City · Comunidad de Madrid · All places
An aerospace and university suburb at the geographic centre of Spain, with strong incomes and a hot housing market.
Getafe is a large city on the plain south of Madrid, running into the capital's built-up area. It is best known outside Spain for two things, an aircraft factory and a football team. Inside Spain it is also known as the geographic centre of the country, marked by a monument to the Sacred Heart on a hill just outside town, the Cerro de los Ángeles.
It is a working city with real industry, which sets it apart from many dormitory suburbs. The aerospace plant, the air base and the Carlos III University campus give it an employment base of its own, and the local incomes are among the higher ones in the south of Madrid. The city has 193,238 residents (2025).
It suits people who work in engineering, defence or the university, and families who want a settled suburb with a good hospital. It is not a place for old streets or a lively nightlife.
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
Getafe stands out for digital and prosperity; it is weaker on connectivity and housing. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €714 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Getafe’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.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
Frosty nights are common. Many older Spanish flats are poorly insulated: ask about heating and the winter energy bill.
Almost every home can get gigabit fibre, so working from home is not a gamble on the flat you pick.
Neighbourhood bars with free tapas, bakeries and big family lunches on Sundays.
Orderly and workaday, with the rush at the metro in the morning and the shift change at the plant.
Bars around the centre and the university, football on Sundays, and Madrid for a proper night out.
The old centre by the cathedral, the Alhóndiga park area, Getafe Norte and the newer Sector Tres estates.
Spanish, with English widely used by the aerospace and university workforce.
Getafe Negro in autumn and the local fiestas around the Cerro de los Ángeles.
Engineers, defence and aerospace workers, students, civil servants and families from the south of Madrid.
Getafe has a centre with a cathedral, a main square and a few pedestrian streets, but no one visits for them. The feel is of an orderly, comfortable suburb. Streets are wide and fairly clean, the blocks in the older north are plain mid-century, and the newer districts to the south have parks, cycle lanes and big family flats.
The Parque de la Alhóndiga is the main green space, with lakes, sports pitches and a good place for a Sunday walk. On the football side, the local team plays in the top two divisions most seasons and fills the Coliseum on match days. In autumn the Getafe Negro festival brings crime writers and readers to the libraries and bookshops.
People are straightforward and busy. The workforce is an unusual mix of engineers on aerospace contracts, university staff and graduates, and the families of people who have always worked in the industrial south. Evenings are about the terrace, the tapa that comes free with the drink and the family. The metro and the commuter trains run into central Madrid for anyone who wants a theatre or a club.
Getafe was a small farming town until the early twentieth century, when an air field was built nearby in 1911 and an aircraft factory followed. The military and aerospace presence never left, and the plant that now builds military transport aircraft is one of the biggest employers in the south of Madrid. In the middle of the century, the city absorbed waves of workers from the countryside, and large districts were built to house them.
A university campus came later and added a younger, educated population. The Carlos III campus here teaches law, economics and the social sciences, and a second campus is in neighbouring Leganés. Household income per person is €16,767 a year (2024), and prosperity comes out above average.
Housing has become the weak point. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €714 a month (2024), and buying costs €3,272 per square metre (Q2 2026). House prices rose by 21.7% over the latest year (Q2 2026), one of the fastest rises among large Spanish cities. Housing comes out below average.
Safety comes out average. Burglary is low at 50 per 100k people (2025), but robbery and theft are closer to the middle of the pack for a city of this size. Fibre is everywhere, and the city comes out strong on digital infrastructure.
Figures for Getafe itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Getafe data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Digital is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Homes with fibre to the door: 100.0% — better than 99% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 79 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 internetGetafe · 2025 | 99.7% | better than 89% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorGetafe · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 99% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageGetafe · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 42% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is above average: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 16,767 € a year per person — better than 73% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 73 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 personGetafe · 2024 | 16,767 € a year per person | better than 73% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is around the middle compared with similar cities.
Not ranked: too little comparable evidence yet.
