Living in Valencia vs Barcelona: Which Is The Best?
Living in Valencia vs Barcelona? It’s a common question among future expats.
Barcelona and Valencia are two of the largest cities in Spain. They both have incredible attractions, pleasant weather all year round and good transportation, so this will make you wonder which city is best for expats and digital nomads.
Although Barcelona is the most popular of the two, it’s worth considering Valencia because it’s an incredible city to visit, and especially to live in.
Whereas Barcelona has the best international atmosphere and things to do, Valencia is more budget-friendly and a better city for you if you prefer a more laid-back vibe.
If you aren’t sure which city you should pick, you’ll discover the main things you need to know about each city – from the cost of living and things to do to the expat community and safety – in this Valencia vs Barcelona guide.
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Cost of living
Barcelona
The cost of living in Spain varies from city to city, and it’s often a very important factor when you move abroad. This is why it is important to know that Barcelona is in Spain’s top 3 most expensive cities.
Whether you look at rent, food shopping or leisure, you’ll find higher prices in Barcelona than in many other Spanish destinations.
The cost of living in Barcelona is high, although this will also depend on the lifestyle you want to maintain.
If you want to live a comfortable lifestyle with plenty of leisure activities, the monthly costs can range from €2,000 to €2,500. This would cover rent for a decent apartment, utilities, transportation, food, and activities.
Of course, it’s possible to spend less money, especially if you’re willing to share an apartment or live in a less central location.
In general, despite Barcelona being an attractive choice for expats, if you’re moving to Spain on a budget, Barcelona may not be the best city for you.
Here are some examples of approximated prices:
- 1 bedroom apartment in the city centre: 1,025 €
- Monthly transport pass: 40.00 €
- A meal for two in an inexpensive restaurant: 30.00 €
Valencia
Valencia isn’t an expensive city to live in as an expat. In fact, it’s pretty affordable compared to Madrid and Barcelona.
The cost of living will, of course, depend on your lifestyle, but overall it’s possible to live comfortably on a budget in Valencia. You can easily live on €1.500 per month.
Here are some examples of approximated prices:
- 1 bedroom apartment in the city centre: 765.00 €
- Monthly transport pass: 31.00 €
- A meal for two in an inexpensive restaurant: 20.00 €
Which city has a cheaper cost of living? Valencia. According to Numbeo (2022), Barcelona is much more expensive than Valencia. For example, the rent in Barcelona is 21.14% higher than in Valencia, and restaurant prices in Barcelona are 20.50% higher than in Valencia.
Job opportunities
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second-best Spanish city to find job opportunities. The city is home to many multinational companies that are often looking for people from all over the world.
If you’re looking for a job in Barcelona, there are a number of resources available to help you find work in the city, including private companies that specialise in placement for expats.
Barcelona has also become a fantastic location to work remotely. Not only are there many digital nomads from anywhere but excellent coworking spaces where you can meet new people.
Valencia
Finding a job in Valencia isn’t easy, but not impossible either.
The main sectors in Valencia are tourism and hospitality, and therefore, many expats work in roles related to these sectors. Tourism in Valencia is incredibly high in summer, and this is the easiest time to be recruited.
Another common job among expats is teaching. You can become a foreign language teacher or a teacher assistant.
Alternatively, working remotely for an international company or yourself in Valencia is definitely one of the best options.
Which city has better job opportunities? Barcelona because it has more job opportunities for locals and expats.
University
Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is one of the best universities in Spain, and it’s the top-ranking for studying Science.
There are many good reasons to study at the University of Barcelona. For example, it’s a prestigious university with a wide range of studies, it has incredible facilities and student life, and it’s in the heart of the city, making it easy to access and explore all that Barcelona has to offer.
Although university fees can be high, many scholarships and financial aid opportunities are available to help students cover the expenses of their studies.
Valencia
The University of Valencia is one of the oldest universities in Spain, and it’s also in a good ranking position.
Some of the advantages of studying at the University of Valencia are the international atmosphere; you can opt for lessons given in English, the numerous courses and master’s degrees you can take, and the incredible sports facilities for students.
The main disadvantage of studying at this university is student accommodation isn’t always good.
As happens with the University of Barcelona, Valencia University also offers scholarships and financial help for students.
Which city has a better university? Barcelona. The University of Barcelona is higher in the ranking of the best universities in Europe.
Language
Barcelona
Barcelona has two official languages: Castellano (Castillian) and Catalan. Many locals speak Catalan between them, and some high school and university lessons are only taught in Catalan.
This can be a challenge for any expats. Not only will you need to learn Spanish, but Catalan too.
