Living in Galicia, Asturias or Cantabria

Key rules

• Rent: Galicia and Asturias are well below the national rent average, while Cantabria is close to it.
• Work: Local jobs are limited if you don't speak Spanish, so plan on remote income.
• Rural services: Villages lose schools, buses, banks and GP hours, so check what stays open before you choose one.
• Internet: Fibre is strong in towns but patchy in scattered rural parishes, so test the exact address.

The short version

Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria are cheap, green and rainy. They also have ageing populations, fewer jobs and real isolation once you leave the cities and larger towns. They suit people who work remotely or have a pension, want space and nature, and accept thin local services.

Cost: Galicia and Asturias are cheap, Cantabria less so

Average asking rents across Spain are roughly €14-€15/m² a month. Galicia and Asturias are well below that, at roughly €9-€11/m². Cantabria is closer to the national level, at roughly €11-€13/m², because the coast pushes prices up.

Buying follows the same pattern. Galicia is roughly €1,600-€1,800/m² and Asturias roughly €1,700-€1,900/m². Cantabria is roughly €2,200-€2,500/m², and Santander is higher still. A Coruña and Vigo are dearer than the rest of Galicia, while Ourense and Lugo are far cheaper.

Rural homes cost much less than any of these averages. Treat all figures as rough 2025 levels and check listings in your exact town.

Climate: Atlantic and wet

Expect mild temperatures, frequent rain and grey spells, and very green countryside. If you are coming for Spanish sun, this is not that part of Spain. Visit in winter before you decide.

Jobs: limited locally, remote work is the main route

Unemployment is roughly 8-11%. Galicia is about 9%, Asturias about 10-11% and Cantabria about 8-9%. Wages are below the national average, around €26,000-€29,000 a year in Galicia and Asturias.

Local employers include car making, textiles, fishing, shipbuilding, steel, energy, food production and tourism. Jobs for people who do not speak Spanish are limited. Remote work is the realistic option. Santander, A Coruña, Vigo and Oviedo have coworking spaces and tech clusters. The digital nomad visa suits remote workers, but rural internet is uneven, so test it before you sign.

Ageing and rural isolation

All three regions have some of Spain's oldest populations, with a median age of about 46-49 against roughly 44 nationally. Asturias has lost people for decades. Galicia loses people inland, in Ourense and Lugo, while the Atlantic coast holds. Cantabria is roughly stable thanks to migration.

In depopulated areas, expect school closures and merged classes, fewer bus routes, fewer bank branches, shorter GP and pharmacy hours, and hospitals far away. Regional plans exist, but services stay thin. Ask the town hall what is still open before you choose a village.

Getting around and getting online

• Galicia: Airports at Santiago (the busiest), A Coruña and Vigo. High-speed trains reach Ourense in about 2h15 and Santiago in about 3h15-3h30 from Madrid.
• Asturias: One airport, with Madrid, Barcelona and some European routes. A high-speed line opened in late 2023, and Madrid to Oviedo or Gijón takes about 3h15-3h30.
• Cantabria: Santander airport has Ryanair and Vueling. There is no high-speed rail, and Madrid to Santander takes about 4 hours. The local narrow-gauge rail has been disrupted in recent years.

Fibre internet covers above 90% of towns but is patchier in scattered rural parishes, where radio or satellite may be the only option.

Who this suits

It suits you if you earn remotely or have savings, value quiet and green space, and are happy to drive. It suits you less if you need a local job in English, want guaranteed sun, or depend on frequent public transport. Use the checklist and FAQ below to test a specific town.

Checklist

• Compare rents in your target town with the national average of about €13-€14/m² a month. Galicia and Asturias run about €9-€11, and Cantabria about €11-€13.

• Check rents in rural areas separately, because rural homes are much cheaper than the city and coastal figures.

• Confirm how you will earn a living. Local jobs are limited for non-Spanish speakers and unemployment is roughly 8-11%, so plan on remote work if you can.

• Test the fibre coverage at the exact address before you sign.

• Check the nearest airport and train station, and the current train timetable, since Cantabria has no high-speed link and its narrow-gauge rail has been disrupted.

• Ask the town hall which services stay open locally: school, bank, GP, pharmacy and bus routes. Rural areas are ageing and services are thin.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cantabria as cheap as Galicia and Asturias?

No. Cantabria is around or slightly above the national average, mainly because of its coast. Santander is the priciest city here, at roughly €2,800-€3,200/m² to buy. Galicia's inland cities Ourense and Lugo are far cheaper, at roughly €1,100-€1,400/m².

Can I get work there if I don't speak Spanish?

Local jobs are limited for non-Spanish speakers, and wages are below the national average, at around €26,000-€29,000 a year in Galicia and Asturias. Remote work is the main option.

What happens to services in a depopulated village?

Expect school closures and merged classes, fewer bus routes and fewer bank branches. GP and pharmacy hours get shorter, and hospital care can be far away. This is worst in inland Lugo and Ourense and in mountain Asturias.

How easy is it to travel to Madrid?

Galicia and Asturias have high-speed trains: Madrid to Santiago takes about 3h15-3h30, and Madrid to Oviedo or Gijón about the same. Cantabria has no high-speed link, so Madrid to Santander takes about 4h.