City · Cantabria · All places
A graceful seaside capital on a wide bay, with cool summers, a lively seafront and a small comfortable scale.
Santander is the capital of Cantabria, built on a broad bay on the northern coast of Spain. A long city beach, El Sardinero, and a series of smaller beaches line the coast on one side, while the old harbour and a modern waterfront face the bay on the other. Green hills close in behind.
It is a calm, well-kept city with a seaside holiday tradition and a comfortable middle-class population. People often name it as a place they would like to live: safe, walkable, scenic, with enough of everything and cool in summer. It is quiet in winter and has a small job market. The city has 175,425 residents (2025).
It suits families and retirees who like the Atlantic, and people who want to be outside in mild weather. It suits young people looking for a big social circle much less.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Santander stands out for prosperity, digital and transport; it is weaker on connectivity. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €580 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Santander’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.
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 (Cantabria-wide figure). Many residents add private health insurance.
Residents are older than in most of Spain: calmer streets, and fewer young people to share a flat or a night out with.
Anchovies from the Cantabrian coast, fried squid rings, mussels, cocido montañés and sobaos and quesada pastries.
Relaxed and routine-loving, with long walks along the waterfront and quiet winters.
Bars in the old streets near the port and around Cañadío, with a modest scene at other times of the year.
The centre faces the bay, El Sardinero is the upmarket beach district and Cazoña and Peñacastillo are the ordinary residential areas.
Spanish only, with a soft Cantabrian accent.
The International Festival of Santander in August, the Semana Grande in July and the Santiago fiestas.
Beaches and surf at Somo across the bay, coastal cliffs and the Picos de Europa within reach.
Santander is polished and relaxed. The seafront at El Sardinero is where everyone goes, to walk, swim, surf and drink. The Magdalena Peninsula, with the former royal summer palace, is a big public park, and the city's modern face is the Centro Botín, a waterfront arts centre that sits on pillars over the bay.
People are polite, discreet and fond of routine. A summer day involves a swim, a long lunch of seafood and an evening walk. The International Festival of Santander in August brings classical music and dance, and a small boat ferries people across the bay to Somo for surf. Winters are quieter, with the old streets near the port and the area of Cañadío keeping a modest, friendly nightlife.
Weekends are for the mountains and the coast, and for football. The streets are clean, the pavements wide and the pace unhurried, and visitors are mostly Spanish rather than foreign.
Santander was a port and trading town for centuries, exporting wool and flour to northern Europe. In the late nineteenth century the royal family began to spend summers on the coast, and the city built seafront palaces, a casino and a grand promenade. In 1941 a fire destroyed much of the old centre, which was rebuilt in a plain style, giving the city a more modern look than other historic ports.
The economy is based on services, banking, public administration, the port and a ferry link to England. A large bank was founded here and made the city's name known worldwide. The University of Cantabria, particularly strong in engineering, and the summer courses of an international university at the Magdalena palace add a young and academic layer. A famous public hospital is the main healthcare centre for the whole region.
The numbers reflect a comfortable, ageing city. Household income per person is €17,492 a year (2024), and prosperity comes out strong. Median age is 52.4 years (2025), and seniors make up 27.5% (2025). Unemployment is 8.0% (2025.
Life expectancy is 83.9 years (2023), and healthcare comes out above average. Safety comes out above average, with recorded crime at 45.5 per 1,000 people (2024).
Housing is moderate for a coastal capital. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €580 a month (2024), and buying costs €2,662 per square metre (Q2 2026). Housing comes out average.
