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Side by side

Madrid 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 MadridAll about PalmaChange a place

Data as of

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

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 Madrid

  • Stronger on healthcare (94 vs 40)
  • Stronger on prosperity (94 vs 78)
  • Stronger on jobs (72 vs 42)
  • Stronger on digital (70 vs 35)
  • Commute by public transport: 44% of commuters vs 10% of commuters
  • Airport passengers: 68.0 million a year vs 33.8 million a year
  • Nights above 20 °C: 11 a year vs 137 a year
  • Adults with a university degree: 57% vs 38%

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

Why Palma

  • Stronger on connectivity (77 vs 62)
  • Stronger on climate (68 vs 43)
  • Hospital beds: 6.0 per 1,000 people vs 3.6 per 1,000 people
  • Home burglaries: 67 per 100k people vs 123 per 100k people
  • Distance to the main airport: 8 km vs 14 km
  • Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 120 a year vs 84 a year
  • A real city that stays open in winter
  • Sea and cycling roads and mountain walks close by

Watch out: A housing market shared with visitors and second-home buyers; Quiet winters in the coastal resorts where many places close.

Of 40 figures both publish in the same unit, Madrid is better on 18 and Palma on 11; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

94 · strongHealthcare40 · average
94 · strongProsperity78 · strong
72 · above averageJobs42 · average
70 · above averageDigital35 · below average
63 · above averageTransport53 · average
62 · above averageConnectivity77 · strong
43 · averageClimate68 · above average
34 · below averageHousing24 · weak
28 · below averageSafety23 · weak

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureMadridPalmaDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€14.0 a month2024€9.8 a month2024Madrid 42% higher
Rent for a 70 m² flat€978 a month2024€689 a month2024Madrid 42% higher
Typical rent, existing lease€869 a month2024€800 a month2024Madrid 9% higher
Rents, change in a year3.6%20244.2%2024Madrid 0.6 pts lower
Buying price per m²€5,418Q2 2026€3,814Q2 2026Madrid 42% higher
Price of an 80 m² flat€433,472Q2 2026€305,160Q2 2026Madrid 42% higher
House prices, change in a year9.4%Q2 202614.3%Q2 2026Madrid 4.9 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€20,861 a year2024€17,289 a year2024Madrid 21% higher
Net income per household€53,213 a year2024€48,884 a year2024Madrid 9% higher
Unemployment7.8%202511.3%2025Madrid 3.5 pts lower
Safety
Recorded crime68.9 per 1,000 people202480.6 per 1,000 people2024Madrid 15% lower
Sexual offences0.51 per 1,000 people20240.79 per 1,000 people2024Madrid 35% lower
Homicides0.48 per 100k people20250.46 per 100k people2025Madrid 5% higher
Robberies with violence210 per 100k people2025229 per 100k people2025Madrid 8% lower
Home burglaries123 per 100k people202567 per 100k people2025Madrid 85% higher
Thefts without violence2,069 per 100k people20253,660 per 100k people2025Madrid 43% lower
Vehicle thefts110 per 100k people2025215 per 100k people2025Palma 2.0×
Health
Life expectancy84.9 years202383.2 years2023about the same
Hospital beds3.6 per 1,000 people20256.0 per 1,000 people2025Madrid 40% lower
Climate
Days above 35 °C33 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Days above 30 °C78 a year2015–202418 a year2015–2024Madrid 4.4×
Nights above 20 °C11 a year2015–2024137 a year2015–2024Palma 12.1×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)84 a year2015–2024120 a year2015–2024Madrid 30% lower
Rainfall480 mm a year2015–2024542 mm a year2015–2024Madrid 11% lower
Rainy days (≥1 mm)79 a year2015–202488 a year2015–2024Madrid 10% lower
Frost days46 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Getting around
Average commute (one way)54 min202134 min2021Madrid 60% higher
Commute by public transport44% of commuters202110% of commuters2021Madrid 33.8 pts higher
Commute by car40% of commuters202164% of commuters2021Madrid 24.2 pts lower
Distance to the main airport14 km20268 km2026Madrid 77% higher
Airport passengers68.0 million a year202533.8 million a year2025Madrid 2.0×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet99%202598%2025Madrid 1.6 pts higher
Homes with fibre to the door99%202598%2025Madrid 1.6 pts higher
Education
Adults with a university degree57%202438%2024Madrid 19.0 pts higher
People
Population3,506,7302025434,7862025Madrid 8.1×
Median age43.9 years202543.0 years2025about the same
Residents aged 65+20.2%202517.2%2025Madrid 3.0 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad29.3%202530.3%2025Madrid 1.0 pts lower
Residents with a foreign nationality18.2%202420.0%2024Madrid 1.8 pts lower
Foreign residents, change in 5 years2.9 points20243.1 points2024about the same

Who each suits, 0–100

85Culture, food and nightlife69
68Founders and self-employed60
65Young professionals53
59High earners and investors52
57Students43
53Remote workers52
51Retirees49
46Families with children35
44Beach, mountains and the outdoors58
29Budget-conscious movers28

Weather through the year

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

Our read of each

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

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 (Madrid) 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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