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Side by side

Extremadura or Spain?

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 ExtremaduraAll about SpainChange a place

Data as of

Region

Extremadura

Spain's quiet south-west: Roman ruins, oak pastures, vultures and the lowest prices in the country.

Quality of life52average
Momentum70above average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Inland regionBorder with PortugalRoman and medieval townsBirdwatchingVery hot summersAffordable rent

21st of 35 European metro regions

Country

Spain

Sun, food and a life lived outdoors, from big-city careers to quiet coastal towns.

Quality of life56average
Momentum52average
Outlook25weak
Mediterranean countryPublic healthcare systemRegional languagesLate meals and street lifeTourism economy

16th of 30 EU + EFTA countries

Extremadura is a region and Spain a country. Each figure is that place’s own; scores compare each with its own peers (Spain with EU countries, regions with regions, cities with cities), so read them side by side rather than as a contest.

Why Extremadura

  • Robberies: 27 per 100k people vs 130 per 100k people
  • Thefts: 145 per 100k people vs 451 per 100k people
  • Burglaries: 112 per 100k people vs 293 per 100k people
  • Households spending >40% of income on housing: 4.2% vs 7.2%
  • The lowest housing costs in Spain and a safe slow daily life
  • Open oak country & rivers & reservoirs with almost no crowds

Watch out: Very hot summers on the Badajoz plains; A small job market and a long history of young people leaving.

Why Spain

  • Household income per person: 27,885 PPS a year vs 16,900 PPS a year
  • Employment gap, born abroad vs born in Spain: -3.7 points vs -9.6 points
  • Adults with a university degree: 52% vs 34%
  • Residents who speak English: 24.6% of residents vs 18.2% of residents
  • A mild climate along the coast and islands and long days outdoors
  • Regional variety in food and landscape and language

Watch out: Job openings and pay that differ widely by region and sector; Procedures that vary by region and often run only in Spanish.

Of 34 figures both publish in the same unit, Extremadura is better on 6 and Spain on 14; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

88 · strongHousing49 · average
68 · above averageSafety46 · average
42 · averageHealthcare59 · average
21 · weakWellbeing25 · weak
7 · weakJobs42 · average
7 · weakProsperity43 · average
–Geopolitical Stability100 · strong
–Demographics87 · strong
–Tax & Finance76 · strong
–Education62 · above average
–Economy59 · average
–Cost of Living56 · average
–Environment50 · average
–Governance32 · below average

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureExtremaduraSpainDifference
Housing
House prices, change in a year12.8%Q2 202612.1%Q2 2026Extremadura 0.7 pts higher
Households spending >40% of income on housing4.2%20257.2%2025Extremadura 3.0 pts lower
Cost of living
Household spending€28,939 a year2025€35,101 a year2025Extremadura 18% lower
Inflation5.3%Sep 20265.0%Sep 2026about the same
Money & work
Household income per person16,900 PPS a year202327,885 PPS a year2025Extremadura 39% lower
Net income per person (survey)€12,995 a year2025€15,620 a year2025Extremadura 17% lower
Average gross salary€24,979 a year2024€29,540 a year2024Extremadura 15% lower
Median gross salary€20,905 a year2024€24,497 a year2024Extremadura 15% lower
Unemployment14.8%202510.0%Aug 2026Extremadura 4.8 pts higher
Youth unemployment (15–24)37.4%202524.9%2025Extremadura 12.5 pts higher
Employment rate (20–64)66.9%202573.0%Q2 2026Extremadura 6.1 pts lower
Safety
Homicides0.66 per 100k people20240.72 per 100k people2024Extremadura 8% lower
Robberies27 per 100k people2024130 per 100k people2024Spain 4.7×
Burglaries112 per 100k people2024293 per 100k people2024Spain 2.6×
Thefts145 per 100k people2024451 per 100k people2024Spain 3.1×
Road deaths4.2 per 100k people20243.7 per 100k people2024Extremadura 14% higher
Health
Life expectancy83.2 years202484.0 years2024about the same
Doctors541 per 100k people2024464 per 100k people2024Extremadura 17% higher
Education
Adults with a university degree34%202552%2025Extremadura 18.0 pts lower
People
Population1,053,345202549,128,2972025Spain 46.6×
Residents who speak English18.2% of residents202124.6% of residents2021Extremadura 6.4 pts lower
Residents who speak English well8.8% of residents202114.7% of residents2021Extremadura 5.8 pts lower
At risk of poverty26.2%202519.5%2025Extremadura 6.7 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad6.0%202519.3%2025Extremadura 13.2 pts lower
Born in another EU country1.5% of residents20253.3% of residents2025Extremadura 1.8 pts lower
Born elsewhere in Europe0.3% of residents20251.7% of residents2025Extremadura 1.4 pts lower
Born in Latin America2.7% of residents20259.4% of residents2025Extremadura 6.7 pts lower
Born in Africa1.2% of residents20253.4% of residents2025Extremadura 2.1 pts lower
Born in Asia0.3% of residents20251.3% of residents2025Extremadura 1.0 pts lower
Born in North America or Oceania0.1% of residents20250.4% of residents2025about the same
Born abroad, change in 5 years1.6 points20254.4 points2025Extremadura 2.9 pts lower
Employment rate, born abroad58.1%202569.6%2025Extremadura 11.5 pts lower
Employment rate, born in Spain67.7%202573.3%2025Extremadura 5.6 pts lower
Employment gap, born abroad vs born in Spain-9.6 points2025-3.7 points2025Extremadura 5.9 pts lower

Who each suits, 0–100

68Budget-conscious movers43
62Retirees53
59Families with children53
57Students55
57High earners and investors57
33Founders and self-employed54
27Culture, food and nightlife–
25Young professionals39
–Remote workers57
–Beach, mountains and the outdoors46

Our read of each

Extremadura

  • Plan on Spanish from day one
  • Line up work before you come
  • Public waiting lists are long

Spain

    Data through Jun 2026 (Extremadura) and Sep 2026 (Spain). 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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