Question
For those that relocated to Valencia. I’m curious why you chose this city over other parts of Spain? I’m thinking about madrid and Barcelona. I’m from NYC and used to having alot of things to do.
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
“I moved to Valencia a year ago…at least half cheaper for real estate in VLc compared to Barcelona and Madrid. The biggest feature for me was so many less tourists in Valencia but such a rich cultural experience with so much to do. The weather is perfect…very little rain and much cooler than Madrid in the summer. They speak mostly Spanish in Valencia unlike Barcelonas Catalan. And I love the 9km park called the Turia.”
“I’m also from NYC, born and raised. I like Valencia because it’s a much more manageable, less stressful, and affordable city. Love being able to easily walk everywhere but admittedly I really miss the food and music/culture options in New York. Also miss the random banter and conversations with strangers! Not to say there aren’t food, music, and culture options here – there are, you just need to find them.”
“Madrid is inland. It’s another big city and it’s far from the beach. Plus it’s mega-hot in summer.
Barcelona is north so much colder in winter. It’s also very touristy and more expensive. It has the highest crime rate in Spain because of the tourists drawing criminals and scammers. Plus there’s that whole separatist vibe that can leave “outsiders” not feeling as welcome.
Valencia is north enough to still be green and beautiful but farther south to be warmer in winter. It’s on the gorgeous Mediterranean. It isn’t a major tourist destination so the population doesn’t rise and fall with the season. It’s much less expensive than either Madrid or Barcelona. It has plenty of its own charm and character, is still mostly a Spanish city but has a decent expat population, and is friendly and welcoming to those who move. There’s plenty to do in Valencia — festivals, concerts, theatre, parades, and more all the time. IMHO Valencia is the “sweet spot”.”
“My wife and I are also struggling with which city to move to. We lived in NYC for many years and love that city. For me, Barcelona feels much more like NYC than Valencia. My wife likes the size of Valencia though, and it’s slower pace of living. I prefer Barcelona because it feels more like New York. But I think Valencia might get my wife to move to Spain, so I’m happy to live there. Plus, we already have friends in Valencia. Malaga is also very sweet, if you’re comfortable with much smaller city living.”
“Valencia is the most beautiful city in Spain, due to its phenomenal climate, the winter is warmer and the summer cooler than in Madrid, it has excellent beaches in the city and its surroundings, beautiful and numerous parks, property prices are much lower than in Barcelona and Madrid, excellent public transport and the city is medium in size and well connected by train to larger cities.”
“we moved to Valencia last Sept and I can fully relate to what Boris highlighted. Our 1st choice was Barcelona initially, and spent there 2 months the year before, but once there, we didn’t enjoy it that much (from the reasons mentioned by several, plus we have small children and is not that child friendly, no green areas etc). We accidentally stumbled upon Valencia, spent here 3 days and we decided to move in. Beach + Child friendliness + bikeable (super flat+cycling lanes across the ciy) + perfect size + green + uniquness of Turia park (park made in a riverbed) + more affortable pricing”
“Valencia has many more green spaces and the beach. Madrid is too big, the center of the national government, and dominated by buildings and concrete. Valencia still maintains its charm, and people are much more polite and civil. In Madrid, people seem pushier, oblivious of the term “right of way,” and generally seem less content. Valencia is a great balance of all things good and less of anything bad. Barcelona’s too busy and seems to love itself enough for all of us. All three cities are cool and unique in the own ways, but València will be my choice when I move to Spain next year.”
“Also from NYC. Chose Valencia because it feels more Spanish. I wanted to immerse my self in the culture. I just got back from 4 days in Barclelona and did not have to speak Spanish once! Also the weather.”
“We chose Madrid because we wanted to have the excitement and options of the biggest city. We live in Salamanca barrio and it’s got lots of trees and green spaces. There are actually MANY residential neighborhoods with lots of green, so the claim above its all concrete is false.
We love Valencia but fear it would be too small for us.”
“Well Valencia is the 3rd biggest city in Spain after Madrid & Barcelona
Valencia is much nicer than either of the others IMHO although we love BCN it’s too busy and too expensive”
“Valencia no doubt ( in its own right ) Madrid is not on coast obviously – Barcelona has a different vibe – personally feels too touristy and intense – good luck”
In conclusion, the reasons why people chose Valencia over other cities in Spain varied from the affordability of real estate, less touristy environment, perfect weather, cultural richness, to green spaces, bikeable paths, and a slower pace of living. While some people preferred the bigger cities of Madrid and Barcelona for their excitement and options, others felt that Valencia had the right balance of everything good and less of anything bad, making it the sweet spot. Ultimately, the choice of city depended on individual preferences and needs, whether it be a preference for a more Spanish culture or a desire to immerse oneself in a diverse and cosmopolitan environment.
Bonus! Numbeo.com stats for cost of living comparison between Valencia Vs Barcelona Vs Madrid
| Comparison | Consumer Prices | Consumer Prices Including Rent | Rent Prices | Restaurant Prices | Groceries Prices | Local Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valencia vs Barcelona | 13.2% lower | 17.6% lower | 26.7% lower | 14.3% lower | 1.0% lower | 6.2% higher |
| Valencia vs Madrid | 8.2% lower | 13.5% lower | 24.1% lower | 5.6% lower | 0.4% higher | 6.0% lower |
In conclusion, Valencia seems to be a more affordable place to live in when compared to both Barcelona and Madrid. Consumer prices, rent prices, and restaurant prices are significantly lower in Valencia than in both cities. Additionally, local purchasing power in Valencia is higher than in Barcelona, although it is slightly lower than in Madrid. Groceries prices are comparable between Valencia and Madrid but slightly lower in Valencia than in Barcelona. Therefore, if affordability is a major consideration when choosing where to live, Valencia may be a good option to consider.
