City · Cataluña · All places
Catalonia's western fruit-and-grain capital, with a hilltop old cathedral, a strong job market and the fast train to Barcelona.
Lleida (Lérida in Spanish) is the capital of western Catalonia, on the Segre river in the middle of a wide, flat plain of orchards, vineyards and cereal fields. A Gothic cathedral, the Seu Vella, stands on a rocky hill above the old town, and the modern city spreads out below it along the river.
It is a practical, working city rather than a showpiece, and its identity is farming and food, with a university and a regional hospital. Many people who live here were born in other countries, brought by the fruit harvest and other farm work. The city has 146,266 residents (2025).
It suits people who want a Catalan city with a good job market and cheap housing, the fast train to Barcelona and the Pyrenees within reach. It suits those who want sea, mild weather or a safe-feeling centre much less.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Lleida stands out for jobs, housing and transport; it is weaker on connectivity and safety. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €463 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Lleida’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.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
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.
Snails cooked on a tin, grilled meat, flatbreads with toppings called coques and Arbequina olive oil.
Orderly and practical, with a strong lunch break and a busy weekday centre.
Bars and terraces on the Carrer Major and around the Plaça de la Paeria, and a student scene on weekends.
The old town below the Seu Vella, the Eixample grid around the Rambla de Ferran and the new districts across the river.
Catalan in the local accent of the west, widely mixed with Spanish, and many languages among newcomers.
The Aplec del Caragol and the Festa Major in May, and the Fira de Sant Miquel in the autumn.
The Parc de la Mitjana by the river, orchard cycle routes and the Pyrenees and Montsec within a couple of hours.
The old town climbs the hill below the Seu Vella, with a medieval lane called the Carrer Major as its spine. The Plaça de la Paeria and the city hall sit at the heart, and the Rambla de Ferran is the main street for shopping and promenades. The Segre is the city's green axis, with riverside walks and the Parc de la Mitjana, a wooded reserve at the edge of town.
The best-known event is the Aplec del Caragol, a May festival with tens of thousands of people eating snails in grill clubs. It is one of the odder gastronomic gatherings in Spain, and the city is proud of it. The rest of the calendar follows the farm year, with a big autumn fair and a lively Festa Major.
Many districts feel working-class and busy rather than polished. Locals are direct, and a lot of the conversation is in Catalan with a Western accent, but Spanish is widely used, and the immigrant community has added restaurants and shops from many countries.
Lleida was an important Roman, Moorish and medieval town. It was a Moorish city until the twelfth century, and the cathedral was then built on the fortress hill. It served as a barracks for more than two centuries before it was handed back and restored. The city sat on a road between Barcelona and Zaragoza, and it has always been a market for the plain.
The economy today is built on food. The plain around the city grows fruit, cereals and olives, and the pig farms, slaughterhouses, canneries and logistics firms that process and move the produce are major employers. The University of Lleida is strong in agriculture, forestry and food science, and a large regional hospital serves the whole of western Catalonia and the nearby Pyrenees. Jobs come out strong, with unemployment at 6.8% (2025).
Housing is cheap for Catalonia. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €463 a month (2024), and buying costs €1,369 per square metre (Q2 2026). Housing comes out above average. Household income per person is €15,836 a year (2024).
The seasonal farm economy brings a large migrant workforce, with Moroccan, Latin American, Romanian and West African communities, and the foreign-born share is 27.8% (2025). The city is also younger than most of its size, with a median age of 45.2 years (2025).
Safety is the weak spot and comes out weak. Recorded crime is 67.0 per 1,000 people (2024), and robbery is 269 per 100k people (2025). Most of it is opportunistic theft rather than serious violence, but some central and older streets are less comfortable at night.
Transport is the strong card. The high-speed line between Madrid and Barcelona stops here, and the average commute is only 32 min (2021).
