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Side by side

Madrid or Sevilla?

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 SevillaChange 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 · Andalucía

Sevilla

Orange-tree squares, flamenco and long warm evenings in the grand old capital of Andalucía.

Quality of life51average
Momentum53average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Regional capitalHistoric centreUniversity townHot summersMild wintersWatch your pocketsFast internetScorching summers

108th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Madrid

  • Stronger on healthcare (94 vs 24)
  • Stronger on prosperity (94 vs 53)
  • Stronger on jobs (72 vs 43)
  • Stronger on connectivity (62 vs 46)
  • Airport passengers: 68.0 million a year vs 9.7 million a year
  • Commute by public transport: 44% of commuters vs 18% of commuters
  • Nights above 20 °C: 11 a year vs 53 a year
  • Homicides: 0.48 per 100k people vs 1.31 per 100k people

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

Why Sevilla

  • Frost days: 3 a year vs 46 a year
  • Hospital beds: 5.8 per 1,000 people vs 3.6 per 1,000 people
  • Buying price per m²: €2,652 vs €5,418
  • Price of an 80 m² flat: €212,184 vs €433,472
  • A vast historic centre that is still lived in
  • A flat city that is easy to cross by bike

Watch out: Long hot summers that move daily life indoors in the afternoon; Festival weeks that fill the city and the hotels.

Of 40 figures both publish in the same unit, Madrid is better on 15 and Sevilla on 12; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

94 · strongHealthcare24 · weak
94 · strongProsperity53 · average
72 · above averageJobs43 · average
70 · above averageDigital71 · above average
63 · above averageTransport56 · average
62 · above averageConnectivity46 · average
43 · averageClimate47 · average
34 · below averageHousing40 · average
28 · below averageSafety20 · weak

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureMadridSevillaDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€14.0 a month2024€9.2 a month2024Madrid 52% higher
Rent for a 70 m² flat€978 a month2024€642 a month2024Madrid 52% higher
Typical rent, existing lease€869 a month2024€668 a month2024Madrid 30% higher
Rents, change in a year3.6%20243.5%2024about the same
Buying price per m²€5,418Q2 2026€2,652Q2 2026Madrid 2.0×
Price of an 80 m² flat€433,472Q2 2026€212,184Q2 2026Madrid 2.0×
House prices, change in a year9.4%Q2 202614.7%Q2 2026Madrid 5.3 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€20,861 a year2024€15,925 a year2024Madrid 31% higher
Net income per household€53,213 a year2024€40,115 a year2024Madrid 33% higher
Unemployment7.8%202511.2%2025Madrid 3.4 pts lower
Safety
Recorded crime68.9 per 1,000 people202474.4 per 1,000 people2024Madrid 7% lower
Sexual offences0.51 per 1,000 people20240.46 per 1,000 people2024Madrid 11% higher
Homicides0.48 per 100k people20251.31 per 100k people2025Sevilla 2.7×
Robberies with violence210 per 100k people2025253 per 100k people2025Madrid 17% lower
Home burglaries123 per 100k people2025143 per 100k people2025Madrid 14% lower
Thefts without violence2,069 per 100k people20252,068 per 100k people2025about the same
Vehicle thefts110 per 100k people2025206 per 100k people2025Madrid 47% lower
Health
Life expectancy84.9 years202382.5 years2023about the same
Hospital beds3.6 per 1,000 people20255.8 per 1,000 people2025Madrid 38% lower
Climate
Days above 35 °C33 a year2015–202474 a year2015–2024Sevilla 2.3×
Days above 30 °C78 a year2015–2024132 a year2015–2024Madrid 41% lower
Nights above 20 °C11 a year2015–202453 a year2015–2024Sevilla 4.7×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)84 a year2015–2024109 a year2015–2024Madrid 23% lower
Rainfall480 mm a year2015–2024427 mm a year2015–2024Madrid 12% higher
Rainy days (≥1 mm)79 a year2015–202457 a year2015–2024Madrid 38% higher
Frost days46 a year2015–20243 a year2015–2024Madrid 16.6×
Getting around
Average commute (one way)54 min202143 min2021Madrid 27% higher
Commute by public transport44% of commuters202118% of commuters2021Madrid 25.5 pts higher
Commute by car40% of commuters202153% of commuters2021Madrid 13.0 pts lower
Distance to the main airport14 km20269 km2026Madrid 61% higher
Airport passengers68.0 million a year20259.7 million a year2025Madrid 7.0×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet99%202599%2025about the same
Homes with fibre to the door99%202599%2025about the same
Education
Adults with a university degree57%202448%2024Madrid 9.0 pts higher
People
Population3,506,7302025689,4232025Madrid 5.1×
Median age43.9 years202546.9 years2025Madrid 6% lower
Residents aged 65+20.2%202520.9%2025Madrid 0.7 pts lower
Who lives here
Residents born abroad29.3%202511.7%2025Madrid 17.6 pts higher
Residents with a foreign nationality18.2%20248.0%2024Madrid 10.2 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years2.9 points20242.2 points2024Madrid 0.7 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

85Culture, food and nightlife40
68Founders and self-employed52
65Young professionals41
59High earners and investors46
57Students44
53Remote workers54
51Retirees42
46Families with children31
44Beach, mountains and the outdoors61
29Budget-conscious movers32

Weather through the year

-5°18°40°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

Sevilla

  • Some English, but learn Spanish early
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Ready for remote work
  • Public waiting lists are long

Data through Jun 2026 (Madrid) and Jun 2026 (Sevilla). 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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