Region · Spain · All places
A green, wet corner of Spain where the Atlantic sets the pace, the seafood is superb and the villages are emptying.
Galicia occupies the north-west corner of the Iberian Peninsula, facing the Atlantic and bordering Portugal. It is a region of four provinces, A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra, and of deep estuaries (rías), green hills, granite villages and a coastline that is long, rocky and often wild.
It does not look like the Spain of postcards. The climate is Atlantic, the landscape is green, the food is based on seafood and potatoes, and the language you hear in the street is Galician as often as Spanish. Santiago de Compostela, the end of the Camino pilgrim routes, is the capital, but the economic centres are A Coruña and Vigo on the coast.
For a mover, it offers safety, low prices, good food and natural beauty. It does not offer a large job market, and the weather needs getting used to. The region has 2,714,741 residents (2025), spread thinly across an enormous number of small villages.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Galicia stands out for housing, safety and healthcare; it is weaker on prosperity and jobs. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €404 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Galicia’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 or Galician.
Galician is an official language alongside Spanish. Expect it on signs, at the town hall and in state schools.
Octopus on wooden plates, scallops, empanadas and a cold glass of albariño at almost any table.
Unhurried and a little reserved, with long Sunday lunches and a lot of time spent with family.
Santiago and Vigo have the liveliest bars, and elsewhere evenings are quiet and local.
The three big coastal cities are walkable and compact, and the interior is farms and granite hamlets.
Galician is used daily alongside Spanish, in schools, town halls and the street.
Village fiestas all summer, with bagpipes, long tables and processions, and pilgrims arriving in Santiago.
Surf beaches, island hikes, the Camino routes and river canyons inland.
Galicians have a reputation for being reserved and dry-humoured. In practice they are warm once you know them, and the long Sunday lunch is as important here as anywhere in Spain.
Food is the pride of the region. Octopus served on wooden plates (pulpo á feira), scallops, barnacles, razor clams, empanadas, tender beef and the white wine from the Rías Baixas called albariño. Santiago has a lively student and pilgrim scene, with bars under the arcades of the old town. Vigo is a working port with a big-city feel and a strong sense of humour. A Coruña is a handsome seafront city with a long promenade, the Roman lighthouse known as the Tower of Hercules and a famously football-mad crowd.
The coast is the heart of weekend life: the Rías Baixas beaches and islands around Pontevedra and Vigo, the cliffs and surf of the Costa da Morte, and the fishing villages of the Rías Altas. Inland, Ourense has thermal baths on the river and a hot summer climate, and Lugo has a Roman wall that you can walk on. Villages hold festivals all summer, with bagpipe music, long tables and processions.
Galicia has long been poor in cash and rich in people. Farms were divided into tiny plots over generations, which kept families on the land but made farming inefficient. From the nineteenth century onwards, Galicians emigrated in huge numbers, to Argentina, Cuba, Venezuela, Switzerland and Germany. That explains why the region has strong ties to Latin America, and why many villages now have more old people than children.
The economy rests on the sea, industry and services. Fishing and canning are important, shipyards and a large car plant sit around Vigo, and the textile group behind Zara has its headquarters near A Coruña. Inland, in Lugo and Ourense, farming, dairy and forestry dominate, and the population is falling. The result is a job market that is steady but thin, and pay that stays below the national middle. Unemployment is 8.4% (2025), and the average gross salary is €26,547 a year (2024). The jobs dimension comes out below average and prosperity weak.
Costs follow the economy. Prices are higher in A Coruña, Vigo and Santiago than in the interior towns, and cheapest in the emptying rural provinces where houses sit unsold. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €404 a month (2024), and buying costs €1,657 per square metre (Q2 2026). Housing comes out strong for the region.
Galicia is one of the safest regions in Spain. Recorded crime is 35.4 per 1,000 people (2025), and safety comes out above average. Life expectancy is 84.2 years (2024). A diet built on fish and vegetables and a lot of walking is part of the reason, and the other is a population in which a large share is old and rural, where there is simply less street crime to count.
Figures for Galicia. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Galicia data only and compares it with other regions. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Housing is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish regions.
