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Side by side

Girona 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.

Data as of

City · Cataluña

Girona

A medieval riverside city of coloured houses and cyclists, under an hour from Barcelona, with a theft problem and a price tag.

Quality of life62above average
Momentum63above average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Medieval old townRiver cityCycling cityUniversity townFast train to BarcelonaFast internetInternational crowd

25th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

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

Girona is a city 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 Girona

  • House prices, change in a year: 6.4% vs 12.1%
  • A compact and walkable city with a real old town and the Devesa park
  • Barcelona by fast train with the Costa Brava and Pyrenees within reach

Watch out: Petty theft and bike and vehicle crime beyond what the postcard suggests; Rents and prices high for a city of this size.

Why Spain

  • 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 6 figures both publish in the same unit, Girona is better on 1 and Spain on 1; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

85 · strongProsperity43 · average
82 · strongDigital–
66 · above averageClimate–
66 · above averageTransport–
61 · above averageHealthcare59 · average
57 · averageConnectivity–
56 · averageJobs42 · average
48 · averageHousing49 · average
24 · weakSafety46 · average
–Geopolitical Stability100 · strong
–Demographics87 · strong
–Tax & Finance76 · strong
–Education62 · above average
–Economy59 · average
–Cost of Living56 · average
–Environment50 · average
–Governance32 · below average
–Wellbeing25 · weak

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureGironaSpainDifference
Housing
House prices, change in a year6.4%Q2 202612.1%Q2 2026Girona 5.7 pts lower
Money & work
Unemployment10.2%202510.0%Aug 2026about the same
Health
Life expectancy83.6 years202384.0 years2024about the same
Education
Adults with a university degree48%202452%2025Girona 4.4 pts lower
People
Population108,666202549,128,2972025Spain 452.1×
Who lives here
Residents born abroad29.5%202519.3%2025Girona 10.2 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

71Culture, food and nightlife–
66Founders and self-employed54
64Remote workers57
62Young professionals39
57High earners and investors57
57Beach, mountains and the outdoors46
56Retirees53
56Students55
45Families with children53
43Budget-conscious movers43

Our read of each

Girona

  • Some English, but learn Spanish early
  • Catalan is co-official here
  • Budget for the new-lease price
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work
  • Public waiting lists are long
  • A younger crowd

Spain

    Data through Jun 2026 (Girona) 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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