Barcelona or Madrid – Which is the Best City to Move to?
The names of Madrid and Barcelona are synonymous, not just with Spain, but with football fans around the world. But footballing allegiances aside, which of the two is the better city to move to? Here the Moving Partnership, who supply competitive European moving quotes, try to provide some answers.
Getting There (and Getting Back)
Madrid airport, which is 13km from the city centre has flights from London (Heathrow/Gatwick/Stansted), Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and many more UK cities. Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways and Iberia Airways are the main carriers, with flight times usually between two to three hours. Madrid’s central position and status as the country’s capital also mean it is easy to get to the rest of Spain.
On the contrary Barcelona-El Prat international airport is 15km from the city centre and the same carriers use it, with the flight time being around the same time as Madrid. If you are considering international removals to Barcelona from France and much of the rest of Europe, then it’s much more convenient.
The Language
In many respects, Madrid is easier because they speak a ‘purer’ form of Spanish. In Barcelona, Catalan and Spanish are learned side by side, and the Spanish spoken here has a few regional dialect phrases as well. Barcelona is also the capital of Catalonia, an ‘autonomous community’ within Spain that has some devolved powers similar to what Wales and Scotland have in the UK. So if you are moving to Barcelona, you will have an extra language to learn to integrate fully.
The Tourists
Having said that, Barcelona is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. While some people (including some of the natives) don’t like the way visitors take over the city, it does mean that English is more widely spoken in Barcelona than it is in Madrid. This is because there’s usually a big influx of English-speaking tourists (not to mention a thriving expat community), as well as people speaking other languages too.
And the fact that there’s a lot of tourists means there’s a lot to see – including the wide streets of Las Ramblas, and the sports stadia (the Camp Nou for football fans, the Montjuic for athletics – and where Barcelona are due to play in 2023-24 while the Camp Nou is renovated). There’s also La Sagrada Familia (pictured above), the Gaudi-designed Catholic church which is still unfinished, as well as plenty of sandy beaches and restaurants.
However, there’s plenty to see in Madrid too. The Santiago Bernabeu stadium, where Real Madrid play their home games, the Royal Palace (used for the major state occasions, and pictured below) are well worth a visit. And the Museum Triangle is where the country’s biggest art collections are housed, of which The Prado Museum is probably the most famous. Sometimes evening entry to these galleries is free.
The Cost of Living
Here Madrid scores better than Barcelona, in part because the Catalan capital’s prices are inflated by the annual influx of tourists. Studies have shown that Barcelona residents can expect to pay anything between 5-10% more for most products and services compared to Madrileños (residents of Madrid). However, there are some areas where the Spanish capital is as, if not more expensive, such as transport.
Removals to Barcelona and Madrid with The Moving Partnership
Trying to decide if international removals to Barcelona are better than international removals to Madrid is like comparing the two cities’ main football teams – there is no one right answer, as the clubs’ form and success fluctuates from season to season. If you are after a more authentically Spanish experience, then Madrid is probably the better bet, but Barcelona has as much, if not more to see, and a bigger British expat community.
If you are interested in moving to either of these two cities, then The Moving Partnership can help you. Our network of contacts in the international removals industry means we will be able to source the right package for you at a competitive price. We can also help you with European moving quotes to a whole host of other Spanish cities, including Valencia, Sevilla, Malaga, Bilbao and many more.
To get in touch follow this link and fill in the online form on the right-hand side of the page. You can also call us directly on 0800 772 3709 or email us at info@movingpartnership.co.uk.
