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Date Published: 25/09/2023

Cartagena voted best-value place in Spain for foreigners to live

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The port city sailed to the top of the list of the cheapest and most desirable places in Spain to move to

Cartagena voted best-value place in Spain for foreigners to live

The celebrated city of Cartagena has risen above every other locale to be voted the best place in Spain for foreigners to move to. This is according to the Moving To Spain website, which, as its name suggests, specialises in advising expats on relocating.

For many younger singles and couples intent on living the dream in Spain, good value for money is often a deal-breaker, and this is one Cartagena’s biggest draws, according to the experts. For while employment opportunities might not be as abundant as in other regions, once expats do find a job, the cost of all other basic services costs 95.94 euros per month – a fraction of the price of the other top five cities in the rating.

It’s worth keeping in mind though that the number of job offers per 10,000 inhabitants is only 12, the second-lowest on the website’s list and surpassed only by Castellón, with a paltry 2 openings.

Santander, for example, has, according to the website, up to 68 job opportunities per 10,000, almost six times more than Cartagena.

For newly arrived foreigners who want to suss the area out before committing, renting rather than buying is usually a smart option. But leasing a house or apartment is far more popular than you might think, with around a quarter of households in Spain renting.

In Cartagena, the average price of a long-term let is just 525 euros per month. When you consider that the general salary comes in at 2,756 euros, that’s not a bad deal. Conversely, the average salary in Getafe (Madrid), which was voted the second best place in Spain for foreigners to reside, is a tasty 3,200 euros, but here a rental will set you back 625 euros.

Overall, Cartagena scored 6.76 points out of a possible 10, followed by Getafe (6.29) and Oviedo in Asturias (6.00). Murcia also appears on the list, occupying sixth position with a respectable score of 5.71.

Rounding out the top five are Castelló de la Plana (Castellon), with 5.91 points and Almeria in Andalucia, with 5.72.

In other news: Sacred fire extinguished as Cartagena Carthaginians and Romans festival 2023 comes to an end

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