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Side by side

Madrid or Vigo?

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 VigoChange 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 · Galicia

Vigo

Galicia's biggest city: a working port and car-making town on a spectacular bay, with oysters, hills and rain.

Quality of life59average
Momentum63above average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Port cityIndustrial cityGreen and rainySeafood cityHilly streets

55th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Madrid

  • Stronger on healthcare (94 vs 56)
  • Stronger on prosperity (94 vs 63)
  • Stronger on jobs (72 vs 52)
  • Stronger on digital (70 vs 49)
  • Stronger on transport (63 vs 47)
  • Stronger on connectivity (62 vs 1)
  • Airport passengers: 68.0 million a year vs 1.1 million a year
  • Commute by public transport: 44% of commuters vs 13% of commuters

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

Why Vigo

  • Stronger on climate (79 vs 43)
  • Stronger on safety (64 vs 28)
  • Stronger on housing (60 vs 34)
  • Hospital beds: 7.6 per 1,000 people vs 3.6 per 1,000 people
  • Frost days: 0 a year vs 46 a year
  • Days above 35 °C: 1 a year vs 33 a year
  • Nights above 20 °C: 1 a year vs 11 a year
  • A real working city with jobs in industry and the port

Watch out: Rain on well over a hundred days a year and damp homes in winter; A plain functional centre and steep streets.

Of 40 figures both publish in the same unit, Madrid is better on 12 and Vigo on 18; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

94 · strongHealthcare56 · average
94 · strongProsperity63 · above average
72 · above averageJobs52 · average
70 · above averageDigital49 · average
63 · above averageTransport47 · average
62 · above averageConnectivity1 · weak
43 · averageClimate79 · strong
34 · below averageHousing60 · average
28 · below averageSafety64 · above average

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureMadridVigoDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€14.0 a month2024€7.6 a month2024Madrid 83% higher
Rent for a 70 m² flat€978 a month2024€533 a month2024Madrid 83% higher
Typical rent, existing lease€869 a month2024€549 a month2024Madrid 58% higher
Rents, change in a year3.6%20243.0%2024Madrid 0.6 pts higher
Buying price per m²€5,418Q2 2026€2,346Q2 2026Madrid 2.3×
Price of an 80 m² flat€433,472Q2 2026€187,704Q2 2026Madrid 2.3×
House prices, change in a year9.4%Q2 202612.2%Q2 2026Madrid 2.7 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€20,861 a year2024€16,256 a year2024Madrid 28% higher
Net income per household€53,213 a year2024€40,775 a year2024Madrid 31% higher
Unemployment7.8%202510.9%2025Madrid 3.1 pts lower
Safety
Recorded crime68.9 per 1,000 people202441.3 per 1,000 people2024Madrid 67% higher
Sexual offences0.51 per 1,000 people20240.51 per 1,000 people2024about the same
Homicides0.48 per 100k people20250.34 per 100k people2025Madrid 43% higher
Robberies with violence210 per 100k people202550 per 100k people2025Madrid 4.2×
Home burglaries123 per 100k people202576 per 100k people2025Madrid 62% higher
Thefts without violence2,069 per 100k people2025974 per 100k people2025Madrid 2.1×
Vehicle thefts110 per 100k people202545 per 100k people2025Madrid 2.4×
Health
Life expectancy84.9 years202383.5 years2023about the same
Hospital beds3.6 per 1,000 people20257.6 per 1,000 people2025Vigo 2.1×
Climate
Days above 35 °C33 a year2015–20241 a year2015–2024Madrid 36.2×
Days above 30 °C78 a year2015–202416 a year2015–2024Madrid 4.8×
Nights above 20 °C11 a year2015–20241 a year2015–2024Madrid 8.1×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)84 a year2015–2024120 a year2015–2024Madrid 30% lower
Rainfall480 mm a year2015–20241,288 mm a year2015–2024Vigo 2.7×
Rainy days (≥1 mm)79 a year2015–2024137 a year2015–2024Madrid 42% lower
Frost days46 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024Madrid 465.0×
Getting around
Average commute (one way)54 min202139 min2021Madrid 40% higher
Commute by public transport44% of commuters202113% of commuters2021Madrid 30.6 pts higher
Commute by car40% of commuters202162% of commuters2021Madrid 21.8 pts lower
Distance to the main airport14 km202677 km2026Vigo 5.5×
Airport passengers68.0 million a year20251.1 million a year2025Madrid 61.1×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet99%202598%2025Madrid 1.1 pts higher
Homes with fibre to the door99%202598%2025Madrid 1.2 pts higher
Education
Adults with a university degree57%202450%2024Madrid 7.3 pts higher
People
Population3,506,7302025294,4892025Madrid 11.9×
Median age43.9 years202550.0 years2025Madrid 12% lower
Residents aged 65+20.2%202524.7%2025Madrid 4.5 pts lower
Who lives here
Residents born abroad29.3%202515.0%2025Madrid 14.3 pts higher
Residents with a foreign nationality18.2%20247.3%2024Madrid 10.9 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years2.9 points20241.9 points2024Madrid 1.0 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

85Culture, food and nightlife59
68Founders and self-employed50
65Young professionals53
59High earners and investors58
57Students55
53Remote workers50
51Retirees63
46Families with children59
44Beach, mountains and the outdoors59
29Budget-conscious movers54

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

Vigo

  • Plan on Spanish from day one
  • Galician is co-official here
  • Ready for remote work
  • An older, quieter population

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