Figures for Santander itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Santander data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Prosperity is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 17,492 € a year per person — better than 81% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 81 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 personSantander · 2024 | 17,492 € a year per person | better than 81% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Digital is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Homes with fibre to the door: 100.0% — better than 100% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 77 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 internetSantander · 2025 | 98.2% | better than 49% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorSantander · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 100% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageSantander · 2025 | 100% | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Transport is above average: in the top 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Average commute (one way): 32.9 minutes — better than 86% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 74 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)Santander · 2021 | 32.9 minutes | better than 86% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carSantander · 2021 | 56.3% | better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportSantander · 2021 | 16.0% | better than 65% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is above average: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 83.9 years — better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 71 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancySantander · 2023 | 83.9 years | better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is above average: in the top quarter of major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 107 days a year — better than 81% of major European cities
Above average: 67 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)Santander · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 107 days a year | better than 81% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CSantander · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 0.20 days a year | better than 69% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CSantander · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 11.9 nights a year | better than 38% of major European cities |
Safety is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Sexual offences: 0.29 per 1,000 people — better than 81% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 67 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesSantander · 2025 | 0.00 per 100k people | better than 78% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeSantander · 2024 | 45.5 per 1,000 people | better than 64% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesSantander · 2025 | 64.4 per 100k people | better than 70% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesSantander · 2025 | 124 per 100k people | better than 43% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesSantander · 2024 | 0.29 per 1,000 people | better than 81% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsSantander · 2025 | 1,275 per 100k people | better than 40% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsSantander · 2025 | 39.9 per 100k people | better than 66% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Jobs is above average: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment: 8.04% — better than 83% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 63 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentSantander · 2025 | 8.04% | better than 83% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearSantander · 2025 | -0.66 points | better than 33% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Buying price per m²: 2,662 €/m² — worse than 61% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 47 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Santander · 2024 | 8.28 €/m² a month | better than 43% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearSantander · 2024 | 3.30% | better than 49% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Santander · 2026-Q2 | 2,662 €/m² | better than 39% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsSantander · 2024 | 4.67% | better than 51% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearSantander · 2026-Q2 | 14.2% | better than 52% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 76.7 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 airportSantander · 2026-10-21 | 76.7 km | better than 0% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for Santander yet
Highs around 24° in August, lows around 8° in January. 107 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C).
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.8°C | 8.1°C | 162 mm |
| February | 12.6°C | 8.3°C | 128 mm |
| March | 13.6°C | 8.9°C | 105 mm |
| April | 15.2°C | 10.3°C | 73 mm |
| May | 17.6°C | 12.8°C | 62 mm |
| June | 20.7°C | 15.7°C | 72 mm |
| July | 23.2°C | 18.1°C | 39 mm |
| August | 24.3°C | 18.8°C | 42 mm |
| September | 22.3°C | 17.3°C | 84 mm |
| October | 19.9°C | 14.8°C | 109 mm |
| November | 15.7°C | 11.5°C | 173 mm |
| December | 13.8°C | 9.7°C | 148 mm |
Santander has a mild, humid Atlantic climate. Summers are cool to warm, with sea breezes, and very hot days number only 0 a year (2015–2024). Winters are mild but wet and windy, with a lot of cloud and no frost: 0 a year (2015–2024).
Rain falls on 155 a year (2015–2024), and the city gets 1,195 mm a year (2015–2024). Pleasant days, mild and dry, number 107 a year (2015–2024). It is a summer city, with its best weather from June to September, and the rest of the year is calmer and greyer. The sea is never warm, but the bay is sheltered and people swim from June, and in winter the big Atlantic storms arrive with strong wind and rain.
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49/100 · average · 71st of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
8.0% in 2025
14.2% in Q2 2026
€8.3 per m² a month in 2024
€2,662 per m² in Q2 2026
83.9 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Santander. 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.
A festival, an arts centre, architecture and seafood, in a city with a modest scene.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
A small job market in banking, services and public administration, with many young people leaving.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Cool summers, safe streets, strong healthcare and a friendly seafront, but rain and a quiet winter.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Beaches, parks and good schools in a safe, compact city, though jobs for two parents are limited.
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Elegant seafront homes in El Sardinero, a safe city and a good restaurant scene, with a discreet wealth culture.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
A well-regarded university and a famous summer university, with a modest night life.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
A supportive regional government and a loyal market, but a small one and a far-off airport.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Moderate costs for a coastal capital, with strong public services, but salaries are modest.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
Quiet, pleasant and well connected by fibre, but with a small community and a distant main airport.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
Surfing, sailing, hiking in the Cantabrian mountains and the Picos de Europa within reach, with rain as the price.
Better nearby for beach, mountains and the outdoors: Torrelavega (59)
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 Santander as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Santander; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €439 a month
Compare with SantanderGuide 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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