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Side by side

Madrid or Vitoria-Gasteiz?

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 Vitoria-GasteizChange 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 · País Vasco

Vitoria-Gasteiz

The calm, green, well-planned capital of the Basque Country, with a medieval centre and a ring of woods and wetlands.

Quality of life66above average
Momentum67above average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Regional capitalInland cityGreen cityCycle-friendlyCool summersFast internetStrong job market

6th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Madrid

  • Stronger on digital (70 vs 56)
  • Stronger on connectivity (62 vs 0)
  • Airport passengers: 68.0 million a year vs 0.3 million a year
  • Commute by public transport: 44% of commuters vs 14% of commuters
  • Distance to the main airport: 14 km vs 54 km
  • Rainy days (≥1 mm): 79 a year vs 150 a year
  • Museums and big parks and a historic centre that can be crossed on foot
  • A dense metro and commuter rail network

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

Why Vitoria-Gasteiz

  • Stronger on climate (70 vs 43)
  • Stronger on safety (47 vs 28)
  • Days above 35 °C: 1 a year vs 33 a year
  • Nights above 20 °C: 1 a year vs 11 a year
  • Vehicle thefts: 30 per 100k people vs 110 per 100k people
  • Frost days: 13 a year vs 46 a year
  • Clean and orderly and green with flat streets and cycle lanes
  • Strong public services and a stable industrial economy

Watch out: Cold and damp winters with fog and frost; Rents high for an inland northern city and few flats to choose from.

Of 39 figures both publish in the same unit, Madrid is better on 9 and Vitoria-Gasteiz on 18; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

94 · strongHealthcare92 · strong
94 · strongProsperity89 · strong
72 · above averageJobs81 · strong
70 · above averageDigital56 · average
63 · above averageTransport62 · above average
62 · above averageConnectivity0 · weak
43 · averageClimate70 · above average
34 · below averageHousing–
28 · below averageSafety47 · average

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureMadridVitoria-GasteizDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€14.0 a month2024€9.2 a month2024Madrid 52% higher
Rent for a 70 m² flat€978 a month2024€645 a month2024Madrid 52% higher
Typical rent, existing lease€869 a month2024€721 a month2024Madrid 20% higher
Buying price per m²€5,418Q2 2026€2,681Q2 2026Madrid 2.0×
Price of an 80 m² flat€433,472Q2 2026€214,472Q2 2026Madrid 2.0×
House prices, change in a year9.4%Q2 20265.8%Q2 2026Madrid 3.6 pts higher
Money & work
Household income per person€20,861 a year2024€18,920 a year2024Madrid 10% higher
Net income per household€53,213 a year2024€44,228 a year2024Madrid 20% higher
Unemployment7.8%20257.2%2025Madrid 0.6 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime68.9 per 1,000 people202449.5 per 1,000 people2024Madrid 39% higher
Sexual offences0.51 per 1,000 people20240.61 per 1,000 people2024Madrid 16% lower
Homicides0.48 per 100k people20250.00 per 100k people2025about the same
Robberies with violence210 per 100k people2025105 per 100k people2025Madrid 2.0×
Home burglaries123 per 100k people202598 per 100k people2025Madrid 26% higher
Thefts without violence2,069 per 100k people20251,789 per 100k people2025Madrid 16% higher
Vehicle thefts110 per 100k people202530 per 100k people2025Madrid 3.7×
Health
Life expectancy84.9 years202384.8 years2023about the same
Hospital beds3.6 per 1,000 people20254.1 per 1,000 people2025Madrid 13% lower
Climate
Days above 35 °C33 a year2015–20241 a year2015–2024Madrid 25.1×
Days above 30 °C78 a year2015–202414 a year2015–2024Madrid 5.5×
Nights above 20 °C11 a year2015–20241 a year2015–2024Madrid 12.6×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)84 a year2015–202498 a year2015–2024Madrid 14% lower
Rainfall480 mm a year2015–2024950 mm a year2015–2024Vitoria-Gasteiz 2.0×
Rainy days (≥1 mm)79 a year2015–2024150 a year2015–2024Vitoria-Gasteiz 1.9×
Frost days46 a year2015–202413 a year2015–2024Madrid 3.6×
Getting around
Average commute (one way)54 min202138 min2021Madrid 45% higher
Commute by public transport44% of commuters202114% of commuters2021Madrid 30.0 pts higher
Commute by car40% of commuters202153% of commuters2021Madrid 13.0 pts lower
Distance to the main airport14 km202654 km2026Vitoria-Gasteiz 3.9×
Airport passengers68.0 million a year20250.3 million a year2025Madrid 223.6×
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%202454%2024Madrid 2.9 pts higher
People
Population3,506,7302025260,6992025Madrid 13.5×
Median age43.9 years202548.1 years2025Madrid 9% lower
Residents aged 65+20.2%202522.9%2025Madrid 2.7 pts lower
Who lives here
Residents born abroad29.3%202518.1%2025Madrid 11.2 pts higher
Residents with a foreign nationality18.2%202412.2%2024Madrid 6.0 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years2.9 points20241.7 points2024Madrid 1.2 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

85Culture, food and nightlife69
68Founders and self-employed58
65Young professionals71
59High earners and investors64
57Students55
53Remote workers46
51Retirees62
46Families with children60
44Beach, mountains and the outdoors45
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

Vitoria-Gasteiz

  • Plan on Spanish from day one
  • Basque is co-official here
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work

Data through Jun 2026 (Madrid) and Dec 2025 (Vitoria-Gasteiz). 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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