Valencia
As happens in Barcelona, Valencia also has two official languages: Castellano (Castillian) and Valenciano (Valencian), a language similar to Catalan.
Although locals will speak Valencian, you’ll hear more Castellano (Spanish) than Valenciano in the streets.
Which city is better for learning Spanish? Valencia is a better place to learn Spanish since Valenciano isn’t as spoken as Catalan is, and most jobs and education institutions won’t ask you to know Valencian as a requirement.
Activities and leisure
Barcelona
If you love visiting museums, historic buildings, parks and new restaurants, you can’t go wrong with choosing Barcelona as your home base.
La Sagrada Familia is the most emblematic building in the city. However, Barcelona is home to many other Gaudí landmarks like Park Güell, Casa Battló, and Casa Vicens, and interesting museums for all ages like Picasso Museum and Museu de la Xocolata (Barcelona Chocolate Museum).
There’s always something new to do in Barcelona. Whether you live for a few months or a year, you won’t get bored. You can discover new trendy restaurants and cafes, revisit attractions you may have skipped, attend a concert, and much more.
📌 If this is your first time in Barcelona, make sure to book your tickets for Sagrada Familia. It’s one of the most beautiful buildings in Spain. Get your tickets here.
Valencia
Although there’s a calmer atmosphere in Valencia, the city is home to beautiful attractions and museums.
The historic centre of Valencia is a gem, and it’s packed with historic buildings and monuments that tell you the history behind the city. It’s, in fact, one of the biggest historical centres in Europe and many civilisations have left a piece of them in this area.
La Lonja (The Silk Exchange), the Cathedral, Miguelete and Holy Grail and Serranos Towers are a few of the main attractions in the area.
In addition to this, Valencia is also home to Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, an impressive cultural and scientific complex.
📌 Interested in visiting Ciudad de las Artes de las Ciencias? Book your visit here.
Which city has better activities and leisure? Both have incredible historical landmarks and museums, but if you’re looking for a more vibrant and livelier atmosphere, Barcelona is your option.
Beaches
Barcelona
By living in Barcelona, you have the opportunity to head to the beach every day. You may want to skip swimming in winter, but you can enjoy a lovely walk on the paseo marítimo (beach promenade) on a sunny day.
Barcelona beaches aren’t the most beautiful in Spain; however, they’re accessible, clean and perfect for all ages.
There are a total of 9 beaches in Barcelona city, and the most popular beach is Barceloneta Beach, but there are other beaches which you might find less busy, like Nova Icària Beach.
Valencia
Valencia city is home to 8 beautiful beaches for all types of travellers.
Families can enjoy Playa de la Malvarrosa, which has a lovely promenade and plenty of beach amenities.
But if you’re looking for a livelier atmosphere, Playa de las Arenas is where you’ll find more water activities like parasailing and a good selection of restaurants and bars.
In winter, you can enjoy a walk or stop by a beach restaurant and have a delicious traditional paella with friends.
Which city has better beaches? Valencia has better beaches than Barcelona.
Expat community
Barcelona
Barcelona has an amazing expat community, and you will likely find all nationalities. The city has a very multicultural atmosphere, and this makes you feel at home from the moment you step in.
If you’re new in the city and you worry about making friends as an expat, there are many language exchanges and events to attend and meet people.
Valencia
The international presence in Valencia and its surroundings is very big. Many expats and digital nomads choose Valencia because of the sunny weather, more affordable prices than in other bigger cities and incredible landmarks.
Making friends in Valencia isn’t tricky, and there are many events for expats that take place throughout the year.
Although there’s a high number of expats living in Valencia city, many expats choose nearby locations like Alicante and Benidorm.
Which city has a better expat community? Valencia and Barcelona have a good expat community, but you’re likely to find more nationalities in Barcelona.
Sports (football)
Barcelona
Football is one of the most popular and beloved sports in Spain. But how does it differ in each city?
Barcelona players typically play football in a specific style called Tiki-Taka, or “touch-touch.” This means the players are using a specific passing technique that helps them keep control of the ball (and hopefully score more goals!)
Fútbol Club Barcelona (Barça) has always had fantastic players from around the world and has kept a great position in the Spanish league.
Historically, football in Barcelona has brought together the community with clubs like Barça and Espanyol. Blurring the lines between people’s backgrounds or social status – the love of the sport is one thing they could all agree on.
Valencia
Valencia is home to three first-division teams of La Liga Española: Villareal C.F., Valencia F.C. and Levante U.D.
Interestingly, it’s the fourth oldest football club and has won 4 different European trophies, which makes it a reputable football club too.
