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Date Published: 09/08/2022

ARCHIVED - Top 15 Spanish cities that offer the best quality of life

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Three Andalucian cities feature in the list compiled by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU)

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Top 15 Spanish cities that offer the best quality of life

Hundreds of thousands of expats have packed up and started a new life in Spain over the years, drawn by the climate, cuisine and relaxed culture.

However, this just scratches the surface. There is much more to take into account when looking for a new location to set up home, including mobility, health and education services, public safety, the labour market, the cost of living, environmental care, pollution and urban cleanliness.

To determine which Spanish cities offer the best of all these criteria, the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) surveyed almost 3,000 people in Spain's most populated locations in 2021 and has put together a list of the top 15 that offer the best quality of life.

Unsurprisingly, the pandemic had a detrimental affect on living conditions everywhere but, despite movement and social restrictions, the average quality of life was around 64 points out of 100.

Here is the OCU's top 15 Spanish cities in terms of life quality:

1. Vigo on the northwest coast is home to 293,837 people (as of 2021), and those surveyed praised the personal safety, cleanliness, education and care for the environment, as well as the abundance of leisure facilities for families with children. The city received 70 points.

2. Zaragoza is the capital of Aragon, one of the autonomous communities in northeastern Spain, and has 675,301 inhabitants. In the study, highlights include mobility, the real estate market, health services and the city's cultural offerings. Zaragoza received 69 points.

3. Bilbao. With a population of 346,405, Bilbao in northern Spain obtained 69 points for aspects such as mobility, environmental issues and health care, as well as culture, sports and leisure.

4. Valladolid is the only city in Castilla y León to make it into this ranking. It has 97,775 inhabitants and the only reason it is not higher is because its inhabitants highlighted "issues" with the real estate market and supply of affordable houding. Those surveyed gave Valladolid 68 points.

5. Cordoba tied with Valladolid on points, and is one of three Andalusian cities to make the top 15. Its inhabitants value above all the mobility they have, which allows them to get around on foot or use public transport without any problem.

6. Malaga is the second city in Andalusia to make the grade in terms of quality of life and has a population of 577,405. Those surveyed claim it's one of the best places in the world to live and work because of the cost of living, the digital infrastructures, the environment, the climate and the leisure offering. It received 66 points.

7. Valencia This city has 789,744 inhabitants and makes the top 15 for its care of the environment, its green spaces, low pollution, the supply of the real estate market and employment. Valencia city received 65 points.

8. Gijón.The coastal city in the north of Spain is home to 272,202 inhabitants who rate highly its public safety, waste management, cleanliness, as well as the general cost of living. (65 points)

9. Alicante. The second city in the Valencia region to appear on the list, Alicante has a population of 337,304, and whilst it rates well for mobility and standard of living, it didn't score so highly for cleanliness. In addition, the price of housing is more affordable in Valencia than in the city of Alicante. (64 points).

10. Sevilla is the third Andalusian city in the ranking. It has 684,234 inhabitants, and its leisure activities, nightlife and the sociability of its people stand out, as well as its gastronomy and climate. (63 points).

11. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has a population of 378,675 and ranks so low in relation to other cities because of the high cost of living according to those surveyed, as well as employment opportunities. (63 points).

12. Murcia Capital of the municipality and of the Region of Murcia, Murcia city has 460,349 inhabitants and lost points over intercity mobility issues. (61 points).

13. Palma is home to 419,366 people and lost scores over issues such as education and public safety, in addition to mobility problems. (57 points).

14. Barcelona. With a population of 1,636,732 inhabitants, study participants deducted points in the categories of cost of living and pollution, scoring 56 points.

15. Madrid. Spain's capital and home to 3,305,408 people received just 55 points due to property market prices, the high cost of living, pollution and urban cleanliness.

Image 1, 2 and 4: Wikimedia Commons

Image 3: Ayuntamiento de Murcia

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