City · Cataluña · All places
A medieval riverside city of coloured houses and cyclists, under an hour from Barcelona, with a theft problem and a price tag.
Girona is a compact city in north-east Catalonia, where the Onyar meets the Ter below a hill of old walls. The medieval quarter is one of the best preserved in Spain, a tangle of stone lanes, staircases and squares under a Gothic cathedral, with a row of ochre, red and yellow houses leaning over the Onyar.
It is small enough to cross on foot and close to a great deal. Barcelona is under an hour away on the fast train, the Costa Brava beaches are a short drive east, and the Pyrenees and the volcanic hills of La Garrotxa are not far to the north-west. The price of that position is a city that costs more than its size suggests, and a petty-crime problem that surprises people who arrive expecting a village.
The city has 108,666 residents (2025), and 29.5% of them were born abroad (2025). It suits families, remote workers and cyclists best, and anyone who needs a large job market least.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Girona stands out for prosperity, digital and climate; it is weaker on safety. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €639 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Girona’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
You will meet English speakers, mostly in the centre and at international employers. Shops, landlords and schools expect Spanish. 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 16% 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.
Thefts without violence happen 1.9 times as often as in the typical Spanish city. Keep phones and bags close in busy areas and on public transport.
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.
A serious restaurant scene at every price, plus market stalls, bakeries and the famous ice-cream shop on the river.
Unhurried by day, with people on bikes and a few familiar faces on every street.
Terraces on the Rambla de la Llibertat and student bars around the Mercadal, mostly quiet by midnight.
The Barri Vell is for visitors and stair-climbers, the Eixample and Pedret for everyday life, Montilivi for students.
Catalan is the language of the street and the town hall, and Spanish and English are easy to find.
Temps de Flors in May, and the Fires de Sant Narcís in late autumn.
The Via Verda greenway, the Gavarres hills and the Costa Brava are all a bike ride or short drive away.
Girona is a city for walking and cycling. People stroll along the Onyar and across the iron footbridge, climb the cathedral steps and the walls for the view, and sit on the terraces of the Rambla de la Llibertat. The Devesa, a huge park of plane trees on the edge of town, is where the whole city runs, walks dogs and holds its fairs.
Food is taken seriously. One of the best-known restaurants in the world is run by three local brothers, and the standard filters down to market stalls, bakeries, wine bars and set-lunch places. The Temps de Flors in May turns courtyards and stairways of the old town into open-air flower installations, and the Fires de Sant Narcís in late autumn bring the fairground and the city out together.
The population is mixed. There are students from the University of Girona around Montilivi, families in the Eixample and Pedret, Moroccan and Latin American communities in the neighbourhoods across the river, and a steady stream of foreign cyclists who rent for a season. The Barri Vell is beautiful, but steep and cobbled, and many locals prefer to live outside it.
Catalan is the everyday language, a little more than in Barcelona, and people appreciate any attempt at it. Beaches, fishing villages such as Begur and Cadaqués and the Pyrenees foothills are all within an hour.
Girona began as a Roman town on the road to Gaul, and for most of its history it was a fortress on the way into France. It was besieged again and again, most famously by Napoleon's troops, and the walls that survive are part of the reason the old town is so intact. It also held one of the most important Jewish communities in medieval Catalonia, and the restored lanes of the Call still tell that story.
The modern economy rests on services, the university, the regional hospital, tourism, food and a ring of light industry. The French border, the small airport and the fast train have given the city an outward-facing streak, and wealthy families from Barcelona and abroad have long used it as a base. Household income per person is €17,794 a year (2024).
Two of the numbers deserve an explanation. Housing comes out average because demand from commuters, second-home buyers and cyclists meets a small stock inside the old river loop. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €639 a month (2024), and buying costs €2,316 per square metre (Q2 2026).
Safety comes out weak, and recorded crime is 69.9 per 1,000 people (2024). The cause is mostly opportunistic theft: bags, bikes and cars, and burglaries in a city that is also a tourist stop and a border town. Homicide is essentially absent, and the city does not feel threatening at night, but it is not the sleepy place the postcards suggest. Sexual offences are 0.82 per 1,000 people (2024).
