City · Andalucía · All places
A compact, hot, deeply historic city of patios and a mosque-cathedral, with low prices and a thin job market.
Córdoba is a mid-sized city on the Guadalquivir river in the interior of Andalucía. Its historic centre, a maze of whitewashed lanes, small squares and flower-filled courtyards, is one of the largest World Heritage areas in Europe, and it is anchored by the Mezquita, a vast mosque that became a cathedral.
It is a city that is small enough to cross on foot, and slow enough to enjoy. For people who live here, it offers a very low cost of living, a strong sense of tradition and a quiet, family-centred life. It also offers very hot summers and a limited job market.
The city has 323,262 residents (2025). Residents born abroad make up 6.2% (2025).
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
Fit for you
Neutral priorities. Pick who you are:
Working out your fit…
What the data says
Córdoba stands out for housing; it is weaker on connectivity and jobs. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €500 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Córdoba’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
Few residents come from English-speaking or northern European countries, so daily life runs in Spanish. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
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 (Andalucía-wide figure). Many residents add private health insurance.
Tiled taverns serving salmorejo, oxtail stew, aubergines with honey and fino from Montilla-Moriles.
Slow, with long lunches and a deep afternoon silence in summer.
Tabernas in San Lorenzo and Santa Marina, and the new town's avenues for weekend evenings.
The Judería draws visitors, Santa Marina and San Lorenzo are local, Ciudad Jardín and Vista Alegre are modern.
Spanish with an Andalusian accent, and little English outside the tourist core.
Cruces de Mayo and the Patios festival in May, then the May fair.
Warm, a little formal and fond of their traditions.
Córdoba lives in its streets and courtyards. In May, residents open their patios to the public in a competition, filling the lanes with flowers and visitors; spring also brings the May Crosses, the Fair and a stream of festivals. Life is local: families meet on Sundays at the tabernas, which are tiled old bars serving local wine from Montilla-Moriles, aubergines with honey, and salmorejo.
The Judería, the old Jewish quarter, is the most visited area; Santa Marina and San Lorenzo, north-east of the old town, are more local, with their own churches and neighbourhood plazas. The Roman bridge, the river and the Alcázar are a short walk. Outside the old town, the city is modern, with wide avenues, shopping centres and residential blocks.
People are warm, formal and fond of their traditions. The pace is slow, with long lunches and afternoon silence in the summer. A few kilometres west are the ruins of Medina Azahara, the palace-city of the caliphs, and the Sierra Morena mountains, with forests and dehesa.
In the tenth century Córdoba was the capital of Muslim Spain and one of the largest and most advanced cities in Europe, with libraries, hospitals and a famous court. After the Christian conquest in the thirteenth century, it gradually lost importance, but its monuments survived and shaped the identity of the city.
Today it is an administrative, commercial and agricultural centre for the region, with some industry, a university and tourism built around the monuments. Jobs are limited, wages are low, and many young people leave, so jobs come out weak. Unemployment is 20.9% (2025), and adults with a university degree make up 48% (2024).
Costs are among the lowest of Spanish provincial capitals, because few people want to move in and the city has room to spread. Housing comes out strong. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €500 a month (2024), and buying costs €1,784 per square metre (Q2 2026). The city is compact and flat, and the average commute is 40 min (2021).
The nearest large airports are in other cities, so most trips go by train. The main airport is 111 km away.
Figures for Córdoba itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Córdoba data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Housing is strong: in the top 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Rents, change in a year: 2.40% — better than 98% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 76 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Córdoba · 2024 | 7.14 €/m² a month | better than 57% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearCórdoba · 2024 | 2.40% | better than 98% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Córdoba · 2026-Q2 | 1,784 €/m² | better than 72% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsCórdoba · 2024 | 3.61% | better than 89% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearCórdoba · 2026-Q2 | 13.0% | better than 62% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Transport is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Average commute (one way): 40.3 minutes — worse than 64% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 46 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)Córdoba · 2021 | 40.3 minutes | better than 36% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carCórdoba · 2021 | 58.9% | better than 53% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportCórdoba · 2021 | 12.6% | better than 51% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is around the middle: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Thefts: 1,362 per 100k people — worse than 66% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 45 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesCórdoba · 2025 | 0.62 per 100k people | better than 47% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeCórdoba · 2024 | 50.8 per 1,000 people | better than 37% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesCórdoba · 2025 | 84.1 per 100k people | better than 48% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesCórdoba · 2025 | 108 per 100k people | better than 53% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesCórdoba · 2024 | 0.42 per 1,000 people | better than 49% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsCórdoba · 2025 | 1,362 per 100k people | better than 34% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsCórdoba · 2025 | 50.1 per 100k people | better than 59% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is around the middle: behind most major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 100 days a year — better than 76% of major European cities
