City · Cataluña · All places
The beach, Gaudí and an international crowd, packed into one compact, walkable city between the sea and the hills.
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the second city of Spain. It is squeezed onto a narrow plain between the sea, the Collserola hills and two rivers, which makes it compact, dense and unusually walkable. The beach is a metro ride from the Gothic Quarter, and the hills are a short bus ride from the grid of the Eixample.
It is an international city. The port, the trade fairs, the universities, the start-up scene and the tourists have all drawn people from everywhere, and many of them stay. The city has 1,731,649 residents (2025), and residents born abroad make up 34.6% (2025).
It is a city where work, study and the beach share a small area, and where visitors share the pavements with residents.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Barcelona stands out for prosperity, healthcare and digital; it is weaker on safety. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €958 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Barcelona’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
A large international and graduate population means English is common at work, in cafés and among neighbours. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish or Catalan.
Catalan is an official language alongside Spanish. Expect it on signs, at the town hall and in state schools.
New leases cost about 26% more than what sitting tenants pay, so the averages you read understate what a newcomer will pay. Good flats go fast.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
Most commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. Owning a car is optional, and parking is the bigger cost.
Thefts without violence happen 3.7 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 Cataluña. 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.
Non-urgent surgery takes longer than in most of Spain (Cataluña-wide figure). Many residents add private health insurance.
Residents are younger than in most of Spain: more students, young families and evening life.
Market produce, seafood rice, croquetas and a long Sunday vermouth.
Brisk by day, with dinner a little earlier than in Madrid and nights that still run late.
Bars in Sant Antoni and Poble-sec, clubs by the sea, live music most nights.
Gràcia feels like a village, the Eixample is where people live, Poblenou is where tech sits.
Catalan and Spanish both everywhere, English easy in the international crowd.
Sant Jordi in April, Sant Joan bonfires in June, La Mercè with its human towers in September.
Beach, seafront cycling and the Collserola hills inside the city, Pyrenees and Costa Brava a short trip away.
Barcelona is a city of neighbourhoods, each with its own square, market and festival. Gràcia feels like a village inside the city, with plazas full of tables and a summer street-decoration festival that closes whole streets. The Eixample, with its grid of chamfered blocks and modernist buildings, is where people live, shop and work. El Born and the Gothic Quarter are medieval lanes with galleries, bars and tourists. Poblenou, the former factory district by the sea, is where many tech companies, studios and beach cafés have settled.
Sant Antoni, Poble-sec and Sants are where people who live here go out: bars in the market square, vermouth on a Sunday, a plate of croquetas and a glass of wine. Barceloneta has the seafront fish restaurants, the sand and a lot of sunburnt visitors. The Raval is multicultural, scruffy and creative. Sarrià and Pedralbes, up the hill, are leafy and wealthy.
The pace is brisk but not hurried. Dinner starts a little earlier than in Madrid, nights are long and people spend a lot of time outside. They run, cycle and skate along the seafront, and take the weekend to hike or sail. Dress is casual with an eye for design: the city has a long tradition in fashion, architecture and graphic design, and it shows in the shops and the signs.
Catalan and Spanish are both everywhere, and English is common in the international community. Food leans to the sea and the market: seafood rice, fideuà, anchovies, cured sausage, pa amb tomàquet, desserts such as crema catalana. Big dates are Sant Jordi in April, when the streets fill with roses and books, the midsummer bonfires of Sant Joan, and the La Mercè festival in September, with its human towers and fire-runs.
Barcelona grew rich as a port and a textile city, then was reshaped by two big events: the 1888 Universal Exhibition and the 1992 Olympics. The 1992 Games opened the city to the sea, cleaned up the waterfront and put it on the world map. Visitor numbers have grown ever since.
Recorded crime is 103.5 per 1,000 people (2024), and the city comes out weak on safety against large Spanish cities. Thefts without violence stand at 4,430 per 100k people (2025), and robberies with violence at 730 per 100k people (2025). Sexual offences stand at 0.75 per 1,000 people (2024). The rate is counted per resident, so it does not separate offences against visitors from those against locals.
Geography shapes the housing market. The city is hemmed in by sea and hills and cannot expand outward. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €958 a month (2024), a new lease typically costs €1,137 a month (Q1 2026), and buying costs €4,602 per square metre (Q2 2026). Housing comes out average.
Tourist flats are part of the local debate about housing. Barcelona is phasing out licensed tourist flats: the city has said it will not renew the licences, which expire in 2028.
Density also shapes street design. The city has been trying out car-free "superblocks" in several neighbourhoods, giving some streets back to pedestrians.
Jobs come out average and prosperity strong, with unemployment at 7.7% (2025). Healthcare comes out strong, and life expectancy is 84.3 years (2023). Adults with a university degree make up 62% (2024).
Figures for Barcelona itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Barcelona data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Prosperity is strong: in the top 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 20,326 € a year per person — better than 92% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 92 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 personBarcelona · 2024 | 20,326 € a year per person | better than 92% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 84.3 years — better than 82% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 82 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyBarcelona · 2023 | 84.3 years | better than 82% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Digital is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
5G coverage: 100% — better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 77 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 internetBarcelona · 2025 | 99.4% | better than 79% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorBarcelona · 2025 | 99.3% | better than 69% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageBarcelona · 2025 | 100% | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is above average: in the top quarter of major European cities.