If you prefer to play football to watch football, Valencia has ideal weather! With over 300 sunny days a year, it is the perfect place to play a game with your friends.
Which city is best for football? Barcelona because it’s at the top of the league and has won 17 European and worldwide titles. The atmosphere is even better than the one in Valencia.
Transportation
Barcelona
Getting around Barcelona is very easy. The city has an excellent public transportation system that includes metros, buses, and trams. Although the underground is one of the most convenient ways to travel around Barcelona, the truth is that you can walk to many places if you’re based in the centre.
If you’d like to have a car in Barcelona, it might not be the best idea as there are many traffic jams, especially at peak hours.
There are a couple of airports in Barcelona, so it’s very easy to fly to from many international destinations. The most popular and nearest airport to the city is Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN).
Valencia
If you look for accommodation in the city centre, you’ll barely need to use public transport, and you definitely don’t need a car. Nevertheless, it’s good to know that Valencia is well-connected and transportation is good.
Valencia has underground as well as buses, and it has an airport too. Valencia Airport (VLC) is only 15 minutes from the city and offers many national and international flights.
Which city has better transportation? Barcelona because it has more transportation options and a bigger airport with more international destinations.
Weather
Barcelona
Barcelona has enjoyable weather all year round. It feels like it’s never too hot or too cold, which makes it an excellent city to move to.
In the summer, the temperatures can reach more than 30ºC (86ºF) and can get hot, as happens in many parts of Spain. However, the winters in Barcelona are mild, with an average temperature of about 10ºC (50ºF). Although it can get a bit cold at night, it’s usually sunny and warm during the day.
Regarding rainfall, Barcelona has approximately only 55 precipitation days a year.
Valencia
Valencia has a Mediterranean climate and enjoys mild winters and warm summers. The average temperature in winter is 17ºC (62,6ºF), whereas the average temperature in summer is 26ºC (78,8ºF).
It doesn’t rain much in Valencia, but the season which rains the most is autumn, and the wettest month is October.
Overall, Valencia has good weather all year round.
Which city has better weather? Valencia vs Barcelona weather is very similar.
Healthcare
Barcelona
In Barcelona, there are a number of public and private healthcare options available for expats.
Public healthcare in Spain is free for residents, including expats with a valid residency permit. You’ll need to register with the Social Security system (Seguridad Social) to be eligible for public healthcare.
If you prefer private healthcare, you’ll also find hospitals and clinics that offer private healthcare in Barcelona.
Although public healthcare can be good, it might not be the best option if you have a health condition. Doctor appointments, especially with a specialist doctor, do often take time, and this is why some locals opt for private healthcare too.
Valencia
The healthcare system in Valencia works the same as in Catalonia and the rest of Spain.
You can choose public healthcare, which is free, or private healthcare, as there are many clinics and hospitals which offer this option too.
Which city has better healthcare? Healthcare is pretty much the same in both cities.
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Safety
Barcelona
Barcelona is a safe city for families and expats. While there’s always the potential for petty crime, such as pickpocketing, violent crime is relatively rare.
You’ll see a strong police presence near attractions and many parts of the city centre. However, it’s always good to be aware of your surroundings and not leave your belongings unattended.
If you want to be extra safe, I recommend staying away from big protests or marches and any other crowded events.
Valencia
Despite being a big city, Valencia is a very safe city. The crime rate is very low, and there are fewer cases of petty crimes such as pickpocketing. The atmosphere is relaxed in the city, and you’ll feel safe even in the evening.
Which city is the safest? Valencia. Barcelona registers more crimes than Valencia. This is because of pickpocketing and protests.
Walkability
Barcelona
Barcelona is a big city, but it’s very walkable. In fact, walking in Barcelona is an experience because you get to contemplate the beautiful architecture and streets you’ll miss when using public transport.
If it’s your first time in Barcelona, opt for exploring the city on foot. You can also book a free walking tour with a local guide to tell you all the secrets behind the city.
Although Barcelona is walkable, in some cases, you may want to use the underground. For example, if you’re going to travel from Las Ramblas to Park Güell as it’ll take you a minimum of 1 hour.
Valencia
Valencia is a fantastic city to explore on foot. Most attractions are in the historic centre of Valencia (Ciutat Vella), so you won’t spend much time walking from attraction to attraction, and you can plan to visit them in a day.
But even if you want to visit attractions outside the historic centre, to go from the historic centre to Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is only a 35 minute walk.
The city is well-connected, with a network of pedestrian-friendly streets and squares. This makes it easy to get around and enjoy all that Valencia has to offer.
