The honest starting question isn’t “which town is nicest” — it’s what do you need within thirty minutes? An airport for UK trips. A hospital. An international school, or a state one. A walkable centre if you’d rather not drive everywhere.
Answer that and the list shortens quickly. Here’s how the main options actually compare.
Costa del Sol — the established choice
Málaga, Marbella, Fuengirola, Mijas, Estepona
The largest British community in Spain, and the best-connected: Málaga airport has year-round direct flights to most UK cities, which matters more than people expect when family visits and hospital appointments enter the picture.
Everything is set up for English-speaking residents — that’s either the appeal or the drawback, depending on why you’re moving. Property is dearer than the Costa Blanca, and Marbella and its urbanisations are dearer again.
Suits: retirees, families wanting flight connections, anyone who wants a soft landing. Removals to the Costa del Sol →
Costa Blanca — the value option
Alicante, Torrevieja, Jávea, Dénia, Benidorm, Moraira
Lower property and living costs than the Costa del Sol, a very large British and northern-European population, and Alicante airport for connections. The coast splits in character: the north (Jávea, Moraira, Dénia) is greener, hillier and pricier; the south (Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa) is flatter, cheaper and more built-up.
Suits: budget-conscious retirees, second-home owners, anyone who wants a big expat community without Marbella prices. Removals to the Costa Blanca →
Valencia — the middle ground
Spain’s third city, with a beach, a walkable centre, one of Europe’s better cycling networks, and rents well below Madrid or Barcelona. It has become the default answer for remote workers who wanted a city but not a capital-city budget.
Smaller English-speaking community than the costas, which cuts both ways — better for integration, harder if you don’t speak Spanish.
Suits: remote workers, younger families, city life without the price. Removals to Valencia →
Madrid — for work
If your move is job-driven, it’s usually Madrid. The biggest employment market, excellent transport, superb food, and no beach. Summers are fierce and winters are genuinely cold — it sits at 650m on a plateau, which surprises people expecting Mediterranean weather.
Rentals are frequently part-furnished, so moves here are smaller than people plan for.
Suits: employment relocations, city people, anyone who doesn’t need the coast. Removals to Madrid →
Barcelona — city and sea
The one place that offers a major city and a beach, with mountains an hour away. It’s also the closest Spanish city to the UK by road, which makes moving here cheaper and quicker than anywhere else on this list.
The trade-offs: high rents, a competitive rental market, and Catalan alongside Spanish in schools and administration.
Suits: people who want a big city with a coastline and can absorb the cost. Removals to Barcelona →
The islands
Balearics (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza) and Canaries (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote).
Mallorca has a substantial year-round British community and good flight links — our Moving to Mallorca guide → covers the island in detail. The Canaries offer genuine winter warmth — the reason a lot of people go — plus a distinct tax regime worth understanding before you commit.
Practical caveat: everything arrives by sea or air, so removals cost more and take longer, and there’s less choice of everything. Island moves are quoted on request — see removals to the Balearics → and removals to the Canary Islands →.
Comparing the trade-offs
| Cost | UK flights | English widely spoken | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa del Sol | ££££ | Excellent | Yes | Retirement, families |
| Costa Blanca | ££ | Good | Yes | Value, second homes |
| Valencia | ££ | Good | Some | Remote work, city life |
| Madrid | £££ | Excellent | Some | Employment |
| Barcelona | ££££ | Excellent | Some | City + coast |
| Islands | £££ | Seasonal/good | Varies | Winter sun, escape |
Three things people wish they’d weighed
- Winter. Visit in February before committing. Coastal resorts empty out, and some of what you liked in August is closed.
- Healthcare distance. Fine until it isn’t. Check where the nearest hospital is, not just the nearest clinic.
- Whether you’ll drive. Inland villages are cheaper and lovelier, and unlivable without a car once you’d rather not drive at night.
Whichever way you lean, rent for six to twelve months first — the single best piece of advice on this page, and the one most often ignored. See the mistakes guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to live in Spain for British expats? The Costa del Sol has the largest British community and the best flight links; the Costa Blanca offers similar community at lower cost; Valencia suits remote workers wanting city life affordably.
Where is the cheapest place to live in Spain? Inland and the southern Costa Blanca — Torrevieja and the Orihuela Costa — are consistently cheaper than the Costa del Sol or the major cities.
Which part of Spain has the most British residents? Alicante province and Málaga province, by a wide margin, followed by the Balearics.
Is Valencia better than Barcelona or Madrid? It’s cheaper than both, with a beach and a walkable centre, but with a smaller job market and a smaller English-speaking community.
Should I live on the coast or inland? Inland is cheaper and quieter but usually requires a car. Coastal towns have more services, more English spoken and higher prices.
Do I have to decide before I move? No — and it’s better if you don’t. Rent for six to twelve months in the area you think you want before buying anything.