport: 8 km vs 111 km
  • Unemployment: 11.3% vs 20.9%
  • Home burglaries: 67 per 100k people vs 108 per 100k people

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

Of 39 figures both publish in the same unit, Córdoba is better on 17 and Palma on 9; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

76 · strongHousing24 · weak
46 · averageTransport53 · average
45 · averageSafety23 · weak
43 · averageClimate68 · above average
39 · below averageProsperity78 · strong
30 · below averageDigital35 · below average
27 · below averageHealthcare40 · average
4 · weakJobs42 · average
0 · weakConnectivity77 · strong

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureCórdobaPalmaDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€7.1 a month2024€9.8 a month2024Córdoba 27% lower
Rent for a 70 m² flat€500 a month2024€689 a month2024Córdoba 27% lower
Typical rent, existing lease€540 a month2024€800 a month2024Córdoba 33% lower
Rents, change in a year2.4%20244.2%2024Córdoba 1.8 pts lower
Buying price per m²€1,784Q2 2026€3,814Q2 2026Palma 2.1×
Price of an 80 m² flat€142,704Q2 2026€305,160Q2 2026Palma 2.1×
House prices, change in a year13.0%Q2 202614.3%Q2 2026Córdoba 1.3 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€14,947 a year2024€17,289 a year2024Córdoba 14% lower
Net income per household€37,825 a year2024€48,884 a year2024Córdoba 23% lower
Unemployment20.9%202511.3%2025Córdoba 9.6 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime50.8 per 1,000 people202480.6 per 1,000 people2024Córdoba 37% lower
Sexual offences0.42 per 1,000 people20240.79 per 1,000 people2024Córdoba 47% lower
Homicides0.62 per 100k people20250.46 per 100k people2025Córdoba 35% higher
Robberies with violence84 per 100k people2025229 per 100k people2025Palma 2.7×
Home burglaries108 per 100k people202567 per 100k people2025Córdoba 61% higher
Thefts without violence1,362 per 100k people20253,660 per 100k people2025Palma 2.7×
Vehicle thefts50 per 100k people2025215 per 100k people2025Palma 4.3×
Health
Life expectancy82.7 years202383.2 years2023about the same
Hospital beds5.2 per 1,000 people20256.0 per 1,000 people2025Córdoba 13% lower
Climate
Days above 35 °C65 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Days above 30 °C119 a year2015–202418 a year2015–2024Córdoba 6.6×
Nights above 20 °C47 a year2015–2024137 a year2015–2024Palma 2.9×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)100 a year2015–2024120 a year2015–2024Córdoba 16% lower
Rainfall412 mm a year2015–2024542 mm a year2015–2024Córdoba 24% lower
Rainy days (≥1 mm)62 a year2015–202488 a year2015–2024Córdoba 29% lower
Frost days11 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Getting around
Average commute (one way)40 min202134 min2021Córdoba 19% higher
Commute by public transport13% of commuters202110% of commuters2021Córdoba 2.5 pts higher
Commute by car59% of commuters202164% of commuters2021Córdoba 5.5 pts lower
Distance to the main airport111 km20268 km2026Córdoba 14.1×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet98%202598%2025about the same
Homes with fibre to the door98%202598%2025about the same
Education
Adults with a university degree48%202438%2024Córdoba 10.0 pts higher
People
Population323,2622025434,7862025Córdoba 26% lower
Median age47.9 years202543.0 years2025Córdoba 11% higher
Residents aged 65+21.3%202517.2%2025Córdoba 4.1 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad6.2%202530.3%2025Córdoba 24.1 pts lower
Residents with a foreign nationality3.8%202420.0%2024Córdoba 16.2 pts lower
Foreign residents, change in 5 years0.9 points20243.1 points2024Córdoba 2.2 pts lower

Who each suits, 0–100

60Students43
52Culture, food and nightlife69
48High earners and investors52
45Budget-conscious movers28
43Families with children35
41Retirees49
40Founders and self-employed60
38Remote workers52
37Young professionals53
37Beach, mountains and the outdoors58

Weather through the year

0°20°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

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 (Córdoba) 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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