City · Andalucía · All places
A sherry-country port town on the Bay of Cádiz, with a fine seafood waterfront and beaches, high unemployment and a car-based sprawl.
El Puerto de Santa María sits on the northern shore of the Bay of Cádiz, at the mouth of the Guadalete river, with Cádiz across the water and Jerez a short drive inland. It is one of the three towns of the sherry triangle, a port, a fishing town and a beach town at once, and it has a long tradition of good eating. The town has 89,983 residents (2025).
It is a place for enjoying rather than building a career. The waterfront restaurants, the bodegas and the beaches are the draw, and the sun shines most of the year. Jobs are scarce, the layout depends on the car and the town changes sharply between high summer and winter, so it suits retirees, wine and food lovers and people with their own income better than anyone who needs a local salary.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
El Puerto de Santa María is weaker on connectivity and healthcare. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €527 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from El Puerto de Santa María’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.
Most people drive to work. Without a car, check bus routes from any flat before you commit.
Non-urgent surgery takes longer than in most of Spain (Andalucía-wide figure). Many residents add private health insurance.
Fried fish and shrimp fritters on the Ribera del Marisco, tuna in season and fino or manzanilla with everything.
Unhurried, with long lunches, early beach days and a promenade that fills at dusk in summer.
Waterfront terraces, flamenco peñas and bars in the old centre, busy in season and quiet in winter.
The old centre by the river and the castle, the seafront estates of Valdelagrana, and the villa districts of Vistahermosa and Puerto Sherry.
Spanish with a strong Andalusian accent and little English outside the marina and the hotels.
The spring fair, Easter processions and the summer bullfights, plus the harvest festivities of the sherry calendar.
Beach, sailing, kitesurfing, cycling the coast paths and the pine forest and marshes of the bay.
The old centre sits just inland of the river and has the Plaza de Toros, one of the large bullrings of Andalusia, the main market and the castle. The Ribera del Marisco is the stretch of seafood restaurants along the Guadalete, where families eat at long tables from lunchtime. On the other side of the river is the catamaran for Cádiz, and to the south-west are the beaches of La Puntilla, Valdelagrana and Fuentebravía, with the marina of Puerto Sherry on the edge of the bay.
Away from the river the town spreads out into housing estates and residential developments that are largely car-based. Vistahermosa, with its villas and pine trees, is the upmarket area. Evenings in summer are crowded, and the pace slows in winter, when many bars close.
The cooking is the best reason to stay. It is the best of the Bay of Cádiz: prawns, urta and tuna, fried fish and tortillitas de camarones, along with the wines of the triangle. Several restaurants have gained wide fame, and the Aponiente restaurant by Ángel León has made the town a gourmet destination. Sherry is not a drink for tourists here but a daily habit.
The town's position at the mouth of a navigable river made it a port for centuries. Wine merchants, many of them English, Irish and French families, built bodegas here in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and the great names such as Osborne and Terry still stand along the old streets. The Castillo de San Marcos, a former mosque turned fortress and later a bodega, tells the story in one building.
The modern economy is thin. Tourism, hospitality, the bodegas, the port and public services employ most people, while the naval base at Rota and the shipyards and aerospace plants around the bay supply other jobs nearby. Unemployment is 17.0% (2025), and household income is €14,117 a year (2024). Prosperity comes out below average.
Housing is moderate by the standards of the coast. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €527 a month (2024), and buying costs €2,559 per square metre (Q2 2026). Housing comes out average, and the cheaper neighbourhoods are inland.
Safety is below the middle. Recorded crime is 56.7 per 1,000 people (2024), a high rate for a Spanish city, and the town comes out below average on safety. Most of it is theft in the beach and port areas in summer and from holiday homes and vehicles. Healthcare comes out weak, and life expectancy is 82.1 years (2023).
Travel is by car for most people: 73% of commuters of commuters drive (2021), and only 6% of commuters use public transport (2021). Mobility comes out below average. The commuter train to Jerez and Cádiz exists, and the catamaran across the bay to Cádiz is the nicest commute in Andalusia, but both serve a narrow group of people.
