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Side by side

Elche 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 ElcheAll about PalmaChange a place

Data as of

City · Comunitat Valenciana

Elche

A palm-grove city of shoemakers and sunshine, beside Alicante's airport and a short drive from the beaches.

Quality of life51average
Momentum56average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Inland cityPalm groveMild wintersHot summersCar-dependentPleasant weatherAffordable rent

105th 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 Elche

  • Stronger on safety (52 vs 23)
  • Stronger on housing (48 vs 24)
  • Robberies with violence: 65 per 100k people vs 229 per 100k people
  • Thefts without violence: 1,046 per 100k people vs 3,660 per 100k people
  • Buying price per m²: €1,635 vs €3,814
  • Price of an 80 m² flat: €130,808 vs €305,160
  • Low rents and house prices near a major airport
  • Sunny and dry winters with the airport a short drive away

Watch out: Hot and sticky summer nights; A weak job market with high unemployment and low local incomes.

Why Palma

  • Stronger on prosperity (78 vs 11)
  • Stronger on connectivity (77 vs 57)
  • Stronger on digital (35 vs 20)
  • Hospital beds: 6.0 per 1,000 people vs 2.9 per 1,000 people
  • Homicides: 0.46 per 100k people vs 1.22 per 100k people
  • Home burglaries: 67 per 100k people vs 140 per 100k people
  • Net income per household: €48,884 a year vs €33,516 a year
  • A real city that stays open in winter

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, Elche is better on 13 and Palma on 13; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

63 · above averageClimate68 · above average
57 · averageConnectivity77 · strong
52 · averageSafety23 · weak
48 · averageHealthcare40 · average
48 · averageHousing24 · weak
47 · averageTransport53 · average
33 · below averageJobs42 · average
20 · weakDigital35 · below average
11 · weakProsperity78 · strong

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureElchePalmaDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€5.4 a month2024€9.8 a month2024Elche 45% lower
Rent for a 70 m² flat€381 a month2024€689 a month2024Elche 45% lower
Typical rent, existing lease€482 a month2024€800 a month2024Elche 40% lower
Rents, change in a year5.0%20244.2%2024Elche 0.8 pts higher
Buying price per m²€1,635Q2 2026€3,814Q2 2026Palma 2.3×
Price of an 80 m² flat€130,808Q2 2026€305,160Q2 2026Palma 2.3×
House prices, change in a year13.9%Q2 202614.3%Q2 2026about the same
Money & work
Household income per person€12,552 a year2024€17,289 a year2024Elche 27% lower
Net income per household€33,516 a year2024€48,884 a year2024Elche 31% lower
Unemployment14.8%202511.3%2025Elche 3.5 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime40.2 per 1,000 people202480.6 per 1,000 people2024Palma 2.0×
Sexual offences0.54 per 1,000 people20240.79 per 1,000 people2024Elche 32% lower
Homicides1.22 per 100k people20250.46 per 100k people2025Elche 2.7×
Robberies with violence65 per 100k people2025229 per 100k people2025Palma 3.5×
Home burglaries140 per 100k people202567 per 100k people2025Elche 2.1×
Thefts without violence1,046 per 100k people20253,660 per 100k people2025Palma 3.5×
Vehicle thefts107 per 100k people2025215 per 100k people2025Palma 2.0×
Health
Life expectancy83.4 years202383.2 years2023about the same
Hospital beds2.9 per 1,000 people20256.0 per 1,000 people2025Palma 2.0×
Climate
Days above 35 °C1 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Days above 30 °C36 a year2015–202418 a year2015–2024Elche 2.0×
Nights above 20 °C112 a year2015–2024137 a year2015–2024Elche 18% lower
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)161 a year2015–2024120 a year2015–2024Elche 35% higher
Rainfall385 mm a year2015–2024542 mm a year2015–2024Elche 29% lower
Rainy days (≥1 mm)59 a year2015–202488 a year2015–2024Elche 32% lower
Frost days0 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Getting around
Average commute (one way)36 min202134 min2021Elche 5% higher
Commute by public transport10% of commuters202110% of commuters2021Elche 0.5 pts lower
Commute by car67% of commuters202164% of commuters2021Elche 2.9 pts higher
Distance to the main airport10 km20268 km2026Elche 28% higher
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet96%202598%2025Elche 1.8 pts lower
Homes with fibre to the door98%202598%2025about the same
Education
Adults with a university degree32%202438%2024Elche 5.7 pts lower
People
Population245,5572025434,7862025Elche 44% lower
Median age45.5 years202543.0 years2025Elche 6% higher
Residents aged 65+18.9%202517.2%2025Elche 1.7 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad18.6%202530.3%2025Elche 11.7 pts lower
Residents with a foreign nationality14.2%202420.0%2024Elche 5.8 pts lower
Foreign residents, change in 5 years3.0 points20243.1 points2024about the same

Who each suits, 0–100

66Beach, mountains and the outdoors58
58Retirees49
54Remote workers52
54Budget-conscious movers28
53High earners and investors52
52Students43
52Culture, food and nightlife69
51Families with children35
46Founders and self-employed60
43Young professionals53

Weather through the year

5°20°35°JFMAMJJASOND
Solid: average daily high · dashed: average nightly low, °C.

Our read of each

Elche

  • Plan on Spanish from day one
  • Valencian is co-official here
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • You will probably want a car
  • Line up work before you come

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 (Elche) 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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