best places to live in spain:

That, according to a growing volume of evidence, would be a very astute and sensible choice.

In a wide range of recent surveys, Spain has received high rankings as one of the most sought-after destinations in Europe for both quality of life and affordability. For many reviewers, it’s been ticking all the right boxes in practically every category.

A recent survey, for instance, found Spain to boast the lowest cost of living compared to 12 nations, among them several leading industrialized nations in Europe, North America, and Oceania. “Those drawn to life in Spain will be pleased to know that out of all 13 of these countries, Spain boasts the most affordable cost of living,” concluded the authors of the study, the Cost of Living Overseas Index.

Affordability is obviously a big draw, but it turns out that the country’s appeal extends well beyond cost-conscious calculations. As another recent study demonstrated there’s a continuing uptrend in foreign investments in Spanish real estate, particularly in the luxury homes segment.
 
This boom, however, is not limited to premium properties.  Nationals of foreign countries continue to purchase real estate in Spain at a brisk pace and the proportion of properties bought by foreigners remains very high.

So where do all these buyers go? Which parts of the country do they find to be particularly attractive?
 
The answers to these questions in a recent report made a bit of a splash. Based on the latest data it turned out that the Malaga province, with its stretch of beautiful coastal towns in the southmost part of Spain, has overtaken one of its main competitors, the Balearic Islands, a holiday hotspot.
 
As a result, Malaga and the Costa del Sol emerged as the third leading province in Spain when it comes to foreigners buying homes. It helped to solidify Costa del Sol’s standing as one of the best places to live in Spain by the sea.
 
Which brings us back to the question posed in the headline about the best city to live in Spain for expats.
 
Certainly, for some a key motivation behind purchasing properties in Spain is to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the local real estate market. For many others, however, buying an apartment or a house is a logical step toward settling down in their new Spanish hometown and enjoying its great weather and relaxed lifestyle.