Figures for El Puerto de Santa María itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses El Puerto de Santa María data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Climate is around the middle: in the top quarter of major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 173 days a year — better than 95% of major European cities
Average: 59 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)El Puerto de Santa María · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 173 days a year | better than 95% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CEl Puerto de Santa María · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 2.50 days a year | better than 41% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CEl Puerto de Santa María · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 82.0 nights a year | better than 5% of major European cities |
Housing is around the middle: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Rents, change in a year: 3.10% — better than 64% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 44 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²El Puerto de Santa María · 2024 | 7.53 €/m² a month | better than 51% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearEl Puerto de Santa María · 2024 | 3.10% | better than 64% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²El Puerto de Santa María · 2026-Q2 | 2,559 €/m² | better than 41% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsEl Puerto de Santa María · 2024 | 5.56% | better than 31% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearEl Puerto de Santa María · 2026-Q2 | 18.2% | better than 21% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Jobs is around the middle: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment, change in a year: -1.53 points — better than 73% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 40 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | 17.0% | better than 18% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | -1.53 points | better than 73% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Transport is below average: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Commute by public transport: 6.00% — worse than 92% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 38 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)El Puerto de Santa María · 2021 | 32.8 minutes | better than 88% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carEl Puerto de Santa María · 2021 | 73.2% | better than 8% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportEl Puerto de Santa María · 2021 | 6.00% | better than 8% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Homicides: 2.22 per 100k people — worse than 90% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 35 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | 2.22 per 100k people | better than 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeEl Puerto de Santa María · 2024 | 56.7 per 1,000 people | better than 24% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | 67.8 per 100k people | better than 65% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | 100 per 100k people | better than 58% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesEl Puerto de Santa María · 2024 | 0.40 per 1,000 people | better than 54% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | 1,189 per 100k people | better than 47% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | 91.1 per 100k people | better than 31% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Digital is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Homes that can get gigabit internet: 95.0% — worse than 89% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 33 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 internetEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | 95.0% | better than 11% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | 96.3% | better than 13% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageEl Puerto de Santa María · 2025 | 100% | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 14,117 € a year per person — worse than 74% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 26 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 personEl Puerto de Santa María · 2024 | 14,117 € a year per person | better than 26% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is weak: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 82.1 years — worse than 81% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 19 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyEl Puerto de Santa María · 2023 | 82.1 years | better than 19% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 92.7 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 airportEl Puerto de Santa María · 2026-10-21 | 92.7 km | better than 0% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for El Puerto de Santa María yet
Highs around 30° in August, lows around 10° in January. 173 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C). 82 warm nights above 20 °C: check for air-conditioning.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.9°C | 10.4°C | 49 mm |
| February | 16.6°C | 11.1°C | 36 mm |
| March | 17.7°C | 11.9°C | 86 mm |
| April | 19.7°C | 13.7°C | 42 mm |
| May | 23.1°C | 16.2°C | 27 mm |
| June | 25.8°C | 18.9°C | 5 mm |
| July | 29.1°C | 21.5°C | 0 mm |
| August | 29.7°C | 22.0°C | 1 mm |
| September | 26.8°C | 20.2°C | 10 mm |
| October | 23.9°C | 18.0°C | 71 mm |
| November | 19.7°C | 14.3°C | 70 mm |
| December | 17.5°C | 12.4°C | 62 mm |
The Atlantic breeze keeps the town cooler than inland Andalusia. Summers are warm, sunny and humid, with very hot days numbering 2 a year (2015–2024) and tropical nights numbering 82 a year (2015–2024). The levante, an easterly wind, can blow for days in summer and make the beach unpleasant.
Winters are mild and frost does not occur, with frost days at 0 a year (2015–2024). Rainfall is 460 mm a year (2015–2024), mostly between October and March. Pleasant days number 173 a year (2015–2024). Autumn and spring are the best seasons, and in winter many beach businesses close.
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70/100 · above average · 29th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
17.0% in 2025
18.2% in Q2 2026
€7.5 per m² a month in 2024
€2,559 per m² in Q2 2026
82.1 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in El Puerto de Santa María. Shown as context only: none of this changes a score.
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Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish cities. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
The coast paths, the beaches and the marshes of the bay are excellent for cycling, sailing and bird watching.
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
Mild winters, good food and a pleasant seafront make it a comfortable base, with healthcare a weaker point than the climate.
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).
The villas of Vistahermosa and the marina at Puerto Sherry offer a comfortable base, with Sotogrande and Marbella far more prestigious.
Nothing stands out.
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.
Rents are moderate, food is cheap and the weather saves on heating, but wages are low.
Nothing stands out.
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.
There is no major university in town, and students usually go to the campuses of the University of Cádiz in Puerto Real, Cádiz or Jerez.
Better nearby for students: Granada (64), Jaén (64), Córdoba (60)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
A relaxed life and good beaches, though jobs are scarce and the choice of international schools is poor.
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.
Good for a long stay in winter, with sun and food, but a poor choice if you need fast fibre and a major airport nearby.
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.
Hospitality, wine tourism and food are the natural businesses, in a market defined by seasonality.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for founders and self-employed: Torremolinos (56), Granada (53), Sevilla (52)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Hard going for a career, with unemployment high and a night life that depends on the season.
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).
Sherry, flamenco, bullfighting and Easter give the town a real local culture, but the museums are in Cádiz and Jerez.
Better nearby for culture, food and nightlife: Granada (69), Cádiz (54), Almería (53)
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in El Puerto de Santa María as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with El Puerto de Santa María; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €635 a month
Compare with El Puerto de Santa María70 m²: €705 a month
Compare with El Puerto de Santa María70 m²: €474 a month
Compare with El Puerto de Santa María70 m²: €474 a month
Compare with El Puerto de Santa María70 m²: €470 a month
Compare with El Puerto de Santa María70 m²: €440 a month
Compare with El Puerto de Santa MaríaGuide 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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