City · Aragón · All places
Big-city services at mid-size prices, halfway between Madrid and Barcelona on the fast train.
Zaragoza is the capital of Aragón and one of the larger cities of Spain. It lies on the river Ebro on a wide, dry plain, almost exactly halfway between Madrid and Barcelona, and about an hour or two from the Pyrenees. The city is large, flat and functional, with a handsome old centre, a Moorish palace, a huge baroque basilica and long riverside parks.
It does not market itself, and it is not on most visitors' lists. For people who live here, that is part of the appeal: it is a practical big city whose economy is built on logistics, industry and services, with enough culture and nightlife for most people.
The city has 693,091 residents (2025). Residents born abroad make up 19.4% (2025).
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Zaragoza stands out for prosperity, healthcare and safety; it is weaker on connectivity. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €541 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Zaragoza’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
A large international and graduate population means English is common at work, in cafés and among neighbours. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
People born abroad are in work less often than people born in Spain across Aragón. 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.
Non-urgent surgery takes longer than in most of Spain (Aragón-wide figure). Many residents add private health insurance.
Tapas in El Tubo, roast lamb, borage and chard, and Somontano and Cariñena wines.
Orderly and local, with life on the street at weekends and in the evening after work.
El Tubo for tapas crawls, the university area for student bars, Delicias for neighbourhood spots.
The old quarter is lively, Delicias and San José are residential districts, Actur is modern.
Spanish is the everyday language, spoken with a direct, humorous local manner.
The Pilar fiestas in October, with giant figures, music and a flower offering to the Virgin.
Riverside parks, cycle lanes along the Ebro, the Pyrenees and the Moncayo massif within reach by car.
Zaragoza is a city of habits. Locals do the tapeo in the old quarter known as El Tubo, a tangle of lanes where each bar has its own specialty: mushrooms, fried baby squid, croquettes, cured meats and small glasses of Cariñena or Somontano wine. The cheerful, loud crowd fills the streets on weekends and after work.
The wide Ebro riverbanks are used for walking, cycling and rowing, and the city has a tram line, many cycle lanes and several large parks. People are direct, loyal and humorous, with a pronounced local pride. The Basilica of the Pilar sits on the river like a stage set, and the Aljafería palace is one of the best examples of Moorish architecture in the north.
In October, the Pilar festival fills the city with giant puppets, music and concerts and pilgrims in traditional dress. Food is hearty: roast lamb, borage and chard, migas, and sweet fruit in chocolate. The cierzo, a strong, dry wind from the north-west, defines the climate and the mood; locals say it can make you irritable.
Zaragoza was a Roman colony, then the capital of a Moorish kingdom, and later of the medieval kingdom of Aragón. Its location on the Ebro, where roads and railways from the Basque Country, Catalonia, Valencia and Madrid meet, has made it a crossroads for two thousand years.
That position is the basis of today's economy. A large logistics park, motorway and rail connections, a car assembly plant nearby and a university have given the city a base in distribution, manufacturing and services. The Expo of 2008 left new bridges, a pavilion district and a riverside park. Jobs come out average. Unemployment is 8.1% (2025), and adults with a university degree make up 50% (2024).
The city has room to spread out across the flat plain. Housing comes out average against similar places. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €541 a month (2024), and buying costs €2,240 per square metre (Q2 2026). The city is wide and flat, and the average commute is 45 min (2021).
Recorded crime is 41.0 per 1,000 people (2024), and the city comes out above average on safety.
Figures for Zaragoza itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Zaragoza 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: 17,199 € a year per person — better than 77% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Household income per personZaragoza · 2024 | 17,199 € a year per person | better than 77% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is above average: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 83.8 years — better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 68 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyZaragoza · 2023 | 83.8 years | better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Safety is above average: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Vehicle thefts: 23.1 per 100k people — better than 88% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 64 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesZaragoza · 2025 | 0.29 per 100k people | better than 56% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeZaragoza · 2024 | 41.0 per 1,000 people | better than 78% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesZaragoza · 2025 | 160 per 100k people | better than 23% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesZaragoza · 2025 | 85.0 per 100k people | better than 72% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesZaragoza · 2024 | 0.35 per 1,000 people | better than 66% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsZaragoza · 2025 | 1,203 per 100k people | better than 45% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsZaragoza · 2025 | 23.1 per 100k people | better than 88% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Transport is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Commute by car: 47.1% — better than 91% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Average commute (one way)Zaragoza · 2021 | 44.6 minutes | better than 18% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carZaragoza · 2021 | 47.1% | better than 91% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportZaragoza · 2021 | 23.5% | better than 87% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is around the middle: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
House prices, change in a year: 12.6% — better than 68% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 56 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Zaragoza · 2024 | 7.72 €/m² a month | better than 49% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearZaragoza · 2024 | 3.20% | better than 57% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Zaragoza · 2026-Q2 | 2,240 €/m² | better than 53% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsZaragoza · 2024 | 4.51% | better than 57% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearZaragoza · 2026-Q2 | 12.6% | better than 68% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Jobs is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment: 8.06% — better than 83% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 52 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentZaragoza · 2025 | 8.06% | better than 83% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearZaragoza · 2025 | 0.58 points | better than 7% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Digital is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
5G coverage: 100.0% — worse than 62% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 50 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 internetZaragoza · 2025 | 98.6% | better than 57% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorZaragoza · 2025 | 98.6% | better than 53% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageZaragoza · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 38% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is around the middle: around the middle of major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 102 days a year — better than 80% of major European cities
Average: 49 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)Zaragoza · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 102 days a year | better than 80% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CZaragoza · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 35.3 days a year | better than 4% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CZaragoza · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 21.3 nights a year | better than 31% of major European cities |
Connectivity is below average: in the bottom quarter of major European cities.
