Informed Move
Menu
Updated Contains AI-generated informationMore information

Side by side

Granada 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 GranadaAll about MadridChange a place

Data as of

City · Andalucía

Granada

A student city under the Sierra Nevada, with the Alhambra above, free tapas below and cold winter nights.

Quality of life54average
Momentum82strong
Outlook–Spain-wide only
University townHistoric cityMountain backdropFree tapasTourist-heavy centreFast internet

91st 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 Granada

  • Stronger on climate (55 vs 43)
  • Stronger on safety (44 vs 28)
  • Hospital beds: 9.6 per 1,000 people vs 3.6 per 1,000 people
  • Homicides: 0.00 per 100k people vs 0.48 per 100k people
  • Frost days: 2 a year vs 46 a year
  • Days above 35 °C: 14 a year vs 33 a year
  • A student city with a world-famous monument and mountains in view
  • Free tapas and short distances in a centre made for walking

Watch out: A weak local job market and low wages; Hot and dry summers and cold winter nights in old flats.

Why Madrid

  • Stronger on healthcare (94 vs 39)
  • Stronger on prosperity (94 vs 74)
  • Stronger on jobs (72 vs 42)
  • Stronger on connectivity (62 vs 0)
  • Commute by public transport: 44% of commuters vs 21% of commuters
  • Distance to the main airport: 14 km vs 98 km
  • Nights above 20 °C: 11 a year vs 52 a year
  • Unemployment: 7.8% vs 21.1%

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, Granada is better on 18 and Madrid on 8; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

74 · above averageProsperity94 · strong
65 · above averageDigital70 · above average
64 · above averageTransport63 · above average
55 · averageClimate43 · average
44 · averageHousing34 · below average
44 · averageSafety28 · below average
42 · averageJobs72 · above average
39 · below averageHealthcare94 · strong
0 · weakConnectivity62 · above average

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureGranadaMadridDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€6.8 a month2024€14.0 a month2024Madrid 2.0×
Rent for a 70 m² flat€479 a month2024€978 a month2024Madrid 2.0×
Typical rent, existing lease€584 a month2024€869 a month2024Granada 33% lower
Rents, change in a year4.1%20243.6%2024about the same
Buying price per m²€2,446Q2 2026€5,418Q2 2026Madrid 2.2×
Price of an 80 m² flat€195,720Q2 2026€433,472Q2 2026Madrid 2.2×
House prices, change in a year11.9%Q2 20269.4%Q2 2026Granada 2.5 pts higher
Money & work
Household income per person€16,893 a year2024€20,861 a year2024Granada 19% lower
Net income per household€38,644 a year2024€53,213 a year2024Granada 27% lower
Unemployment21.1%20257.8%2025Granada 13.3 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime56.5 per 1,000 people202468.9 per 1,000 people2024Granada 18% lower
Sexual offences0.41 per 1,000 people20240.51 per 1,000 people2024Granada 20% lower
Homicides0.00 per 100k people20250.48 per 100k people2025Granada 100% lower
Robberies with violence141 per 100k people2025210 per 100k people2025Granada 33% lower
Home burglaries124 per 100k people2025123 per 100k people2025about the same
Thefts without violence1,515 per 100k people20252,069 per 100k people2025Granada 27% lower
Vehicle thefts58 per 100k people2025110 per 100k people2025Madrid 1.9×
Health
Life expectancy83.1 years202384.9 years2023about the same
Hospital beds9.6 per 1,000 people20253.6 per 1,000 people2025Granada 2.7×
Climate
Days above 35 °C14 a year2015–202433 a year2015–2024Madrid 2.3×
Days above 30 °C75 a year2015–202478 a year2015–2024Granada 5% lower
Nights above 20 °C52 a year2015–202411 a year2015–2024Granada 4.6×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)124 a year2015–202484 a year2015–2024Granada 48% higher
Rainfall335 mm a year2015–2024480 mm a year2015–2024Granada 30% lower
Rainy days (≥1 mm)55 a year2015–202479 a year2015–2024Granada 31% lower
Frost days2 a year2015–202446 a year2015–2024Madrid 22.1×
Getting around
Average commute (one way)43 min202154 min2021Granada 21% lower
Commute by public transport21% of commuters202144% of commuters2021Granada 23.2 pts lower
Commute by car43% of commuters202140% of commuters2021Granada 2.8 pts higher
Distance to the main airport98 km202614 km2026Granada 7.0×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet99%202599%2025about the same
Homes with fibre to the door100%202599%2025about the same
Education
Adults with a university degree60%202457%2024Granada 2.7 pts higher
People
Population233,97520253,506,7302025Madrid 15.0×
Median age47.8 years202543.9 years2025Granada 9% higher
Residents aged 65+23.9%202520.2%2025Granada 3.7 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad14.8%202529.3%2025Granada 14.5 pts lower
Residents with a foreign nationality10.2%202418.2%2024Granada 8.0 pts lower
Foreign residents, change in 5 years2.6 points20242.9 points2024about the same

Who each suits, 0–100

69Culture, food and nightlife85
64Students57
54Beach, mountains and the outdoors44
53Young professionals65
53Founders and self-employed68
51Remote workers53
50High earners and investors59
48Retirees51
44Families with children46
42Budget-conscious movers29

Weather through the year

-5°15°35°JFMAMJJASOND
Solid: average daily high · dashed: average nightly low, °C.

Our read of each

Granada

  • Some English, but learn Spanish early
  • 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 (Granada) 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.

Need certainty before you act?

For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.

Consult with a human specialist

For decisions that depend on your own circumstances, a qualified human professional should look at your case. Tell us what you need help with and we will reply by email.

Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.

What matters to me

Tell us who you are and what you care about. Fit scores and rankings across the site follow your answers.