Households spending >40% of income on housing: 4.70% — better than 96% of European metro regions
Strong: 80 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Households spending >40% of income on housingGalicia · 2025 | 4.70% | better than 96% of European metro regions |
| Rent per m²Galicia · 2024 | 5.77 €/m² a month | better than 87% of Spanish regions |
| Rents, change in a yearGalicia · 2024 | 3.40% | better than 38% of Spanish regions |
| Buying price per m²Galicia · 2026-Q2 | 1,657 €/m² | better than 71% of Spanish regions |
| House prices, change in a yearGalicia · 2026-Q2 | 12.9% | better than 58% of Spanish regions |
Safety is above average: in the top 10% of European metro regions.
Thefts: 169 per 100k people — better than 100% of European metro regions
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 |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesGalicia · 2024 | 0.67 per 100k people | better than 70% of European metro regions |
| Recorded crimeGalicia · 2025 | 35.4 per 1,000 people | better than 91% of Spanish regions |
| RobberiesGalicia · 2024 | 36.9 per 100k people | better than 81% of European metro regions |
| BurglariesGalicia · 2024 | 95.2 per 100k people | better than 70% of European metro regions |
| Road deathsGalicia · 2024 | 4.80 per 100k people | better than 12% of European metro regions |
| Assault rateGalicia · 2024 | 216 per 100k people | better than 69% of European metro regions |
| TheftsGalicia · 2024 | 169 per 100k people | better than 100% of European metro regions |
| Vehicle theftsGalicia · 2024 | 9.79 per 100k people | better than 97% of European metro regions |
Healthcare is above average: better than most European metro regions.
Infant mortality: 1.50 per 1,000 births — better than 98% of European metro regions
Above average: 60 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Wait for a specialist appointmentGalicia · 2025-H2 | 63.0 days | better than 79% of Spanish regions |
| Wait for surgeryGalicia · 2025-H2 | 73.0 days | better than 85% of Spanish regions |
| DoctorsGalicia · 2024 | 389 per 100k people | better than 9% of European metro regions |
| Life expectancyGalicia · 2024 | 84.2 years | better than 81% of European metro regions |
| Infant mortalityGalicia · 2024 | 1.50 per 1,000 births | better than 98% of European metro regions |
Wellbeing is below average: behind most European metro regions.
Material deprivation: 7.10% — worse than 74% of European metro regions
Below average: 32 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| At risk of povertyGalicia · 2025 | 16.0% | better than 38% of European metro regions |
| Material deprivationGalicia · 2025 | 7.10% | better than 26% of European metro regions |
Jobs is below average: in the bottom quarter of European metro regions.
Jobs in high-tech sectors: 3.40% of jobs — worse than 93% of European metro regions
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross salaryGalicia · 2024 | 22,603 € a year per worker | better than 38% of Spanish regions |
| UnemploymentGalicia · 2025 | 8.40% | better than 25% of European metro regions |
| Employment rate (20–64)Galicia · 2025 | 72.5% | better than 18% of European metro regions |
| Long-term unemploymentGalicia · 2025 | 2.50% of the workforce | better than 35% of European metro regions |
| Youth unemployment (15–24)Galicia · 2025 | 24.7% | better than 16% of European metro regions |
| Labour-force participationGalicia · 2025 | 73.7% | better than 24% of European metro regions |
| Youth not in employment/education/trainingGalicia · 2025 | 11.1% | better than 32% of European metro regions |
| Jobs in high-tech sectorsGalicia · 2025 | 3.40% of jobs | better than 7% of European metro regions |
Prosperity is weak: in the bottom quarter of European metro regions.
Economic output per person: 33,700 PPS per person — worse than 88% of European metro regions
Weak: 13 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 personGalicia · 2023 | 19,800 PPS per person | better than 15% of European metro regions |
| Economic output per personGalicia · 2024 | 33,700 PPS per person | better than 12% of European metro regions |
What we cannot score for Galicia yet
Galicia has an Atlantic climate. Summers are mild and pleasant on the coast, with long light evenings and cool nights, and hotter inland, especially in Ourense, which is one of the hottest places in Spain on a bad day. Winters are mild but grey, with frequent rain and wind from the ocean, and stone houses that stay damp and cold.
It is a summer region. May to September is the time for the beaches, the festivals and the coastal paths. In winter many people accept the rain and make the best of the cafés and the food. If you need sunshine in January, Galicia is not the place. Dry summers also bring a real wildfire risk to the interior.