Airport passengers: 0.71 million passengers a year — worse than 99% of major European cities
Below average: 25 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 airportZaragoza · 2026-10-21 | 12.8 km | better than 45% of major European cities |
| Airport passengersZaragoza · 2025 | 0.71 million passengers a year | better than 1% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for Zaragoza yet
Highs around 35° in July, lows around 2° in January. 102 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C).
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.4°C | 2.2°C | 31 mm |
| February | 14.8°C | 3.3°C | 21 mm |
| March | 17.7°C | 5.1°C | 39 mm |
| April | 20.9°C | 7.3°C | 43 mm |
| May | 25.6°C | 11.2°C | 34 mm |
| June | 30.3°C | 15.6°C | 38 mm |
| July | 34.6°C | 18.3°C | 19 mm |
| August | 33.9°C | 18.6°C | 21 mm |
| September | 28.0°C | 14.8°C | 35 mm |
| October | 23.5°C | 11.3°C | 42 mm |
| November | 16.7°C | 6.5°C | 41 mm |
| December | 13.8°C | 4.1°C | 19 mm |
Zaragoza has a dry, continental climate. Summers are hot and sunny, with long afternoons best spent indoors, and winters are cold, sometimes foggy, with the cierzo adding a chill. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, and the wind is strongest in winter and spring. Very hot days number 35 a year (2015–2024). Frost days are 15 a year (2015–2024).
The city is quite dry, 381 mm a year (2015–2024). Pleasant days, mild and dry, number 102 a year (2015–2024). It is a year-round city for people who are fine with extremes.
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36/100 · below average · 99th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
8.1% in 2025
12.6% in Q2 2026
€7.7 per m² a month in 2024
€2,240 per m² in Q2 2026
83.8 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Zaragoza. 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.
Visas, residence permits, the route that fits you, and keeping your status.
Budgeting the first year, banking, tax residency, income and social security.
Employment, remote work, self-employment, running a business and your rights at work.
Choosing where to live, renting safely, buying, and settling into a home.
Public and private care, health cover, and insurance for your life in Spain.
Family, children, and education
Partners, children, schools, childcare and studying in Spain.
Paperwork, identity numbers, belongings, pets, utilities and the first weeks.
Learning Spanish, understanding local life and building a social circle.
Routines, food, local customs, holidays, transport and getting around.
Scams, disputes, emergencies, your rights and where to get help.
Long-term settlement and leaving
Staying for good, long-term residence and citizenship, retiring, or returning home.
You will know where Spanish rentals are found, what they cost, how to time and run a search, and how to judge a flat before you commit.
You will know whether you need an NIE, which route to take and how to handle its paperwork.
Finding your public healthcare route
You will know which route applies to your situation and what, if anything, you have to do to start it.
Becoming a Spanish tax resident
You will know whether and from when Spain taxes you as a resident, and how to keep the evidence to back your position.
School types and choosing a school
You will know which stage your child is in, what each school type means in Spain, and how to shortlist schools that fit your family's stay and goals.
You will have a step-by-step way to pick a barrio in Spain and the tools to test it before signing.
Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish cities. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
Larger flats around the Paseo de la Independencia and the Casco Histórico are the usual choice, with private clinics and dining in the centre. Luxury shopping is limited.
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Retirees tend to live in the central districts near the river, where walks are flat and shops are close. Winter fog, summer heat and the cierzo shape the daily routine.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Rivers and parks run through the city, and the Pyrenees are a drive away. The wind and heat shape summer sport.
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
Families often look at Actur, Valdespartera or the central districts, with the Ebro parks and Parque Grande for weekends. Many school runs are done by tram, bus or on foot.
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Younger people often share flats in the centre, Delicias or around the university, and head to El Tubo and the Plaza del Pilar area at weekends. Many work in logistics, industry, retail and public services.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Remote workers tend to settle in the centre or Delicias, using cafés and coworking spaces. The high-speed train makes trips to Madrid and Barcelona easy to plan.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
The University of Zaragoza has its main campus near the centre, and many students share flats in the nearby districts. The city is sociable and mostly Spanish-speaking.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
A fine old town, Goya, Mudéjar art, a lively tapas culture and the Pilar festival. The city is less visited than many Spanish cities.
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
Logistics and distribution firms cluster around the logistics park and the motorway and rail corridor. Founders often work from the centre or from business parks on the edge.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
Budget-minded movers often look at Delicias, San José and Las Fuentes, where daily life runs on neighbourhood bars and set lunches. A car is optional.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for budget-conscious movers: Huesca (70)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Zaragoza as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Zaragoza; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €467 a month
Compare with ZaragozaGuide 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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