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Side by side

Palma 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 PalmaAll about ValladolidChange a place

Data as of

City · Illes Balears

Palma

Island life in a real city: a Gothic cathedral on the sea, a year-round centre and mountains behind.

Quality of life54average
Momentum53average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Island capitalPort citySailing and yachtsMild wintersInternational communityGlobal airportInternational crowd

92nd 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 Palma

  • Stronger on connectivity (77 vs 0)
  • Stronger on climate (68 vs 53)
  • Airport passengers: 33.8 million a year vs 0.1 million a year
  • Days above 35 °C: 0 a year vs 14 a year
  • Frost days: 0 a year vs 45 a year
  • Distance to the main airport: 8 km vs 161 km
  • A real city that stays open in winter
  • Sea and cycling roads and mountain walks close by

Watch out: A housing market shared with visitors and second-home buyers; Quiet winters in the coastal resorts where many places close.

Why Valladolid

  • Stronger on safety (80 vs 23)
  • Stronger on healthcare (78 vs 40)
  • Stronger on digital (76 vs 35)
  • Stronger on housing (62 vs 24)
  • Stronger on jobs (57 vs 42)
  • Nights above 20 °C: 4 a year vs 137 a year
  • Vehicle thefts: 23 per 100k people vs 215 per 100k people
  • Robberies with violence: 44 per 100k people vs 229 per 100k people

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, Palma is better on 9 and Valladolid on 19; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

78 · strongProsperity79 · strong
77 · strongConnectivity0 · weak
68 · above averageClimate53 · average
53 · averageTransport54 · average
42 · averageJobs57 · average
40 · averageHealthcare78 · strong
35 · below averageDigital76 · strong
24 · weakHousing62 · above average
23 · weakSafety80 · strong

Side by side, figure by figure

FigurePalmaValladolidDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€9.8 a month2024€6.8 a month2024Palma 46% higher
Rent for a 70 m² flat€689 a month2024€473 a month2024Palma 46% higher
Typical rent, existing lease€800 a month2024€531 a month2024Palma 51% higher
Rents, change in a year4.2%20243.0%2024Palma 1.2 pts higher
Buying price per m²€3,814Q2 2026€1,946Q2 2026Palma 2.0×
Price of an 80 m² flat€305,160Q2 2026€155,720Q2 2026Palma 2.0×
House prices, change in a year14.3%Q2 202617.3%Q2 2026Palma 3.0 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€17,289 a year2024€17,380 a year2024about the same
Net income per household€48,884 a year2024€39,685 a year2024Palma 23% higher
Unemployment11.3%202510.6%2025Palma 0.7 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime80.6 per 1,000 people202437.1 per 1,000 people2024Palma 2.2×
Sexual offences0.79 per 1,000 people20240.34 per 1,000 people2024Palma 2.3×
Homicides0.46 per 100k people20250.00 per 100k people2025about the same
Robberies with violence229 per 100k people202544 per 100k people2025Palma 5.3×
Home burglaries67 per 100k people2025102 per 100k people2025Palma 35% lower
Thefts without violence3,660 per 100k people2025898 per 100k people2025Palma 4.1×
Vehicle thefts215 per 100k people202523 per 100k people2025Palma 9.1×
Health
Life expectancy83.2 years202384.1 years2023about the same
Hospital beds6.0 per 1,000 people20256.4 per 1,000 people2025Palma 7% lower
Climate
Days above 35 °C0 a year2015–202414 a year2015–2024Valladolid Infinity×
Days above 30 °C18 a year2015–202458 a year2015–2024Valladolid 3.3×
Nights above 20 °C137 a year2015–20244 a year2015–2024Palma 38.0×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)120 a year2015–202493 a year2015–2024Palma 29% higher
Rainfall542 mm a year2015–2024443 mm a year2015–2024Palma 22% higher
Rainy days (≥1 mm)88 a year2015–202485 a year2015–2024about the same
Frost days0 a year2015–202445 a year2015–2024Valladolid Infinity×
Getting around
Average commute (one way)34 min202143 min2021Palma 20% lower
Commute by public transport10% of commuters202115% of commuters2021Palma 4.8 pts lower
Commute by car64% of commuters202152% of commuters2021Palma 12.4 pts higher
Distance to the main airport8 km2026161 km2026Valladolid 20.4×
Airport passengers33.8 million a year20250.1 million a year2025Palma 387.5×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet98%2025100%2025Palma 2.1 pts lower
Homes with fibre to the door98%2025100%2025Palma 1.9 pts lower
Education
Adults with a university degree38%202452%2024Palma 14.0 pts lower
People
Population434,7862025302,6142025Palma 44% higher
Median age43.0 years202553.1 years2025Palma 19% lower
Residents aged 65+17.2%202528.3%2025Palma 11.1 pts lower
Who lives here
Residents born abroad30.3%202512.2%2025Palma 18.1 pts higher
Residents with a foreign nationality20.0%20247.9%2024Palma 12.1 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years3.1 points20242.7 points2024about the same

Who each suits, 0–100

69Culture, food and nightlife60
60Founders and self-employed55
58Beach, mountains and the outdoors38
53Young professionals59
52Remote workers52
52High earners and investors64
49Retirees59
43Students60
35Families with children69
28Budget-conscious movers62

Weather through the year

0°18°35°JFMAMJJASOND
Solid: average daily high · dashed: average nightly low, °C.

Our read of each

Palma

  • English gets you by day to day
  • Catalan is co-official here
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Easy to fly home
  • Line up work before you come
  • 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 (Palma) 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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