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A big, practical commuter city south-west of Madrid, with a university campus and trains to the centre.
Móstoles is a large city about seventeen kilometres south-west of Madrid, in the metropolitan area but outside the city limits. It is one of the biggest of the satellite cities that ring the capital, and it grew in a hurry: a small farming town became a city of hundreds of thousands in two generations, built mostly in the second half of the twentieth century.
It is a practical place, not a destination. Most of the housing is apartment blocks in tidy estates with parks and shops at their feet, and the city has its own university campus, hospitals and shopping centres. People choose it for space and price against Madrid and for a short ride to the centre.
The city has 214,817 residents (2025).
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Móstoles stands out for digital and safety; it is weaker on connectivity and prosperity. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €646 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Móstoles’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.
Lunch menus in the shopping streets, bars with tapas and the rest of Madrid's table a train ride away.
Weekday routine of trains and school runs, with evenings spent close to home.
Terraces around the Plaza del Pradillo and the pedestrian centre, with big nights taken in Madrid.
The old centre, the leafy Parque Coimbra, student-heavy Norte-Universidad and the newer estates such as Villafontana and El Soto.
Spanish only, in the Madrid accent, and English is rare outside the university.
The Dos de Mayo celebrations in spring and the patron-saint fiestas at the end of summer.
Families, commuters and students, with many people whose parents arrived from other regions.
Móstoles does not pretend to be picturesque. The centre around the Plaza del Pradillo is a pedestrian zone of shops, banks and bars, and the city's real life is in the neighbourhoods: the parks, the school gates, the shopping centres and the covered markets. The Dos de Mayo art centre, a contemporary art museum, and the municipal theatres give it a modest cultural calendar.
Parque Coimbra is the best-regarded residential area, with houses, a lake and wide pavements. Norte-Universidad sits by the Rey Juan Carlos campus and has the student flats and cheap lunch menus that come with it. El Soto and Villafontana are newer estates with young families. The older centre is the plainest part, with older blocks and the oldest shops.
Evenings are quiet by Madrid standards. People eat at home, meet in the neighbourhood terraces and take the train into the capital for concerts, clubs and museums. The city is not rough and not exciting, and it does what it promises: space, services and a fast route in.
Móstoles was a village until the 1960s. Then Madrid's industry and growth drew workers from Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucía, and the town became a dormitory for the capital, with estates built quickly on farmland. Its one famous moment is history: on the second of May in 1808, the town's mayor issued a call to arms against Napoleon's troops, and the town still celebrates the date.
Today it keeps a dormitory character, with a mix of retail, local services, public sector work and commuting to Madrid. The Rey Juan Carlos University and a large hospital add a stable base of employment. Prosperity comes out below average, with household income per person at €14,858 a year (2024), but prices have been pulled up by Madrid's market. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €646 a month (2024), and buying costs €3,074 per square metre (Q2 2026). House prices rose 18.8% over the latest year (Q2 2026), and housing comes out below average.
The city feels calm in daily life, and the numbers back that up. Safety comes out above average. Homicide stands at 0.00 per 100k people (2025), and theft at 804 per 100k people (2025). Vehicle theft is the one type that runs above the middle, at 80 per 100k people (2025).
The setting is on the plateau south-west of the capital, so the weather follows Madrid's. Digital infrastructure is strong, with gigabit coverage of 99% (2025). The Madrid airport is 33 km away (2026), and connectivity comes out weak by itself.
Figures for Móstoles itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Móstoles 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.
5G coverage: 100% — better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 78 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 internetMóstoles · 2025 | 99.3% | better than 75% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorMóstoles · 2025 | 99.4% | better than 75% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageMóstoles · 2025 | 100% | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is above average compared with similar cities.
Not ranked: too little comparable evidence yet.
Thefts: 804 per 100k people — better than 82% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesMóstoles · 2025 | 0.00 per 100k people | better than 78% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesMóstoles · 2025 | 64.2 per 100k people | better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesMóstoles · 2025 | 88.9 per 100k people | better than 69% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsMóstoles · 2025 | 804 per 100k people | better than 82% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsMóstoles · 2025 | 79.6 per 100k people | better than 37% 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)Móstoles · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 84.2 days a year | better than 61% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CMóstoles · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 32.6 days a year | better than 7% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CMóstoles · 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: 18.8% — worse than 81% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 39 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Móstoles · 2024 | 9.22 €/m² a month | better than 27% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearMóstoles · 2024 | 3.20% | better than 57% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Móstoles · 2026-Q2 | 3,074 €/m² | better than 25% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsMóstoles · 2024 | 4.37% | better than 63% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearMóstoles · 2026-Q2 | 18.8% | better than 19% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 14,858 € a year per person — worse than 63% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 37 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 personMóstoles · 2024 | 14,858 € a year per person | better than 37% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 33.2 km — worse than 97% of major European cities
Weak: 3 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 airportMóstoles · 2026-10-21 | 33.2 km | better than 3% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for Móstoles 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 |
Móstoles shares the continental climate of the Madrid plateau: hot, dry summers and cold, bright winters. The nights cool down in summer, which makes it easier to sleep than on the coast, and winter mornings can be sharp with frost.
Very hot days: 33 a year (2015–2024). Frost days are 46 a year (2015–2024). Tropical nights are 11 a year (2015–2024). Rainfall is 480 mm a year (2015–2024).
Pleasant days, mild and dry, number only 84 a year (2015–2024), one of the lowest counts in Spain, because the seasons swing quickly from cold to hot. Spring and autumn are the best months. Flats need both heating and cooling, and a south-facing top floor is a trap in July.
Lines start with Spain; switch the others on to compare.
18.8% in Q2 2026
€9.2 per m² a month in 2024
€3,075 per m² in Q2 2026
Facts about the people who live in Móstoles. 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.
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Budgeting the first year, banking, tax residency, income and social security.
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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.
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Finding your public healthcare route
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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.
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Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish cities. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
Pleasant houses in Parque Coimbra and good private clinics nearby, but the best addresses and international schools are on the other side of Madrid.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Healthcare, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Industrial estates and commercial space at lower rents than Madrid, with the capital's clients a short drive away.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for founders and self-employed: Alcobendas (69), Madrid (68), Coslada (64)
Not measured yet: Adults with a university degree, Jobs, Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality, Residents born abroad.
Parks, schools and larger flats than Madrid offers, with the capital at the end of a train line. Prices are higher than they used to be.
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.
Fast gigabit fibre across the city and a lower rent than Madrid, with Barajas airport within reach. Few places to meet other remote workers.
Nothing stands out.
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, safe and well-served city, but plain, hot in summer and cold in winter, with a hospital and metro but no particular reason to retire here other than family.
Better nearby for retirees: Coslada (56), Fuenlabrada (56), Pinto (55)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Healthcare, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Cheaper than central Madrid, but no longer cheap, with rents and prices rising fast.
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.
The Guadarrama river park and urban parks are near, and the Sierra de Guadarrama is a drive away. The city itself is flat and built-up.
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.
A base for people with jobs in Madrid who want a cheaper bedroom and a fast train, with limited nightlife of its own.
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 Rey Juan Carlos University has its main campus here, with student housing and cheap lunches nearby.
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 small local programme at the Dos de Mayo art centre and the municipal theatres, with the full cultural life of Madrid a train ride away.
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 Móstoles as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Móstoles; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €829 a month
Compare with Móstoles70 m²: €713 a month
Compare with Móstoles70 m²: €659 a month
Compare with Móstoles70 m²: €553 a month
Compare with Móstoles70 m²: €569 a month
Compare with Móstoles70 m²: €885 a month
Compare with MóstolesGuide 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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