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Side by side

Madrid or Valladolid?

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 ValladolidChange 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 · Castilla y León

Valladolid

A solid, flat, well-run industrial city on the Castilian plateau, with good schools, cold winters and few tourists.

Quality of life64above average
Momentum67above average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Regional capitalUniversity townIndustrial cityCold and foggy wintersVery safeSafety firstFast internet

13th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Madrid

  • Stronger on healthcare (94 vs 78)
  • Stronger on prosperity (94 vs 79)
  • Stronger on jobs (72 vs 57)
  • Stronger on connectivity (62 vs 0)
  • Airport passengers: 68.0 million a year vs 0.1 million a year
  • Commute by public transport: 44% of commuters vs 15% of commuters
  • Distance to the main airport: 14 km vs 161 km
  • House prices, change in a year: 9.4% vs 17.3%

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

Why Valladolid

  • Stronger on safety (80 vs 28)
  • Stronger on housing (62 vs 34)
  • Hospital beds: 6.4 per 1,000 people vs 3.6 per 1,000 people
  • Robberies with violence: 44 per 100k people vs 210 per 100k people
  • Vehicle thefts: 23 per 100k people vs 110 per 100k people
  • Nights above 20 °C: 4 a year vs 11 a year
  • Among the safest cities in Spain with large parks and good schools
  • Low rents and prices with a real job market in industry and health

Watch out: Cold foggy winters with a long run of frost; An old population and a quiet nightlife and international scene.

Of 40 figures both publish in the same unit, Madrid is better on 10 and Valladolid on 18; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

94 · strongHealthcare78 · strong
94 · strongProsperity79 · strong
72 · above averageJobs57 · average
70 · above averageDigital76 · strong
63 · above averageTransport54 · average
62 · above averageConnectivity0 · weak
43 · averageClimate53 · average
34 · below averageHousing62 · above average
28 · below averageSafety80 · strong

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureMadridValladolidDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€14.0 a month2024€6.8 a month2024Madrid 2.1×
Rent for a 70 m² flat€978 a month2024€473 a month2024Madrid 2.1×
Typical rent, existing lease€869 a month2024€531 a month2024Madrid 64% higher
Rents, change in a year3.6%20243.0%2024Madrid 0.6 pts higher
Buying price per m²€5,418Q2 2026€1,946Q2 2026Madrid 2.8×
Price of an 80 m² flat€433,472Q2 2026€155,720Q2 2026Madrid 2.8×
House prices, change in a year9.4%Q2 202617.3%Q2 2026Madrid 7.9 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€20,861 a year2024€17,380 a year2024Madrid 20% higher
Net income per household€53,213 a year2024€39,685 a year2024Madrid 34% higher
Unemployment7.8%202510.6%2025Madrid 2.8 pts lower
Safety
Recorded crime68.9 per 1,000 people202437.1 per 1,000 people2024Madrid 85% higher
Sexual offences0.51 per 1,000 people20240.34 per 1,000 people2024Madrid 50% higher
Homicides0.48 per 100k people20250.00 per 100k people2025about the same
Robberies with violence210 per 100k people202544 per 100k people2025Madrid 4.8×
Home burglaries123 per 100k people2025102 per 100k people2025Madrid 20% higher
Thefts without violence2,069 per 100k people2025898 per 100k people2025Madrid 2.3×
Vehicle thefts110 per 100k people202523 per 100k people2025Madrid 4.7×
Health
Life expectancy84.9 years202384.1 years2023about the same
Hospital beds3.6 per 1,000 people20256.4 per 1,000 people2025Madrid 44% lower
Climate
Days above 35 °C33 a year2015–202414 a year2015–2024Madrid 2.3×
Days above 30 °C78 a year2015–202458 a year2015–2024Madrid 34% higher
Nights above 20 °C11 a year2015–20244 a year2015–2024Madrid 3.1×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)84 a year2015–202493 a year2015–2024Madrid 9% lower
Rainfall480 mm a year2015–2024443 mm a year2015–2024Madrid 8% higher
Rainy days (≥1 mm)79 a year2015–202485 a year2015–2024Madrid 7% lower
Frost days46 a year2015–202445 a year2015–2024Madrid 4% higher
Getting around
Average commute (one way)54 min202143 min2021Madrid 28% higher
Commute by public transport44% of commuters202115% of commuters2021Madrid 29.0 pts higher
Commute by car40% of commuters202152% of commuters2021Madrid 11.8 pts lower
Distance to the main airport14 km2026161 km2026Valladolid 11.5×
Airport passengers68.0 million a year20250.1 million a year2025Madrid 780.3×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet99%2025100%2025about the same
Homes with fibre to the door99%2025100%2025about the same
Education
Adults with a university degree57%202452%2024Madrid 5.0 pts higher
People
Population3,506,7302025302,6142025Madrid 11.6×
Median age43.9 years202553.1 years2025Madrid 17% lower
Residents aged 65+20.2%202528.3%2025Madrid 8.1 pts lower
Who lives here
Residents born abroad29.3%202512.2%2025Madrid 17.1 pts higher
Residents with a foreign nationality18.2%20247.9%2024Madrid 10.3 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years2.9 points20242.7 points2024about the same

Who each suits, 0–100

85Culture, food and nightlife60
68Founders and self-employed55
65Young professionals59
59High earners and investors64
57Students60
53Remote workers52
51Retirees59
46Families with children69
44Beach, mountains and the outdoors38
29Budget-conscious movers62

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

Valladolid

  • Plan on Spanish from day one
  • Winters need real heating
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work
  • An older, quieter population

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