Living in Seville, Granada, Córdoba or inland Andalusia

Key rules

• Minimum wage: The 2026 minimum wage is €1,221 a month in 14 payments, the same in every region.
• Summer heat: Inland Andalusia has July and August highs of 36-40°C, so air conditioning and shade matter when choosing a flat.
• Language: Official paperwork and most public offices work in Spanish, so plan for basic Spanish or a gestor.
• Healthcare: Public care is free once registered, but specialist waits can take months.

The short version

Inland Andalusia is cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona and rich in local culture, but it has extreme summer heat, lower wages and limited English. It suits you if you have remote or foreign income, speak or will learn Spanish, and want a slower, social way of life. It suits you less if you need a local job at a good salary.

Cost of living

These are among Spain's cheaper cities, and Córdoba is usually the cheapest of the three. Typical rents for a two-bed flat in the city centre:

• Seville: €900-1,200 a month.
• Granada: €750-1,000 a month. Students push up room prices to €300-450 a room.
• Córdoba: €600-800 a month.

A one-bed flat is about €100-250 less. Rents have risen sharply, so check current listings.

Day to day, groceries cost about €250-350 a month for one person and €450-600 for a couple. A coffee is €1.50-2, a beer €2-3, and a lunch menu del día €12-15. Utilities for a flat run €120-200 a month, and air conditioning pushes summer bills up.

Heat

Seville and the Guadalquivir valley (Córdoba, Jaén, Écija) are among Europe's hottest areas. July and August highs usually reach 36-40°C. Heatwaves reach 43-46°C, and nights can stay above 25°C. Coastal cities are milder.

Plan for it before you sign a lease:

• Look for a shaded flat with good insulation and air conditioning.
• Stay out of the sun between 12:00 and 18:00, and drink water often.
• Check on older or ill neighbours, and never leave children or pets in a car.
• Use your town's climate refuges. In an emergency, call 112 or 061.

The national weather service issues yellow, orange and red warnings. Many people spend the worst weeks away from the interior.

Jobs and pay

Wages are below the national level, roughly 10-15% lower. Unemployment in Andalusia has been about 15-17%, against about 10-11% for Spain overall. Córdoba is a little higher, at about 16-18%.

The minimum wage is the same everywhere: €1,221 a month in 14 payments. Work is mostly in services, public administration, tourism, agriculture and food. Seville has a growing tech and aerospace sector.

Language

English is less common than in Madrid, Barcelona or the Costa del Sol. You will find it in tourist areas, universities, language academies and international companies. Shops, markets, many public offices and clinics work in Spanish.

Official paperwork runs in Spanish, and many foreigners hire a gestor or a translator. Granada has many students and international residents, so it is slightly easier. Learn basic Spanish before you arrive.

Healthcare

Public healthcare is free at the point of use once you are registered and hold a tarjeta sanitaria. Each city has major university hospitals, and the quality is good. You are assigned a family doctor at a centro de salud.

The weak point is waiting. A primary care appointment often takes several days. Specialists and non-urgent surgery can take months. Many residents add private insurance, about €50-100 a month, to shorten waits. Some visa holders need private insurance anyway.

Getting around

Seville and Córdoba are on the Madrid high-speed line. Madrid to Córdoba takes about 1h45, Madrid to Seville about 2h30, and Córdoba to Seville about 45 minutes. Granada is slower: about 3h30-4h from Madrid and 2h30-3h from Seville. Works on Granada's line have caused disruption.

Seville airport has the most European routes. Málaga is the main regional hub. The AVE high-speed train from Málaga to Córdoba takes about 50 minutes, and Granada is about 1.5-2 hours away. Córdoba's own airport has almost no flights.

In town, a single bus ticket in Seville costs about €1.40, and a monthly bus pass about €35-40. Seville has a metro, and Granada has a metro and buses.

Which city?

• Seville: the biggest, with the most jobs and flights, the highest rents and the worst heat.
• Granada: young and international, with a student feel and slower rail links.
• Córdoba: the cheapest and quietest, with excellent trains but almost no flights.

The FAQ below covers bills, doctors, heat and paperwork in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get around Andalusia without a car?

Córdoba and Seville are about 45 minutes apart by AVE fast train, and Madrid is about 1h45 from Córdoba and 2h30 from Seville. Granada is slower, about 3h30 to 4h from Madrid. Córdoba's airport has almost no flights, so use Seville or Málaga.

What can I do to cope with the summer heat?

Drink water, avoid being outside from 12:00 to 18:00, and keep your home shaded and cool. Check on older or ill neighbours, and use your town's climate refuges.

Will I wait long to see a doctor on the public system?

Primary care appointments with your family doctor often take several days. Specialist visits and non-urgent surgery can take months.

Can I deal with offices and paperwork in English?

Mostly no. Forms and appointments at immigration, the padrón, Social Security and the tax office are in Spanish. Many foreigners hire a gestor (a paperwork agent) or a translator. Granada is slightly easier because of its large student and international population.