Side by side
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 SpainChange a place
Data as of
City · Comunidad de Madrid
Spain's biggest job market, world-class museums and a street life that runs late into the night.
17th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000
Country
Sun, food and a life lived outdoors, from big-city careers to quiet coastal towns.
16th of 30 EU + EFTA countries
Madrid 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.
Watch out: A competitive housing market that pushes many people to the suburbs; A city that sprawls into separate suburbs.
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, Madrid is better on 3 and Spain on 0; the rest are close or have no better direction.
| Figure | Madrid | Spain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| House prices, change in a year | 9.4%Q2 2026 | 12.1%Q2 2026 | Madrid 2.7 pts lower |
| Money & work | |||
| Unemployment | 7.8%2025 | 10.0%Aug 2026 | Madrid 2.2 pts lower |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 84.9 years2023 | 84.0 years2024 | about the same |
| Education | |||
| Adults with a university degree | 57%2024 | 52%2025 | Madrid 4.6 pts higher |
| People | |||
| Population | 3,506,7302025 | 49,128,2972025 | Spain 14.0× |
| Who lives here | |||
| Residents born abroad | 29.3%2025 | 19.3%2025 | Madrid 10.0 pts higher |
Data through Jun 2026 (Madrid) 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.
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
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 Information may also be incomplete or outdated.