City · Comunitat Valenciana · All places
A sunny port city with a long town beach, mild winters and a big, settled international community.
Alicante (Alacant in Valencian) is a port city on the Costa Blanca, in the south of the Valencian Community. A rocky hill with a castle rises behind the old town, and a long palm-lined promenade, the Explanada, runs along the harbour. The city beach, Postiguet, is a few minutes' walk from the centre.
It is a comfortable, sunny, mid-sized city with an international airport and a mix of locals, northern Europeans and Spaniards from other regions. The old part is attractive and lively, the newer districts are practical and green, and the beaches of the Costa Blanca run north and south.
The city has 366,221 residents (2025). Residents born abroad make up 28.9% (2025).
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Alicante is weaker on safety and prosperity. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €497 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Alicante’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
You will meet English speakers, mostly in the centre and at international employers. Shops, landlords and schools expect Spanish. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish or Valencian.
Valencian is an official language alongside Spanish. Expect it on signs, at the town hall and in state schools.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
Thefts without violence happen 1.9 times as often as in the typical Spanish city. Keep phones and bags close in busy areas and on public transport.
A big airport close to town means direct flights to most European capitals and many long-haul routes.
People born abroad are in work less often than people born in Spain across Comunitat Valenciana. Remote income or a job offer makes the move far easier.
Almost every home can get gigabit fibre, so working from home is not a gamble on the flat you pick.
Rice with stock and fish, rice with a crust, nougat from Jijona and cold horchata.
Slow and sociable, with evening strolls on the Explanada.
Bars around Calle Castaños and the Barrio de Santa Cruz, beach chiringuitos at Playa de San Juan.
Santa Cruz climbs the castle hill, Benalúa and the Pla are residential, Playa de San Juan is a beach suburb.
Spanish daily, with Valencian on signs and in some official use, and English in the expat circles.
Hogueras de San Juan in June, with giant sculptures and fireworks, burned on midsummer night.
Beaches, the island of Tabarca for diving, sailing and cycling in the hills behind.
Alicante is a city of walks. The Explanada, laid with a wavy mosaic of marble tiles, is where locals stroll in the evening; the old Barrio de Santa Cruz climbs the castle hill in a tangle of whitewashed, flower-filled lanes; the Central Market is a good place for fish, fruit and cured meats. In the city centre, the bar scene around Calle Castaños and the Barrio is busy on weekends.
The pace is slow and sociable, a mix of Valencian and Murcian traditions. Rice dishes, such as arroz a banda and arroz con costra, are the local pride, along with nougat from nearby Jijona and cold horchata. Spanish is the daily language, and Valencian is heard in some areas and seen on signs.
The big event is the Hogueras de San Juan in June, when giant sculptures are set up in the streets, fireworks fill the sky for five nights and the figures are burned on midsummer night. Many northern Europeans live in and around the city, with English and other languages heard in shops and clubs, and the nearby resorts of Benidorm, Torrevieja and the Costa Blanca are within easy reach.
Alicante grew as a trading port for wine, salt and, later, shoes and nougat. The castle on Mount Benacantil, a Moorish fortress in origin, still watches over the old town, and the harbour front was laid out as a promenade in the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century its fortunes tied to tourism: the airport, the promenades and the apartment blocks of the Costa Blanca brought visitors by the million, mainly from the United Kingdom, Germany and Scandinavia. The European Union's trademark office has been based here since the 1990s, which brought international staff and families.
The economy mixes services, tourism, commerce, public administration and a university. Jobs come out below average, unemployment is 14.8% (2025), and adults with a university degree make up 44% (2024).
Housing comes out below average against similar places. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €497 a month (2024), and buying costs €2,279 per square metre (Q2 2026). Rents grew by 5.1% in a year (2024). Alicante has paused new tourist-flat licences across the city, for up to two years from January 2025.
Recorded crime is 67.9 per 1,000 people (2024). Home burglaries are 185 per 100k people (2025), and thefts without violence are 2,206 per 100k people (2025). Safety comes out weak. The airport is 10 km from the centre.