The only time you may need to use public transport is if you want to go to the beach, the university area or somewhere on the outskirts.
Which city is more walkable? Valencia is more walkable than Barcelona. It’s smaller and more compact.
Holidays
Barcelona
Barcelona has many traditional holidays and events. Each celebration has its own unique history and traditions that make them special to the city.
These are the most popular events in Barcelona:
Sant Jordi. Barcelona celebrates the patron saint of Catalonia, Sant Jordi, on April 23rd, and. On this day, locals give a book or rose to their loved ones. Also, many bookstores and flower shops set up stalls in the streets, and the atmosphere is amazing.
Diada de Sant Joan (Noche de San Juan in Spanish). It’s a traditional event that is celebrated in Barcelona as well as in other parts of Spain. It’s on the 24th of June, and on this day, you can see the locals light bonfires and stay up all night to watch the sunrise.
La Mercè. It’s one of the most important holidays in Barcelona, and this event has been going on since 1871. It takes place every year on the 24th of September and celebrates the city’s patron saint, the Virgin of Mercy. The holiday usually lasts 5 days and includes a large parade with floats and dancers, as well as many other cultural activities.
Festa Major de Gràcia. This is a festival held in the neighbourhood of Gracia every year in the middle of August. It’s one of the best festivals in Barcelona, except for the neighbours who will have to deal with the noise. If you attend this festival, expect bright and colourful street decor of cartoon characters and more, live music and food stalls with delicious Catalan pastries.
Valencia
Valencia also has amazing events you need to add to your list. These events are unique and great experiences.
These are the most popular events in Valencia and its surroundings:
Las Fallas. This is the biggest and most well-known event in Valencia, which has even been recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage event by UNESCO. The celebration lasts more than 15 days (generally from the 1st to the 19th of March), and you can expect fireworks, large sculptures known as ninots made of wood, textile or cardboard, and much more.
La Tomatina. If your plan is to move to Valencia, you might want to attend La Tomatina, which is celebrated in the town of Buñol, 30 minute drive from Valencia. This is the famous tomato festival in which people throw tomatoes at each other. La Tomatina is celebrated on the last Wednesday in August.
Las fiestas de Moros y Cristianos. These are traditional events celebrated in different parts of the Valencian Community. They commemorate the battles between the Moors and Christians in the Iberian Peninsula. Expect parades of people with customs from those times, live music and a great atmosphere. It’s an exciting and unique event to attend if you love immersing yourself in history.
Which city has better holidays and events? There isn’t only one correct answer for this one. Valencia and Barcelona have very unique events, and most of them you won’t be able to experience in other parts of Spain.
Frequently asked questions about living in Valencia vs Barcelona
Is it expensive to live in Barcelona?
Barcelona is one of the most expensive places to live in Spain. If you’re moving to Spain on a budget, it’s better to consider places like Valencia, Malaga and Seville.
Is Valencia good for expats?
Yes, Valencia is a fantastic destination for expats. Its sunny weather, beautiful attractions, delicious food and beaches make it a top choice place to live in Spain.
Conclusion on Barcelona vs Valencia
Both Spanish cities are incredible places to move to, and your decision will depend on lifestyle, budget and preferences.
Living in Barcelona is the best option if you want the feeling of a cosmopolitan city. However, if you prefer a calmer and more budget-friendly place to live, still with good attractions and leisure, Valencia is for you.
Other fantastic cities for expats include Malaga, Alicante and Seville.
If you have any questions about living in Valencia vs Barcelona, email me. I’ll be happy to help you!
Cristina
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⭐ Mini Guide to Living Abroad
Should I get expat travel insurance?
ABSOLUTELY! — For your peace of mind, get your expat travel insurance with SafetyWing!
How do I get a job in Spain as an expat?
You can find work in Spain via job boards, word of mouth, or agencies. If you plan to work remotely, look for jobs on websites like FlexJobs.com. They offer 100% remote roles.
What’s the best way to open a bank account in Spain?
I’ve been using La Caixa Bank for many years. However, I love visiting other countries and spending some time there. So I found Wise, which offers free global accounts. It’s super convenient, and you won’t have to open accounts everywhere you move! You’re also guaranteed the cheapest money transfers.
How do you make friends in Spain?
I highly recommend using Facebook to connect with people. There are many Facebook Groups for expats in each city. Also, you can use Meetup.com. It’s free to join, and you can meet people who share a similar hobby as you!
What’s the best way to learn Spanish?
Go to language exchanges, use apps like Duolingo or sign up for online lessons in Preply. They’ll help you learn some Spanish before moving.
