City · Castilla y León · All places
A solid, flat, well-run industrial city on the Castilian plateau, with good schools, cold winters and few tourists.
Valladolid is the largest city in Castilla y León and the seat of its regional government. It lies on the flat plateau by the river Pisuerga, an hour by high-speed train from Madrid, in the middle of wheat fields and vineyards. It has a historic centre with a grand main square, an important sculpture museum and a university that dates from the thirteenth century.
It is a practical, comfortable and unflashy city: wide streets, big parks, quality schools, a car industry and a calm pace of life. It does not have the allure of Salamanca or Segovia, and few visitors stop here, which is part of why prices and crowds are low.
The city has 302,614 residents (2025). Residents born abroad make up 12.2% (2025).
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Valladolid stands out for safety, prosperity and healthcare; it is weaker on connectivity. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €473 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Valladolid’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
Few residents come from English-speaking or northern European countries, so daily life runs in Spanish. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish.
Frosty nights are common. Many older Spanish flats are poorly insulated: ask about heating and the winter energy bill.
People born abroad are in work less often than people born in Spain across Castilla y León. Remote income or a job offer makes the move far easier.
Almost every home can get gigabit fibre, so working from home is not a gamble on the flat you pick.
Residents are older than in most of Spain: calmer streets, and fewer young people to share a flat or a night out with.
Roast suckling lamb, stews, pinchos at the bar and wines from Ribera del Duero and Rueda.
Orderly and unhurried, with the vermú hour before lunch.
Pincho bars around the Plaza Mayor and Calle Mayor, student bars in term time.
The centre is walkable, Parquesol and Huerta del Rey are family suburbs, Delicias is traditional and local.
Spanish with a clear Castilian accent, with little English spoken.
Holy Week with its carved processional figures, Seminci in October.
Polite and reserved at first, steady and loyal after.
Valladolid is polite, orderly and quietly proud. In the evening the centre fills with people taking the vermú around the Plaza Mayor and Calle Mayor, and the pincho bars of the old streets hold national competitions. The Campo Grande, a huge central park with peacocks and ducks, is the city's living room on Sunday afternoons.
Holy Week in Valladolid is solemn and famed for its wooden sculptures carried through the streets, many of them masterpieces held in the National Museum of Sculpture. In October, the International Film Week (Seminci) is the cultural highlight of the year. The Pisuerga riverside is used for walking and cycling, and the countryside around has wine villages, castles and pine forests.
Food is Castilian: roast suckling lamb, lechazo, soups, stews and wines from Ribera del Duero and Rueda. People speak what is considered a very clear Spanish, and are reserved at first. Students give the city extra energy in term time.
Valladolid was briefly the capital of Spain in the early seventeenth century, and it keeps palaces, convents and the house where Cervantes lived. Much of the city was rebuilt in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries around railways and factories. Car assembly, engines, tyres and food processing made it one of the industrial centres of inland Spain.
That mix explains its character: orderly, middle-class, working and academic. The plateau setting also explains the weather, with big temperature swings between seasons and between day and night. The regional government, a large university and the hospitals add stable public employment, and the city comes out strong on healthcare and strong on prosperity. Unemployment is 10.6% (2025), and adults with a university degree make up 52% (2024). Life expectancy is 84.1 years (2023).
The calm of the streets is part of the same story. Few tourists means few pickpockets, a settled population means few strangers, and the small city has a close-knit neighbourhood life. Recorded crime is 37.1 per 1,000 people (2024), and safety comes out strong.
Costs are moderate, because the city is flat and has room to build. Housing comes out above average against similar places. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €473 a month (2024), and buying costs €1,946 per square metre (Q2 2026). The city is flat and compact, and the average commute is 43 min (2021).