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71/100 · above average · 8th of 35 European metro regions
8.4% in 2025
5.5% in Sep 2026
2.9% in 2024
33,700 PPS in 2024
12.9% in Q2 2026
€5.8 per m² a month in 2024
€1,657 per m² in Q2 2026
84.2 years in 2024
72.5% in 2025
Facts about the people who live in Galicia. Shown as context only: none of this changes a score.
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Budgeting the first year, banking, tax residency, income and social security.
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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.
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Staying for good, long-term residence and citizenship, retiring, or returning home.
Cost of living and housing by region
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Regional differences in public healthcare
You will understand what really differs by region, how to find your local rule and how to move your cover.
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Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish regions. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
One of the best regions in Spain for low rents and cheap, good food. The trade-off is fewer jobs and a long way from other regions.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Price level vs EU average.
Santiago, A Coruña and Vigo have good universities and cheap, lively student life. The weather is wet but the food is cheap.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Commute by public transport, Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Median age, Price level vs EU average, Transport, Walk most.
Good seafood and wine, attractive coastal property at fair prices and safe surroundings. There is not much of a luxury market or a scene for networking.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Distance to the main airport, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Safe towns, beaches, space and a strong school system make it a good place to raise children. Good state schools teach partly in Galician, and jobs for both parents can be hard to find outside the cities.
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average commute (one way), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Low costs, very low crime and a healthy way of eating suit retirees, and Santiago, A Coruña and Vigo all have large teaching hospitals. The damp winters are the main obstacle.
Not measured yet: Climate, Cost of Living, Days above 35 °C, Environment, Frost days, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry).
A Coruña and Vigo have tech, logistics, fashion and marine industries, and operating costs are low. The local market is small and investors are mostly elsewhere.
Nothing stands out.
Nothing stands out.
Better in the region for founders and self-employed: Santiago de Compostela (62), A Coruña (59)
Not measured yet: Connectivity, Digital, Distance to the main airport, Regulatory quality.
Santiago's old town, Celtic music, local festivals and a serious food culture. The scale is smaller than in the big cities, and the pleasure is in the details.
Nothing stands out.
Nothing stands out.
Better in the region for culture, food and nightlife: A Coruña (72), Vigo (59)
Not measured yet: Commute by public transport, Lifestyle, Median age, Transport, Walk most.
Pay is modest and there are fewer opportunities than in Madrid or Barcelona, and many young Galicians still leave. A Coruña and Vigo offer the best choice of jobs.
Nothing stands out.
Better in the region for young professionals: A Coruña (66), Lugo (62), Ourense (62)
Not measured yet: Commute by public transport, Lifestyle, Median age, Transport.
Good fibre in the cities, a long list of beaches and a low cost of living are a real draw. Airports in Santiago, A Coruña and Vigo connect to Madrid and some European cities, with fewer flights than in bigger hubs.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Climate, Connectivity, Cost of Living, Digital, Distance to the main airport, Fixed broadband penetration, Homes with fibre to the door, Lifestyle, Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry).
Surf beaches, rías for sailing and kayaking, the Camino, mountains and thermal springs: among the best regions in Spain for the outdoors. Rain and wildfires in dry summers are the risks.
Nothing stands out.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Climate, Days above 35 °C, Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Frost days, Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry), Rainy days (≥1 mm), Strong-wind days.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Galicia as anywhere in Spain.
Click a column to sort. Columns with too little data are left out.
| Place | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Coruña | 63 | €497 | 8.5% | 50.0 per 1,000 people | 118 | 83.9 years |
| Santiago de Compostela | 63 | €505 | 6.4% | 50.5 per 1,000 people | 114 | 83.7 years |
| Lugo | 61 | €341 | 7.0% | 39.4 per 1,000 people | 88 | 84.0 years |
| Ourense | 60 | €355 | 9.6% | 43.3 per 1,000 people | 90 | 83.6 years |
| Pontevedra | 60 | €443 | 10.2% | 39.9 per 1,000 people | 116 | 83.9 years |
| Vigo | 59 | €533 | 10.9% | 41.3 per 1,000 people | 120 | 83.5 years |
| Ferrol | 51 | €333 | 10.8% | 47.2 per 1,000 people | 118 | 82.1 years |
Guide 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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