Figures for Lleida itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Lleida data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Jobs is strong: in the top 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment: 6.83% — better than 95% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 87 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentLleida · 2025 | 6.83% | better than 95% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearLleida · 2025 | -1.56 points | better than 75% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Buying price per m²: 1,369 €/m² — better than 93% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Lleida · 2024 | 6.61 €/m² a month | better than 70% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearLleida · 2024 | 3.30% | better than 49% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Lleida · 2026-Q2 | 1,369 €/m² | better than 93% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsLleida · 2024 | 4.97% | better than 43% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearLleida · 2026-Q2 | 10.1% | better than 79% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Transport is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Average commute (one way): 31.6 minutes — better than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 64 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)Lleida · 2021 | 31.6 minutes | better than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carLleida · 2021 | 52.5% | better than 81% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportLleida · 2021 | 6.80% | better than 12% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 15,836 € a year per person — better than 51% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 51 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 personLleida · 2024 | 15,836 € a year per person | better than 51% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 83.2 years — worse than 55% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyLleida · 2023 | 83.2 years | better than 45% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is around the middle: behind most major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 93.7 days a year — better than 70% 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)Lleida · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 93.7 days a year | better than 70% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CLleida · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 29.7 days a year | better than 8% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CLleida · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 32.4 nights a year | better than 22% of major European cities |
Digital is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
5G coverage: 100.0% — worse than 77% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Homes that can get gigabit internetLleida · 2025 | 98.3% | better than 50% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorLleida · 2025 | 98.0% | better than 38% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageLleida · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 23% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is weak: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Sexual offences: 0.88 per 1,000 people — worse than 98% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesLleida · 2025 | 0.68 per 100k people | better than 47% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeLleida · 2024 | 67.0 per 1,000 people | better than 17% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesLleida · 2025 | 269 per 100k people | better than 7% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesLleida · 2025 | 124 per 100k people | better than 41% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesLleida · 2024 | 0.88 per 1,000 people | better than 2% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsLleida · 2025 | 1,625 per 100k people | better than 22% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsLleida · 2025 | 62.2 per 100k people | better than 50% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 72.8 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 airportLleida · 2026-10-21 | 72.8 km | better than 0% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for Lleida yet
Highs around 35° in July, lows around 2° in January. 94 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C). 32 warm nights above 20 °C: check for air-conditioning.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.1°C | 1.6°C | 31 mm |
| February | 14.7°C | 3.3°C | 25 mm |
| March | 17.6°C | 5.1°C | 43 mm |
| April | 20.7°C | 7.6°C | 48 mm |
| May | 25.4°C | 11.4°C | 38 mm |
| June | 30.3°C | 16.3°C | 37 mm |
| July | 34.5°C | 19.3°C | 24 mm |
| August | 33.7°C | 19.6°C | 28 mm |
| September | 27.8°C | 15.4°C | 48 mm |
| October | 23.0°C | 11.6°C | 62 mm |
| November | 16.6°C | 6.2°C | 55 mm |
| December | 13.2°C | 3.7°C | 24 mm |
Lleida has a dry continental climate, with the extremes of the Ebro basin. Summers are hot, and very hot days number 30 a year (2015–2024), with tropical nights at 32 a year (2015–2024). Winters are cold and often dominated by thick fog along the river, the boira, which can last for days, and frost days number 17 a year (2015–2024).
Rainfall is low at 462 mm a year (2015–2024), and pleasant days, mild and dry, number 94 a year (2015–2024). Spring, with the orchards in blossom, and autumn are the best seasons. In July and August, many people leave for the coast or the mountains, and cooling is a necessity at home.
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71/100 · above average · 26th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
6.8% in 2025
10.1% in Q2 2026
€6.6 per m² a month in 2024
€1,369 per m² in Q2 2026
83.3 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Lleida. 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.
Among the best value in Catalonia, with a real job market, cheap flats and public services.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
A strong market in food, logistics, health and public services, with low rents and a fast train to the coast.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
A hilltop cathedral, a famous snail festival and a lively student scene, with Barcelona an hour away by train.
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
The University of Lleida and cheap rooms in a manageable city, with a good term-time scene.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Reasonable prices and a good job market, with parks and schools, but the safety figures and Catalan-language schooling are the questions.
Better nearby for families with children: Sant Cugat del Vallès (58)
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
A strong base for agri-food and logistics firms, with cheap premises and a central location on the Barcelona and Madrid corridor.
Better nearby for founders and self-employed: Barcelona (68), Cornellà de Llobregat (67), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (67)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
A comfortable and low-cost place for those with a larger budget, but few luxury services and some theft.
Better nearby for high earners and investors: Sant Cugat del Vallès (69), Viladecans (67), Cerdanyola del Vallès (63)
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Cheap and well served by a large hospital, but extreme weather and a long way from the sea.
Better nearby for retirees: Granollers (67), Sant Cugat del Vallès (63), Santa Coloma de Gramenet (61)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Cheap rents and fast trains, but a thin remote-worker scene and a far-off airport.
Better nearby for remote workers: Reus (70), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (67), Cornellà de Llobregat (66)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
Orchards and the Segre plain around the city, with the Pyrenees and the Montsec within a couple of hours.
Better nearby for beach, mountains and the outdoors: Vilanova i la Geltrú (70), Mollet del Vallès (64), Granollers (63)
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 Lleida as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Lleida; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €766 a month
Compare with Lleida70 m²: €794 a month
Compare with Lleida70 m²: €958 a month
Compare with Lleida70 m²: €703 a month
Compare with Lleida70 m²: €896 a month
Compare with Lleida70 m²: €712 a month
Compare with LleidaGuide 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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