Airport passengers: 57.4 million passengers a year — better than 88% of major European cities
Above average: 65 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 airportBarcelona · 2026-10-21 | 12.5 km | better than 47% of major European cities |
| Airport passengersBarcelona · 2025 | 57.4 million passengers a year | better than 88% of major European cities |
Transport is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Commute by car: 24.2% — better than 100% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 65 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)Barcelona · 2021 | 51.4 minutes | better than 8% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carBarcelona · 2021 | 24.2% | better than 100% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportBarcelona · 2021 | 42.7% | better than 99% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is around the middle: in the top quarter of major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 111 days a year — better than 88% of major European cities
Average: 57 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)Barcelona · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 111 days a year | better than 88% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CBarcelona · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 3.20 days a year | better than 39% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CBarcelona · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 53.3 nights a year | better than 12% of major European cities |
Jobs is around the middle: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment: 7.72% — better than 90% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 56 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentBarcelona · 2025 | 7.72% | better than 90% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearBarcelona · 2025 | 0.59 points | better than 6% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is around the middle: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
House prices, change in a year: 6.88% — better than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 42 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Barcelona · 2024 | 13.7 €/m² a month | better than 2% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearBarcelona · 2024 | 3.30% | better than 49% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Barcelona · 2026-Q2 | 4,602 €/m² | better than 6% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsBarcelona · 2024 | 4.12% | better than 77% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearBarcelona · 2026-Q2 | 6.88% | better than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is weak: in the bottom 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Robberies: 730 per 100k people — worse than 99% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 13 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesBarcelona · 2025 | 0.58 per 100k people | better than 48% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeBarcelona · 2024 | 103 per 1,000 people | better than 1% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesBarcelona · 2025 | 730 per 100k people | better than 1% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesBarcelona · 2025 | 204 per 100k people | better than 8% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesBarcelona · 2024 | 0.75 per 1,000 people | better than 8% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsBarcelona · 2025 | 4,430 per 100k people | better than 2% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsBarcelona · 2025 | 166 per 100k people | better than 8% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
What we cannot score for Barcelona yet
Highs around 31° in July, lows around 4° in January. 111 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C). 53 warm nights above 20 °C: check for air-conditioning.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.1°C | 4.1°C | 37 mm |
| February | 14.8°C | 5.3°C | 28 mm |
| March | 16.8°C | 6.8°C | 49 mm |
| April | 19.2°C | 9.1°C | 59 mm |
| May | 23.3°C | 12.8°C | 44 mm |
| June | 27.5°C | 17.6°C | 40 mm |
| July | 31.1°C | 20.8°C | 28 mm |
| August | 30.8°C | 21.0°C | 40 mm |
| September | 26.5°C | 17.6°C | 63 mm |
| October | 22.4°C | 13.9°C | 77 mm |
| November | 17.3°C | 8.7°C | 68 mm |
| December | 14.5°C | 6.0°C | 32 mm |
Barcelona has a mild Mediterranean climate. Summers are warm and humid but rarely scorching: the number of very hot days is 3 a year (2015–2024), but warm, sticky nights, the kind that make sleeping hard, number 53 a year (2015–2024). A flat without a fan or cooling can be unpleasant in July and August.
Winters are mild and bright, and frost is almost unknown: 4 a year (2015–2024). Rain comes in short, heavy bursts, mostly in autumn. The city gets 566 mm a year (2015–2024). Pleasant days, mild and dry, number 111 a year (2015–2024).
It is a summer city for the beach, and a winter city for people who want mild weather and daylight. Spring and early autumn are the best seasons. August is crowded with visitors, and many locals leave for the mountains or the coast.
Lines start with Spain; switch the others on to compare.
36/100 · below average · 100th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
7.7% in 2025
6.9% in Q2 2026
€13.7 per m² a month in 2024
€4,602 per m² in Q2 2026
84.3 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Barcelona. 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.
A city of architecture, design, music festivals, galleries and food, where Gaudí is only the start.
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
Trade fairs, accelerators and coworking spaces of every size, and a multilingual crowd to hire from and meet.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Young people work in design, tech, life sciences, tourism and trade, and the social life runs from the beach to Poble-sec.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Beach, sailing and the Collserola hills are inside the city, and the Pyrenees, Costa Brava and Montserrat are within a short trip.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
Coworking spaces and laptop-friendly cafés in most neighbourhoods and a large international crowd. Homes that can get gigabit internet stand at 99% (2025), and the main airport is 12 km from the city (2026).
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
Several universities and business schools and a large international student crowd.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Many older residents live here without a car, with flat seafront walks, a metro that reaches most districts and daily errands on foot. Steep streets in Gràcia and the hillside districts are harder going. Hospital beds stand at 6.0 per 1,000 people (2025).
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Sarrià and Pedralbes, up the hill, are the leafy districts many high earners look at, with private hospitals and private schools nearby.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Families live in the Eixample, Sant Andreu, Sarrià and the commuter belt, with parks and beaches for weekends. Catalan is the main language of instruction in Catalonia's schools and pupils also learn Spanish; the exact balance has been disputed in the courts.
Better nearby for families with children: Sant Cugat del Vallès (58), Viladecans (56), Cerdanyola del Vallès (54)
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Many people on a small budget live in the towns along the commuter rail. Housing comes out average against other large Spanish cities.
Better nearby for budget-conscious movers: Lleida (72), Reus (58), Manresa (57)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Barcelona as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Barcelona; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €766 a month
Compare with Barcelona70 m²: €794 a month
Compare with Barcelona70 m²: €639 a month
Compare with Barcelona70 m²: €703 a month
Compare with Barcelona70 m²: €896 a month
Compare with Barcelona70 m²: €712 a month
Compare with BarcelonaGuide 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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