Figures for Valladolid itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Valladolid data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Safety is strong: in the top 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Recorded crime: 37.1 per 1,000 people — better than 90% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 80 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesValladolid · 2025 | 0.00 per 100k people | better than 78% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeValladolid · 2024 | 37.1 per 1,000 people | better than 90% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesValladolid · 2025 | 43.6 per 100k people | better than 89% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesValladolid · 2025 | 102 per 100k people | better than 57% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesValladolid · 2024 | 0.34 per 1,000 people | better than 70% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsValladolid · 2025 | 898 per 100k people | better than 73% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsValladolid · 2025 | 23.5 per 100k people | better than 87% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 17,380 € a year per person — better than 79% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 79 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 personValladolid · 2024 | 17,380 € a year per person | better than 79% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 84.1 years — better than 78% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyValladolid · 2023 | 84.1 years | better than 78% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Digital is strong: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Homes that can get gigabit internet: 99.8% — better than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 76 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 internetValladolid · 2025 | 99.8% | better than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorValladolid · 2025 | 99.7% | better than 87% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageValladolid · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 40% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Rent growth a year, over 3 years: 4.25% — better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 62 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Valladolid · 2024 | 6.76 €/m² a month | better than 66% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearValladolid · 2024 | 3.00% | better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Valladolid · 2026-Q2 | 1,946 €/m² | better than 66% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsValladolid · 2024 | 4.25% | better than 71% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearValladolid · 2026-Q2 | 17.3% | better than 26% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Jobs is around the middle: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment, change in a year: -1.39 points — better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 57 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentValladolid · 2025 | 10.6% | better than 50% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearValladolid · 2025 | -1.39 points | better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Transport is around the middle: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Commute by car: 52.0% — better than 82% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 54 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)Valladolid · 2021 | 42.7 minutes | better than 26% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carValladolid · 2021 | 52.0% | better than 82% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportValladolid · 2021 | 14.9% | better than 59% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is around the middle: better than most major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 92.9 days a year — better than 70% of major European cities
Average: 53 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)Valladolid · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 92.9 days a year | better than 70% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CValladolid · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 14.0 days a year | better than 19% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CValladolid · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 3.60 nights a year | better than 54% of major European cities |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 161 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 airportValladolid · 2026-10-21 | 161 km | better than 0% of major European cities |
| Airport passengersValladolid · 2025 | 0.09 million passengers a year | better than 0% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for Valladolid yet
Highs around 32° in July, lows around 0° in January. 93 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C).
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.4°C | 0.2°C | 40 mm |
| February | 12.0°C | 1.3°C | 31 mm |
| March | 14.5°C | 2.6°C | 40 mm |
| April | 17.8°C | 5.0°C | 53 mm |
| May | 22.4°C | 8.4°C | 33 mm |
| June | 27.3°C | 12.6°C | 39 mm |
| July | 31.8°C | 15.1°C | 13 mm |
| August | 31.6°C | 15.2°C | 10 mm |
| September | 25.6°C | 11.9°C | 32 mm |
| October | 20.8°C | 8.9°C | 60 mm |
| November | 13.9°C | 4.4°C | 51 mm |
| December | 11.1°C | 2.2°C | 41 mm |
Valladolid has a continental climate: long, cold winters, with fog and frost; and warm, dry summers with cool evenings. Fog in winter can last for days, and flats need good heating. Frost days are 45 a year (2015–2024). Very hot days number 14 a year (2015–2024).
Rainfall is 443 mm a year (2015–2024). Pleasant days, mild and dry, number 93 a year (2015–2024). It is a year-round city for people used to cold winters; spring and autumn are lovely, and summer evenings are comfortable.
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67/100 · above average · 34th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
10.6% in 2025
17.3% in Q2 2026
€6.8 per m² a month in 2024
€1,947 per m² in Q2 2026
84.1 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Valladolid. 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.
Is Spain right for you, when to go, and how to try it before you commit.
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Budgeting the first year, banking, tax residency, income and social security.
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Routines, food, local customs, holidays, transport and getting around.
Scams, disputes, emergencies, your rights and where to get help.
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Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish cities. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
Good public schools, safe neighbourhoods, parks and larger homes. A very practical and comfortable city for children.
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
A pleasant, quiet life and good restaurants and wine. Little luxury infrastructure.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
A good value city with real services and a decent job market for its size.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
A large, well-known university and a friendly student life at low cost.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Holy Week sculpture, the film festival and Castilian food and wine. A modest scene.
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
A good hospital, safe streets and low costs, but a cold, foggy winter and a long way from the sea.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Decent jobs in industry, health, public sector and services, with a modest social scene. Many ambitious people go to Madrid.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Industrial and agri-food clusters, regional support and low operating costs. A small local market.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Low costs, quiet and a fast train to Madrid. Limited coworking and a small international community.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
Parks and river paths in the city; Gredos, the Picos de Europa and the Duero valley within reach. No sea, and cold winters.
Better nearby for beach, mountains and the outdoors: Zamora (45), Burgos (44), Palencia (44)
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 Valladolid as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Valladolid; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €496 a month
Compare with Valladolid70 m²: €447 a month
Compare with Valladolid70 m²: €403 a month
Compare with Valladolid70 m²: €394 a month
Compare with Valladolid70 m²: €350 a month
Compare with Valladolid70 m²: €414 a month
Compare with ValladolidGuide 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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