Best places for entrepreneurs and freelancers

Key rules

• Business first: Choose the city where your clients and networks are, then check that rent and desk costs are tolerable.
• Corporate clients: Madrid has the largest corporate market and the most freelance clients.
• Cheaper hubs: Valencia, Málaga, Seville, Alicante and Bilbao are usually 10-30% cheaper for desks than Madrid and Barcelona.
• Rent caps: There is no zonas tensionadas declaration in Madrid, Málaga or Valencia city, so do not count on a cap there.

Let your business model pick the city

Start with who pays you, not with the weather. Choose the place where your clients, your networks and your sector's ecosystem cluster. Then check that the fixed costs (rent and a desk) are tolerable.

Ask yourself three questions:

• Who pays you: Spanish corporates, start-ups, or international clients online?
• Do you need to meet people in person, or can you work from anywhere?
• How much rent and desk cost can your income carry in a slow month?

If your clients are remote and abroad, you have the most freedom. Cheaper cities then make sense. If your clients are local, go where they are.

Where the clients and networks are

• Barcelona: the largest start-up hub. It has many venture-backed firms, international clients and a big annual mobile industry event.
• Madrid: the largest corporate market, with funds and banks. It has the most freelance clients, so it suits you if you sell to big companies.
• Valencia: growing, with a well-known accelerator and a business campus.
• Málaga: a tech hub with big-name tech and cyber-security centres and a technology park.
• Bilbao and the Basque Country: industrial and deep-tech. Seville and Zaragoza are smaller hubs.
• Also worth a look: Palma, Las Palmas and the Canary tech scene, and Alicante.

This ranking is a judgement and differs by sector, so test it against your own client list.

What a workspace costs

Prices are typical estimates and usually exclude 21% VAT.

Private offices start at €300 or more per person. Day passes cost €15-30, so you can try a space before you commit. Big cities have many spaces and flexible contracts. A small town may have one municipal space or none, so check before you move.

Rent and fixed costs

Rents rose strongly through 2023-2025, generally 5-12% a year in the big cities. Asking rents in Madrid and Barcelona are now around €16-23 per m² a month. Málaga and Palma are similar.

Some areas are declared zonas tensionadas. There, rent caps tied to a reference index apply to new leases from large landlords and to renewals. Catalonia (including Barcelona), the Basque Country (including Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria) and parts of Navarra and Galicia have declared areas. There is no declaration in Madrid, Málaga or Valencia city, so do not count on a cap there. Check the current list with the regional housing office before you sign.

A simple way to decide

1. Write down your top five clients or targets and where they are.
2. Pick the one or two cities that fit best.
3. Price a desk and a home in each, using the figures above.
4. Rent a day pass or a short stay before committing to a lease.

If you need corporate clients, lean towards Madrid. If you need start-up and international contacts, lean towards Barcelona. If you are mostly remote, compare the cheaper cities on cost and lifestyle.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a coworking desk cost outside Madrid and Barcelona?

Expect a hot desk at about €70-150 a month in Valencia, Málaga, Seville, Alicante and Bilbao, and about €60-150 in smaller hubs and islands. Dedicated desks in the mid-sized cities are about €120-250. Prices usually exclude 21% VAT, and day passes of €15-30 let you test a space first.

Will I find a coworking space in a small town?

Maybe not. Small towns may have only one municipal space or none. If your work needs a desk outside the home, check this before you commit to a lease.

Do rent caps protect me if I rent in Madrid, Málaga or Valencia?

No. These cities have no declared stressed area, so no rent cap applies. Caps for new leases of large landlords and for renewals exist in places like Barcelona and its metro area, and Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria. Ask your region for its current list before you sign.

Which cities suit me if I am a freelancer who needs corporate clients rather than start-up contacts?

Madrid has the largest corporate market, with banks, funds and the most freelance clients. Barcelona is stronger for venture-backed firms and international clients. Málaga and Valencia are growing, with lower coworking prices.