Average: 43 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)Córdoba · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 100 days a year | better than 76% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CCórdoba · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 64.9 days a year | better than 3% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CCórdoba · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 47.4 nights a year | better than 19% of major European cities |
Prosperity is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 14,947 € a year per person — worse than 61% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 39 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 personCórdoba · 2024 | 14,947 € a year per person | better than 39% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Digital is below average: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
5G coverage: 99.9% — worse than 87% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Homes that can get gigabit internetCórdoba · 2025 | 97.7% | better than 38% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorCórdoba · 2025 | 97.8% | better than 36% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageCórdoba · 2025 | 99.9% | better than 13% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 82.7 years — worse than 73% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 27 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyCórdoba · 2023 | 82.7 years | better than 27% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Jobs is weak: in the bottom 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment, change in a year: 1.30 points — worse than 100% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 4 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentCórdoba · 2025 | 20.9% | better than 6% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearCórdoba · 2025 | 1.30 points | better than 0% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 111 km — worse than 100% of major European cities
Weak: 0 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 airportCórdoba · 2026-10-21 | 111 km | better than 0% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for Córdoba yet
Highs around 38° in July, lows around 3° in January. 100 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C). 47 warm nights above 20 °C: check for air-conditioning.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.3°C | 3.1°C | 35 mm |
| February | 16.6°C | 4.4°C | 30 mm |
| March | 18.9°C | 6.2°C | 71 mm |
| April | 22.1°C | 8.8°C | 51 mm |
| May | 27.4°C | 12.4°C | 26 mm |
| June | 32.5°C | 16.6°C | 8 mm |
| July | 37.8°C | 20.5°C | 1 mm |
| August | 37.2°C | 20.8°C | 6 mm |
| September | 31.2°C | 17.0°C | 20 mm |
| October | 25.8°C | 13.1°C | 63 mm |
| November | 18.8°C | 7.5°C | 52 mm |
| December | 15.9°C | 5.1°C | 48 mm |
Córdoba is among the hottest cities in Spain. Summers are long, with afternoon temperatures that often reach extreme levels, and daily life moves to early mornings and late nights. Very hot days number 65 a year (2015–2024). Warm nights, the kind that make sleeping hard, number 47 a year (2015–2024).
Winters are mild in the day and cool at night, with little rain and clear skies. Frost days are 11 a year (2015–2024). Rainfall is 412 mm a year (2015–2024). Pleasant days, mild and dry, number 100 a year (2015–2024). It is a winter city; the best months are March to May, when the patios bloom, and October to November.
Lines start with Spain; switch the others on to compare.
33/100 · below average · 106th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
20.9% in 2025
13.0% in Q2 2026
€7.1 per m² a month in 2024
€1,784 per m² in Q2 2026
82.7 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Córdoba. 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 good university, cheap living and a friendly city. Social life is smaller than in Granada or Sevilla.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
The Mezquita, the Patios festival, Medina Azahara and a rich food culture. A quiet city with great monuments.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for culture, food and nightlife: Granada (69)
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
A beautiful old centre, restaurants and calm. Limited luxury and business infrastructure.
Better nearby for high earners and investors: Utrera (55), La Línea de la Concepción (54), Rincón de la Victoria (54)
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
One of the cheapest historic cities in Spain, with a solid public health system. Jobs are the constraint.
Better nearby for budget-conscious movers: Linares (72), Utrera (66), El Ejido (65)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
Safe, affordable and traditional, with large flats. Choice of work for parents is limited.
Better nearby for families with children: Linares (64), Jaén (60), Utrera (56)
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Low costs, a lovely centre and mild winters. The summer heat is hard on older people, and many leave for the coast.
Better nearby for retirees: Motril (67), Rincón de la Victoria (64), El Ejido (63)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Low costs and some agri-food and tourism opportunities, but a small market.
Better nearby for founders and self-employed: Torremolinos (56), Granada (53), Sevilla (52)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Cheap and quiet, with fast trains to Madrid and Sevilla. Few coworking options and few other remote workers.
Better nearby for remote workers: La Línea de la Concepción (72), Torremolinos (63), Fuengirola (60)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
Few opportunities; many young people go to Madrid, Sevilla or abroad.
Better nearby for young professionals: Granada (53), Cádiz (51), Jaén (49)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
The Sierra Morena, the river and cycling routes. The heat limits summer sport.
Better nearby for beach, mountains and the outdoors: Málaga (84), Rincón de la Victoria (80), Motril (79)
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Córdoba as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Córdoba; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €635 a month
Compare with Córdoba70 m²: €705 a month
Compare with Córdoba70 m²: €474 a month
Compare with Córdoba70 m²: €474 a month
Compare with Córdoba70 m²: €470 a month
Compare with Córdoba70 m²: €440 a month
Compare with CórdobaGuide 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
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
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.