GUIDE: Which of Spain's 17 regions is right for you?
Many foreigners dream of moving to Spain, but the big question is often where they should choose to live. This comprehensive guide will help you decide which of Spain's 17 autonomous communities is suited to you.
Spain is a vast and very diverse country with different cultures, languages, food, culture and climate – all of which can greatly affect your experience living here.
The Spain that you have in your mind may not be the Spain that you find when you get here – it all depends on which area will suit you best and what you want out of your life here.
So, to help you decide, we’ve put together an ultimate guide of all 17 regions and the pros and cons of living in each.
Andalusia
Perennial favourite Andalusia draws thousands of foreigners to its shores every year due to its well-established international communities, picture perfect villages and famed coastline. It’s home to some of the best cultural cities in Spain, but its interior suffers from intense heatwaves that make it almost unliveable, and you could fall into the trap of living in an international bubble.
Find out where in Andalusia should you choose to live.
Aragón
This landlocked region to the west of Catalonia is a land of contrasts. It's home to Spain's fourth most populous city, Zaragoza, but much of the rest of the territory is what qualifies as 'Empty Spain'. Aragón's nature, lack of overtourism, history, low cost of living and excellent transport links make it appealing an appealing choice for those looking to live in 'real Spain'.
Discover more about the pros and cons of living in Aragón and Zaragoza.
Asturias
Set along the north coast, nestled between Galicia and Cantabria, Asturias is increasingly getting higher on foreigners’ radars due to its natural green spaces, good quality of life and affordability. Despite its small size it has a unique culture, but transport links aren’t great, it’s often rainy and there are few job opportunities.
Could Asturias be your hidden gem in northern Spain?
Balearic Islands
There’s no denying and the beauty and the allure of living in the Balearics – Mediterranean jewels with a good dose of culture and nature. Like the Canaries though they suffer greatly from overtourism and have one of the highest costs of living in Spain.
Which Balearic island should you choose to live in?
Basque Country
The Basque Country is a different type of Spain that can be wet, windy and wild, but it offers some of the best cuisine in the country, stunning landscapes and fantastic cultural cities. Low levels of unemployment and high salaries make it a good place to work, but it’s expensive to live here and there's a different language to learn apart from Spanish - Euskera - if you truly want to integrate.
Discover all the pros and cons of living in the Basque Country.
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are thousands of miles from the mainland, but the archipelago is such a popular tourist destination that there are countless direct flights from Spain and numerous other European countries. Life here is slow paced and mellow with an almost perfect climate throughout the year, yet just like the Balearics they're increasingly suffering from overtourism, overpopulation and spiralling housing prices.
What to know before moving to the Canaries.
Cantabria
The coastal region of Cantabria in northern Spain offers a high quality of life at an affordable cost, plenty of access to amazing natural spaces and an excellent gastronomic scene. It lacks strong international communities and diversity, and the weather can often be cold and rainy, but if you’re looking for a traditional way of life and connection to the environment, it could be right for you.
Discover if living in Cantabria is the right decision for you.
Catalonia
People are mainly drawn to Catalonia because of its capital Barcelona, one of the most exciting and cultural cities in Europe. However, you should think hard before moving there so you know what it's all about, beyond the tourist appeal. The rest of the region offers a fantastic coastline, lots of nature, good connections up to France, but it’s a fiercely proud area with its own national identity and a different language to grapple with. The cost of living is also one of the highest in the country.
Find out what worries foreigners the most about life in Barcelona.
Castilla La-Mancha
Bang in the middle of the country, Castilla-La Mancha is loved for its fascinating culture, outdoorsy lifestyle, good connections to the capital and low cost of living. Its extreme weather of scorching summers, bitterly cold winters and lack of coastline can make it difficult though, as well as its underpopulated interior.
Find out if living in Castilla La-Mancha would suit you.
Castilla y León
Spain’s largest region, Castilla y León has a wide range of historic cities to choose from, all with affordable costs of living. Yet away from the main cities it suffers from depopulation and abandoned villages. Flying abroad involves travelling down to Madrid, which can take several hours, as does any trip to the coast. You can also expect weather extremes.
Discover where you should live in Castilla y León
Extremadura
Extremadura lies almost forgotten in the west of the country next to Portugal, one of the least populated regions with a very low cost of living. Move here for nature, natural parks and historic cities, but not for international community, connections, jobs or mild weather.
Interested? Here are the pros and cons of living in Exremadura.
Galicia
The northwestern region of Galicia is bordered by the wild Atlantic Ocean and in some ways has more in common with Portugal and Celtic countries than it does with Andalusia. It’s of the greenest places in the country, but this means it’s often the rainiest too. Despite this, Galicia offers a great quality of life and cultural cities at an affordable cost.
Read on to find out all the pros and cons of moving to Galicia.
La Rioja
One of the country’s smallest regions, La Rioja is known for its excellent gastronomy and wineries and low cost of living. Its strategic location is a plus, but drawbacks include limited transport links, lack of big cultural cities and few employment opportunities.
What is it like to live in La Rioja?
Madrid
The capital region is where it’s at in Spain in terms of job opportunities, high salaries, things to do and cultural diversity. It’s here where you’ll find some of the best transport links and lowest tax rates, but it can be expensive, and its sizzling summers can make it almost unbearable living so far from the coast. Thankfully, the rest of the year offers very pleasant weather, with crisp but sunny days during winter.
Find out if living in Madrid is for you.
Murcia
Southeastern Murcia is one of Spain’s other lesser-known regions, offering Mediterranean coastline, olive groves and traditional villages. Its people are generally friendly and welcoming, yet their accent can be difficult to understand. It suffers from very hot summers and high unemployment rates, but life here can be rewarding and easy to integrate into.
Read on to find more about living in Murcia.
Navarre
In between the Basque Country and France, Navarre is often overlooked despite its top quality of life, high salaries and employment opportunities mean it shouldn’t be. It boasts lots of natural spaces and champions sustainability as well as offering lots of history and culture. In many ways it feels more Basque than Spanish.
Is living in Navarre for you?
Valencia region
Valencia is another foreigner favourite, as it attracts millions to its vast Mediterranean coastline. It's popular with strong international communities and while some parts suffer from overtourism, it's big enough to include traditional towns and villages that are truly Valencian/Spanish. Add this to an excellent gastronomic scene and plenty of culture, and you'll soon understand why everyone loves la Comunitat Valenciana.
Discover if it's best to live in Alicante or Valencia.
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