Figures for Alicante itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Alicante data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Connectivity is around the middle: around the middle of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 9.70 km — better than 59% of major European cities
Average: 55 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to the main airportAlicante · 2026-10-21 | 9.70 km | better than 59% of major European cities |
| Airport passengersAlicante · 2025 | 19.9 million passengers a year | better than 49% of major European cities |
Climate is around the middle: better than most major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 127 days a year — better than 92% of major European cities
Average: 53 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)Alicante · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 127 days a year | better than 92% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CAlicante · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 13.7 days a year | better than 22% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CAlicante · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 59.8 nights a year | better than 8% of major European cities |
Transport is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Commute by public transport: 18.2% — better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 53 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Average commute (one way)Alicante · 2021 | 41.7 minutes | better than 28% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carAlicante · 2021 | 57.2% | better than 63% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportAlicante · 2021 | 18.2% | better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 83.4 years — worse than 52% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 48 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyAlicante · 2023 | 83.4 years | better than 48% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Digital is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
5G coverage: 100.0% — worse than 77% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 37 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Homes that can get gigabit internetAlicante · 2025 | 98.1% | better than 43% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorAlicante · 2025 | 98.2% | better than 43% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageAlicante · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 23% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is below average: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Rents, change in a year: 5.10% — worse than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 37 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Alicante · 2024 | 7.11 €/m² a month | better than 58% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearAlicante · 2024 | 5.10% | better than 6% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Alicante · 2026-Q2 | 2,279 €/m² | better than 51% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsAlicante · 2024 | 6.73% | better than 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearAlicante · 2026-Q2 | 12.6% | better than 68% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Jobs is below average: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment: 14.8% — worse than 76% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 36 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentAlicante · 2025 | 14.8% | better than 24% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearAlicante · 2025 | -1.14 points | better than 53% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 14,361 € a year per person — worse than 70% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 30 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Household income per personAlicante · 2024 | 14,361 € a year per person | better than 30% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is weak: in the bottom 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Sexual offences: 0.68 per 1,000 people — worse than 91% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 16 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesAlicante · 2025 | 1.37 per 100k people | better than 22% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeAlicante · 2024 | 67.9 per 1,000 people | better than 16% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesAlicante · 2025 | 244 per 100k people | better than 11% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesAlicante · 2025 | 185 per 100k people | better than 15% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesAlicante · 2024 | 0.68 per 1,000 people | better than 9% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsAlicante · 2025 | 2,206 per 100k people | better than 12% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsAlicante · 2025 | 111 per 100k people | better than 22% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
What we cannot score for Alicante yet
Highs around 33° in July, lows around 5° in January. 127 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C). 60 warm nights above 20 °C: check for air-conditioning.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.7°C | 5.4°C | 39 mm |
| February | 16.0°C | 6.3°C | 15 mm |
| March | 18.0°C | 8.0°C | 61 mm |
| April | 20.3°C | 9.9°C | 42 mm |
| May | 24.8°C | 13.7°C | 31 mm |
| June | 29.3°C | 17.7°C | 18 mm |
| July | 33.1°C | 21.0°C | 5 mm |
| August | 32.5°C | 21.3°C | 18 mm |
| September | 28.1°C | 18.4°C | 56 mm |
| October | 24.2°C | 14.6°C | 38 mm |
| November | 18.8°C | 9.7°C | 41 mm |
| December | 16.2°C | 7.5°C | 35 mm |
Alicante is sunny and dry, with mild bright winters. Summers are hot and humid, and nights stay warm for months. Very hot days number 14 a year (2015–2024). Warm nights, the kind that make sleeping hard, number 60 a year (2015–2024).
Rain is scarce, 399 mm a year (2015–2024), but autumn can bring sudden heavy storms. Frost days are 1 a year (2015–2024), and pleasant days, mild and dry, number 127 a year (2015–2024). Many northern Europeans spend the winter here, and summers are for the beach and air conditioning.
Lines start with Spain; switch the others on to compare.
