Informed Move
Menu
Updated Contains AI-generated informationMore information

Side by side

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 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 Las Palmas de Gran CanariaAll about MadridChange a place

Data as of

City · Canarias

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

A big Atlantic port city with a city beach, an all-year spring climate and a growing remote-working crowd.

Quality of life47average
Momentum34below average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Island capitalBeach cityPort cityYear-round mild climateSurf cityPleasant weather

132nd 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

  • Stronger on climate (72 vs 43)
  • Stronger on housing (48 vs 34)
  • Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 319 a year vs 84 a year
  • Days above 35 °C: 0 a year vs 33 a year
  • Frost days: 0 a year vs 46 a year
  • Hospital beds: 7.0 per 1,000 people vs 3.6 per 1,000 people
  • One of the steadiest climates in Europe and a city beach in town
  • A working city with a university and a port and not a resort

Watch out: A small low-paid job market and high unemployment; Distance from the mainland with flights of several hours.

Why Madrid

  • Stronger on healthcare (94 vs 5)
  • Stronger on prosperity (94 vs 58)
  • Stronger on jobs (72 vs 11)
  • Stronger on digital (70 vs 48)
  • Stronger on connectivity (62 vs 19)
  • Airport passengers: 68.0 million a year vs 15.7 million a year
  • Nights above 20 °C: 11 a year vs 156 a year
  • Commute by public transport: 44% of commuters vs 25% of commuters

Watch out: A competitive housing market that pushes many people to the suburbs; A city that sprawls into separate suburbs.

Of 40 figures both publish in the same unit, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is better on 16 and Madrid on 15; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

72 · above averageClimate43 · average
58 · averageProsperity94 · strong
56 · averageTransport63 · above average
48 · averageDigital70 · above average
48 · averageHousing34 · below average
32 · below averageSafety28 · below average
19 · weakConnectivity62 · above average
11 · weakJobs72 · above average
5 · weakHealthcare94 · strong

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureLas Palmas de Gran CanariaMadridDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€8.1 a month2024€14.0 a month2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 42% lower
Rent for a 70 m² flat€567 a month2024€978 a month2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 42% lower
Typical rent, existing lease€600 a month2024€869 a month2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 31% lower
Rents, change in a year3.3%20243.6%2024about the same
Buying price per m²€2,337Q2 2026€5,418Q2 2026Madrid 2.3×
Price of an 80 m² flat€186,992Q2 2026€433,472Q2 2026Madrid 2.3×
House prices, change in a year14.2%Q2 20269.4%Q2 2026Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 4.8 pts higher
Money & work
Household income per person€16,088 a year2024€20,861 a year2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 23% lower
Net income per household€41,738 a year2024€53,213 a year2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 22% lower
Unemployment17.4%20257.8%2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 9.6 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime51.3 per 1,000 people202468.9 per 1,000 people2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 25% lower
Sexual offences0.68 per 1,000 people20240.51 per 1,000 people2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 33% higher
Homicides2.10 per 100k people20250.48 per 100k people2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 4.3×
Robberies with violence130 per 100k people2025210 per 100k people2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 38% lower
Home burglaries63 per 100k people2025123 per 100k people2025Madrid 2.0×
Thefts without violence1,182 per 100k people20252,069 per 100k people2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 43% lower
Vehicle thefts81 per 100k people2025110 per 100k people2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 27% lower
Health
Life expectancy81.3 years202384.9 years2023Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 4% lower
Hospital beds7.0 per 1,000 people20253.6 per 1,000 people2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2.0×
Climate
Days above 35 °C0 a year2015–202433 a year2015–2024Madrid Infinity×
Days above 30 °C0 a year2015–202478 a year2015–2024Madrid Infinity×
Nights above 20 °C156 a year2015–202411 a year2015–2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 13.8×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)319 a year2015–202484 a year2015–2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 3.8×
Rainfall163 mm a year2015–2024480 mm a year2015–2024Madrid 2.9×
Rainy days (≥1 mm)35 a year2015–202479 a year2015–2024Madrid 2.2×
Frost days0 a year2015–202446 a year2015–2024Madrid Infinity×
Getting around
Average commute (one way)42 min202154 min2021Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 24% lower
Commute by public transport25% of commuters202144% of commuters2021Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 19.1 pts lower
Commute by car58% of commuters202140% of commuters2021Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 17.9 pts higher
Distance to the main airport22 km202614 km2026Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 56% higher
Airport passengers15.7 million a year202568.0 million a year2025Madrid 4.3×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet97%202599%2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 1.8 pts lower
Homes with fibre to the door98%202599%2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 1.4 pts lower
Education
Adults with a university degree42%202457%2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 15.2 pts lower
People
Population381,86820253,506,7302025Madrid 9.2×
Median age48.7 years202543.9 years2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 11% higher
Residents aged 65+20.7%202520.2%2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 0.5 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad16.6%202529.3%2025Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 12.7 pts lower
Residents with a foreign nationality8.9%202418.2%2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 9.3 pts lower
Foreign residents, change in 5 years1.3 points20242.9 points2024Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 1.6 pts lower

Who each suits, 0–100

75Beach, mountains and the outdoors44
64Culture, food and nightlife85
55Students57
52Remote workers53
50Retirees51
48Founders and self-employed68
45High earners and investors59
44Young professionals65
35Budget-conscious movers29
33Families with children46

Weather through the year

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

Our read of each

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

  • Some English, but learn Spanish early
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Easy to fly home
  • Ready for remote work

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 (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) 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.