Updated Contains AI-generated informationMore information

Side by side

Mataró or Spain?

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.

Data as of

City · Cataluña

Mataró

A working Maresme coast city of textile history and long beaches, half an hour of commuter rail from Barcelona.

Quality of life57average
Momentum51average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Beach cityCommuter beltBilingual: Catalan & SpanishMild wintersPort townFast internet

67th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Country

Spain

Sun, food and a life lived outdoors, from big-city careers to quiet coastal towns.

Quality of life56average
Momentum52average
Outlook25weak
Mediterranean countryPublic healthcare systemRegional languagesLate meals and street lifeTourism economy

16th of 30 EU + EFTA countries

Mataró 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.

Why Mataró

  • Sea and a real town centre at lower prices than Barcelona
  • Frequent commuter trains and a motorway to the capital

Watch out: Recorded crime that is high with a lot of theft and street robbery; A railway line that cuts the town from its own beach.

Why Spain

  • Adults with a university degree: 52% vs 38%
  • A mild climate along the coast and islands and long days outdoors
  • Regional variety in food and landscape and language

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, Mataró is better on 0 and Spain on 2; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

90 · strongDigital–
68 · above averageClimate–
65 · above averageHealthcare59 · average
58 · averageHousing49 · average
56 · averageTransport–
50 · averageJobs42 · average
44 · averageProsperity43 · average
31 · below averageSafety46 · average
0 · weakConnectivity–
–Geopolitical Stability100 · strong
–Demographics87 · strong
–Tax & Finance76 · strong
–Education62 · above average
–Economy59 · average
–Cost of Living56 · average
–Environment50 · average
–Governance32 · below average
–Wellbeing25 · weak

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureMataróSpainDifference
Housing
House prices, change in a year12.8%Q2 202612.1%Q2 2026Mataró 0.7 pts higher
Money & work
Unemployment9.8%202510.0%Aug 2026about the same
Health
Life expectancy83.7 years202384.0 years2024about the same
Education
Adults with a university degree38%202452%2025Mataró 14.6 pts lower
People
Population131,683202549,128,2972025Spain 373.1×
Who lives here
Residents born abroad22.1%202519.3%2025Mataró 2.8 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

60Retirees53
60Culture, food and nightlife–
59Beach, mountains and the outdoors46
57Remote workers57
55Young professionals39
53Students55
53High earners and investors57
49Founders and self-employed54
47Budget-conscious movers43
43Families with children53

Our read of each

Mataró

  • Some English, but learn Spanish early
  • Catalan is co-official here
  • Budget for the new-lease price
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work
  • Public waiting lists are long

Spain

    Data through Jun 2026 (Mataró) 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.

    Consult with a human specialist

    For decisions that depend on your own circumstances, a qualified human professional should look at your case. Tell us what you need help with and we will reply by email.

    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.

    What matters to me

    Tell us who you are and what you care about. Fit scores and rankings across the site follow your answers.