60/100 · above average · 50th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
14.8% in 2025
12.6% in Q2 2026
€7.1 per m² a month in 2024
€2,279 per m² in Q2 2026
83.4 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Alicante. Shown as context only: none of this changes a score.
Guides for the practical side of moving to Spain: residency, housing, healthcare, tax and schools. Where the rules or prices depend on where you live, the guide says so.
Is Spain right for you, when to go, and how to try it before you commit.
Visas, residence permits, the route that fits you, and keeping your status.
Budgeting the first year, banking, tax residency, income and social security.
Employment, remote work, self-employment, running a business and your rights at work.
Choosing where to live, renting safely, buying, and settling into a home.
Public and private care, health cover, and insurance for your life in Spain.
Family, children, and education
Partners, children, schools, childcare and studying in Spain.
Paperwork, identity numbers, belongings, pets, utilities and the first weeks.
Learning Spanish, understanding local life and building a social circle.
Routines, food, local customs, holidays, transport and getting around.
Scams, disputes, emergencies, your rights and where to get help.
Long-term settlement and leaving
Staying for good, long-term residence and citizenship, retiring, or returning home.
You will know where Spanish rentals are found, what they cost, how to time and run a search, and how to judge a flat before you commit.
You will know whether you need an NIE, which route to take and how to handle its paperwork.
Finding your public healthcare route
You will know which route applies to your situation and what, if anything, you have to do to start it.
Becoming a Spanish tax resident
You will know whether and from when Spain taxes you as a resident, and how to keep the evidence to back your position.
School types and choosing a school
You will know which stage your child is in, what each school type means in Spain, and how to shortlist schools that fit your family's stay and goals.
You will have a step-by-step way to pick a barrio in Spain and the tools to test it before signing.
Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish cities. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
Hogueras, the old quarter, museums and a rice-and-seafood food culture.
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
Students study at the Universidad de Alicante campus in San Vicente del Raspeig and spend evenings on the seafront. Exchange students make the social scene international.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Business centres on tourism, property and services, and the trademark office draws lawyers and consultants. Clients are often international.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for founders and self-employed: Paterna (64)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Remote workers tend to base themselves near the seafront and in Benalúa, working from terraces, cafés and coworking spaces. Homes with fibre to the door are 98% (2025).
Better nearby for remote workers: Paterna (65), Valencia (61)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
Beaches, diving, sailing, cycling and hiking in the nearby hills. The heat is a limit in July and August.
Better nearby for beach, mountains and the outdoors: Benidorm (70), Sagunto (69), Elche (66)
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
Buyers look at seafront flats and villas at Playa de San Juan, Albufereta and Vistahermosa, with golf nearby.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for high earners and investors: San Vicente del Raspeig (58), Torrent (57), Paterna (54)
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Work is found in tourism, property, services, public administration and the EU trademark office, which brings an international crowd. Some young people move on to Madrid or Valencia.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Retirees often settle along the seafront, in Playa de San Juan and the flat central districts, among neighbours from across Europe. On healthcare indicators the city comes out average.
Better nearby for retirees: San Vicente del Raspeig (60), Vila-real (60), Castellón de la Plana (58)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Budget movers look at districts such as Carolinas and Benalúa and eat the set lunch at neighbourhood bars. Rent for a typical 70 m² flat is about €497 a month (2024).
Better nearby for budget-conscious movers: Vila-real (62), Alcoy (61), Castellón de la Plana (60)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
Families tend to look in the Pla, San Blas and Vistahermosa, with beach weekends and parks as the family routine. In state-funded schools families choose Valencian or Spanish as the base language of teaching; both are used in class alongside English.
Better nearby for families with children: Alcoy (57), Castellón de la Plana (56), Elda (54)
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Alicante as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Alicante; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €380 a month
Compare with Alicante70 m²: €315 a month
Compare with Alicante70 m²: €381 a month
Compare with Alicante70 m²: €591 a month
Compare with Alicante70 m²: €315 a month
Compare with Alicante70 m²: €366 a month
Compare with AlicanteGuide written 2026-10-22. Figures are refreshed as new official data is published; the period beside each number says what it covers. “Our read” cards are our inferences from those figures. How we score
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