Burglaries: 50.2 per 100k people — better than 94% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesGetafe · 2025 | 1.03 per 100k people | better than 38% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesGetafe · 2025 | 102 per 100k people | better than 41% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesGetafe · 2025 | 50.2 per 100k people | better than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsGetafe · 2025 | 1,382 per 100k people | better than 33% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsGetafe · 2025 | 105 per 100k people | better than 25% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is around the middle: behind most major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 84.2 days a year — better than 61% 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)Getafe · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 84.2 days a year | better than 61% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CGetafe · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 32.6 days a year | better than 7% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CGetafe · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 11.3 nights a year | better than 42% of major European cities |
Housing is below average: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
House prices, change in a year: 21.7% — worse than 96% of Spanish cities above 50,000
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Getafe · 2024 | 10.2 €/m² a month | better than 15% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearGetafe · 2024 | 3.20% | better than 57% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Getafe · 2026-Q2 | 3,272 €/m² | better than 20% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsGetafe · 2024 | 4.49% | better than 58% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearGetafe · 2026-Q2 | 21.7% | better than 4% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 23.2 km — worse than 95% of major European cities
Weak: 5 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 airportGetafe · 2026-10-21 | 23.2 km | better than 5% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for Getafe yet
Highs around 35° in July, lows around -0° in January. 84 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C).
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.9°C | -0.1°C | 40 mm |
| February | 12.2°C | 0.9°C | 32 mm |
| March | 14.9°C | 2.7°C | 57 mm |
| April | 18.2°C | 5.1°C | 59 mm |
| May | 23.6°C | 9.1°C | 33 mm |
| June | 29.2°C | 14.1°C | 28 mm |
| July | 34.7°C | 17.7°C | 10 mm |
| August | 33.9°C | 17.5°C | 19 mm |
| September | 27.1°C | 13.1°C | 41 mm |
| October | 21.7°C | 9.3°C | 70 mm |
| November | 14.5°C | 4.2°C | 49 mm |
| December | 11.4°C | 1.8°C | 43 mm |
Getafe has the continental climate of the Madrid plain. Summers are hot and dry, and the open streets and flat roofs heat up through July and August. Winters are cold and bright, with frost on many mornings, but with little snow.
The number of very hot days is 33 a year (2015–2024), and frost days number 46 a year (2015–2024). Pleasant days, mild and dry, number 84 a year (2015–2024). Spring and autumn are the best seasons, and aircraft noise is a feature near the air base.
Lines start with Spain; switch the others on to compare.
21.7% in Q2 2026
€10.2 per m² a month in 2024
€3,272 per m² in Q2 2026
Facts about the people who live in Getafe. 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 technical economy, a university and fibre, with business estates that suit engineering and logistics start-ups.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Adults with a university degree, Jobs, Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality, Residents born abroad.
A comfortable suburb with decent incomes and newer detached or semi-detached housing, but few luxury services.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Healthcare, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Reliable fibre and a quiet suburban setting, but not much to inspire a laptop day.
Better nearby for remote workers: Coslada (62), Torrejón de Ardoz (58), Alcobendas (54)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle, Residents born abroad.
A comfortable and well-served place with good schools, large parks and a strong local economy.
Better nearby for families with children: Fuenlabrada (62), Aranjuez (60), Coslada (60)
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average commute (one way), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Healthcare, Jobs, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation, Recorded crime.
A public hospital and a well-run suburb, but hot summers, cold winters and not much to see.
Better nearby for retirees: Coslada (56), Fuenlabrada (56), Pinto (55)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Healthcare, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Cheaper than Madrid proper but no longer cheap, with rising prices and rents.
Better nearby for budget-conscious movers: Aranjuez (55), Valdemoro (54), Fuenlabrada (51)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Jobs, Price level vs EU average, Unemployment.
Flat and built up, with a big city park and the Sierra de Guadarrama a drive away.
Better nearby for beach, mountains and the outdoors: Madrid (44), Aranjuez (38), Pinto (38)
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
The aerospace, defence and services employers provide real jobs, and central Madrid is a short ride away.
Not measured yet: Commute by public transport, Jobs, Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median age, Median gross salary, Residents born abroad, Transport, Unemployment, Youth unemployment (15–24).
The Carlos III campus for law and social sciences is in the city, with a student life centred on the campus and the nearby bars.
Not measured yet: Adults with a university degree, Commute by public transport, Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Median age, Price level vs EU average, Transport, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
A modest cultural life of its own, with Madrid's museums and theatres on the metro.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Adults with a university degree, Commute by public transport, Lifestyle, Median age, Residents born abroad, Transport, Walk most.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Getafe as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Getafe; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €829 a month
Compare with Getafe70 m²: €713 a month
Compare with Getafe70 m²: €659 a month
Compare with Getafe70 m²: €553 a month
Compare with Getafe70 m²: €569 a month
Compare with Getafe70 m²: €885 a month
Compare with GetafeGuide 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.