Figures for Girona itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Girona data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Prosperity is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 17,794 € a year per person — better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 85 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 personGirona · 2024 | 17,794 € a year per person | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Digital is strong: in the top 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
5G coverage: 100% — better than 85% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Homes that can get gigabit internetGirona · 2025 | 99.5% | better than 83% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorGirona · 2025 | 99.5% | better than 79% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageGirona · 2025 | 100% | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is above average: in the top quarter of major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 120 days a year — better than 92% of major European cities
Above average: 66 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)Girona · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 120 days a year | better than 92% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CGirona · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 0.10 days a year | better than 73% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CGirona · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 66.8 nights a year | better than 5% of major European cities |
Transport is above average: in the top 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Commute by car: 48.7% — better than 88% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 66 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)Girona · 2021 | 37.5 minutes | better than 56% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carGirona · 2021 | 48.7% | better than 88% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportGirona · 2021 | 13.8% | better than 55% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is above average: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 83.6 years — better than 61% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 61 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyGirona · 2023 | 83.6 years | better than 61% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is around the middle: better than most major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 10.8 km — better than 57% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to the main airportGirona · 2026-10-21 | 10.8 km | better than 57% of major European cities |
Jobs is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment: 10.2% — better than 54% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentGirona · 2025 | 10.2% | better than 54% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearGirona · 2025 | -1.27 points | better than 59% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
House prices, change in a year: 6.40% — better than 96% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 48 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Girona · 2024 | 9.13 €/m² a month | better than 32% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearGirona · 2024 | 3.70% | better than 30% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Girona · 2026-Q2 | 2,316 €/m² | better than 50% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsGirona · 2024 | 4.73% | better than 48% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearGirona · 2026-Q2 | 6.40% | better than 96% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is weak: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Vehicle thefts: 174 per 100k people — worse than 95% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 24 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesGirona · 2025 | 0.00 per 100k people | better than 78% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeGirona · 2024 | 69.9 per 1,000 people | better than 12% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesGirona · 2025 | 252 per 100k people | better than 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesGirona · 2025 | 189 per 100k people | better than 14% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesGirona · 2024 | 0.82 per 1,000 people | better than 5% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsGirona · 2025 | 2,207 per 100k people | better than 12% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsGirona · 2025 | 174 per 100k people | better than 5% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
What we cannot score for Girona yet
Highs around 29° in July, lows around 7° in January. 120 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C). 67 warm nights above 20 °C: check for air-conditioning.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.2°C | 6.7°C | 41 mm |
| February | 14.5°C | 7.5°C | 32 mm |
| March | 16.0°C | 9.0°C | 64 mm |
| April | 18.0°C | 10.8°C | 73 mm |
| May | 21.5°C | 14.1°C | 55 mm |
| June | 25.8°C | 18.7°C | 46 mm |
| July | 29.1°C | 21.4°C | 33 mm |
| August | 29.0°C | 21.5°C | 38 mm |
| September | 25.3°C | 18.4°C | 59 mm |
| October | 21.8°C | 15.2°C | 86 mm |
| November | 17.2°C | 11.0°C | 61 mm |
| December | 14.9°C | 8.6°C | 29 mm |
Girona has a Mediterranean climate with a continental edge. Summers are warm and humid rather than scorching: days above the heat threshold number 0 a year (2015–2024), but warm nights that make sleep hard number 67 a year (2015–2024).
Winters are cool, damp and often foggy in the Ter plain, with the occasional hard blow of the north wind, the tramuntana. The city gets 616 mm a year (2015–2024), spread over 89 a year (2015–2024). Pleasant days, mild and dry, number 120 a year (2015–2024).
It is a year-round city that is at its best in spring and autumn. Summer evenings by the river are good, and most winter days are spent indoors or on the nearby coast, where it is noticeably milder than in town.
Lines start with Spain; switch the others on to compare.
63/100 · above average · 44th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
10.2% in 2025
6.4% in Q2 2026
€9.1 per m² a month in 2024
€2,316 per m² in Q2 2026
83.6 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Girona. 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.
A medieval centre, a famous Jewish quarter, festivals, serious food and Catalan culture at a human scale.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
Close to Barcelona, France and the airport, with a growing food, tourism and services sector.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Fibre in every building, a calm and attractive setting, a small airport and Barcelona under an hour away by train.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
The jobs are in health, education, services and tourism, with pay below Barcelona levels and a small city's social life.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Safe, attractive, well supplied with restaurants and private clinics, and easy to leave for the coast.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Cycling is a way of life, and the Costa Brava, the Gavarres, La Garrotxa volcanoes and the Pyrenees are all close.
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
Safe on foot, flat along the river and the Devesa, with a university hospital and a fast train, but expensive and damp in winter.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
The University of Girona on the Montilivi campus gives the city a young population and a calm, compact student life.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
One of the better-sized Catalan cities for children, with parks, schools in several languages and a walkable layout. Housing is the obstacle.
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.
More expensive than most of inland Catalonia, so this is hard going on a low income.
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 Girona as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Girona; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €766 a month
Compare with Girona70 m²: €794 a month
Compare with Girona70 m²: €958 a month
Compare with Girona70 m²: €703 a month
Compare with Girona70 m²: €896 a month
Compare with Girona70 m²: €712 a month
Compare with GironaGuide 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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