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Valencia is one of the best places to live in the Mediterranean because of its gorgeous weather, cheap cost of living, and beachy lifestyle.
Often overlooked when it comes to Spanish cities, Valencia is going through a revival.
Located on Spain’s eastern coast, Valencia is the third largest city in the country (after Madrid and Barcelona). Madrid is an hour-and-a-half by train and Barcelona is a three-hour car drive away.
Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.
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The city of Valencia has one of the oldest historical centers in Europe, dating back to Roman times. Quaint architecture makes up the city center, filled with hip bars, restaurants, and specialty stores. Sitting on the Mediterranean, this beautiful city is blessed with a beach a quick 15-minute bus ride from the city center.
Property prices in Valencia are almost half of what you would expect to pay in its neighbor Barcelona. In the past, people would look to Barcelona as a place to visit and invest. However, the city’s real estate prices have since skyrocketed, making Valencia an attractive alternative.
Public transport is reliable and cheap in Valencia. Buses and the modern EMT Metro system will get you around the city, while trains will get you to destinations further afield.
For example, Valencia is also a very cyclable city, with bike lanes everywhere, and even a city bike scheme where you can rent bikes from different locations all over the city.
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Valencia has some of the best beaches in Spain. Its beaches have received many prestigious blue flag awards for their high standards.
In Valencia, city living, and beach life go hand in hand, making it one of the best places to live in the Mediterranean.
Valencia, known as Spain’s City of Oranges, has many accolades. Most recently, the city has just won the 2024 European Green City Award.
Plus, it ranked as the third Most Innovative City in Europe in 2022, when it was also named World Capital Of Design and came first of 50 in InterNations’ Expat City Ranking.
Valencia is well located on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, with direct routes to the rest of Europe. France and the ski-slopes of tiny, tax-free Andorra in the Pyrenees are a few hours by train, while Portugal, the French Riviera, and Gibraltar are also within easy reach. Ferries are also available every day to islands such as Mallorca and Ibiza.
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If you want a vibrant city, full of Old-World charm, where there’s always something going on, then take a look at Valencia, Spain.
There is a large expat community in Valencia and lots of things to keep you entertained.
For instance, Valencia offers theater-goers, music lovers and culture vultures a whole host of variety and venues, from the Berklee affiliated Palau de la Musica (Palace of Music), where you can enjoy world-class jazz, to hip clubs and live-music bars.
The Valencia community is famous for its individualistic festivals and celebrations and many local and religious events.
For example, museums and other cultural and historical attractions are often free. And, if you’re a golfer you won’t be disappointed with a number of golf courses in the area to choose from.
As an expat, you certainly won’t be bored in Valencia.
The most popular neighborhoods for expats to live in Valencia, and where you’ll find a lot of expat-run businesses, are Ruzafa, El-Cabanyal (located on the beach), El Carmen (located in the medieval center of the city), and Canovas.
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Grocery prices in Valencia, Spain, can be as much as 30% less than Madrid and Barcelona. You can rent a two-bed apartment from around US$800 a month… and your monthly living costs (for a renting couple) would be around US$1,700.
With the dollar so strong against the euro right now, this is one of the best times in 20 years take advantage of the values in Spain…
Let’s take a closer look at the cost of living in Valencia.
Look at the currency exchange, here.
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| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total | US$1,018 | |
| HOA Fees | US$89 | Depends on the building, but US$1,061 a year is a good average for condo fees. |
| Property Taxes | Varies by municipality. As a general guideline, the rate should fall between 0.4% and 1.1% of the assessed value of an urban property. Rural properties are between 0.3% and 0.9%. | |
| Transportation | US$43 | For unlimited monthly metro and bus pass plus biking subscription. (Bike subscription is US$32 annually, i.e., US$2.66 a month; extra given here for biking overages). |
| Electricity | US$106 | |
| Water | US$27 | |
| Telephone, internet, cable package | US$80 | This includes: 2 mobile phone lines, unlimited calls, texts, and data; cable TV; fiberoptic internet. |
| Entertainment | US$248 | Couples’ cost eating out once a week at a mid-range, local restaurant (US$32 per meal) = US$128; drinks twice a week at a nearby watering hole (US$11) = US$85; movie theater trip twice a month (US$9 per ticket) = US$36. |
| Groceries | US$425 | Basic items for a couple. |
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| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total | US$2,249 | |
| Rent | US$1,500 | In the historic district, 2+ bedrooms, 90+ square meters. |
| Transportation (bus, taxi etc.) | US$43 | For unlimited monthly metro and bus pass plus biking subscription. (Bike subscription is US$32 annually, i.e., US$2.66 a month; extra given here for biking overages). |
| Electricity | US$106 | |
| Water | US$27 | |
| Telephone, internet, cable package | US$80 | This includes: 2 mobile phone lines, unlimited calls, texts, and data; cable TV; fiberoptic internet. |
| Entertainment | US$248 | Couples’ cost eating out once a week at a mid-range, local restaurant (US$32 per meal) = US$128; drinks twice a week at a nearby watering hole (US$11) = US$85; movie theater trip twice a month (US$9 per ticket) = US$36. |
| Groceries | US$425 | Basic items for a couple. |
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| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total | US$1,117 | |
| Rent | US$530 | Cheapest part of town, most basic kind of rentals. |
| Transportation (bus, taxi etc.) | US$11 | Walking and biking, with only one or two metro/bus uses per month. (Bike subscription is US$32 annually, i.e., US$2.66 a month; extra given here for biking overages). |
| Electricity | US$80 | Smaller apartment, not using climate control. |
| Water | US$27 | |
| Telephone | US$45 | Unlimited data, calls, and texts; using internet for TV watching. No cable or internet fee. |
| Entertainment | US$106 | Bare bones, e.g., dinners at cheap, local places, etc. |
| Groceries | US$318 | Shopping markets as much as possible; not buying imported foods, etc. |
| Expense | Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Household Help | US$94 | For 2 hours per week (US$12/hour). |
| Gym membership | US$48 | Monthly fee. |
| Medical appointment | US$31 | Consultation with general practitioner. |
Sunny Valencia effortlessly mixes ancient history and 21st century technology…
Founded by the Romans around 140 B.C., this city has been a cultural and industrial base for the region for over 2,000 years.
The ancient city gates, Torres de Quart, still bear the marks of the medieval siege of Valencia, and you can see the signs of ancient battle clearly in its pockmarked walls.
For example, you can walk just about anywhere in the city of Valencia, Spain. Along the way you’ll find clues to its vast history—Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture are all at play here.
At the same time, the port neighborhood known as the City of Arts and Sciences is so advanced that is has been used as a setting for science-fiction films…
The Turia Gardens are a must-see in the city and the best way to explore them is on a bike.
The old-river bed of the Turia (the river that runs through the city) has been converted into a leafy 9-kilometer-long garden. Along the route you’ll discover museums, monuments, and bridges.
Above all, foodies will love this city.
For a tour of Valencia’s tapas, beer, and wine offerings, start your route at the stalls of Plaza del Mercado, continue past the Lonja steps, the Plaza del Collado, Plaza Negrito, and Calle Caballeros, finishing at Plaza de la Virgen.
A trip to Valencia isn’t complete without visiting the spectacular Miguelete Tower. There’s a spiral staircase with 207 steps that leads to the bell tower at the top. Once you get there, you’ll have a 360-degree view of the city.
This part of the Western Mediterranean has some of the finest beaches in Europe—in the city and to the north and south.
Spend the day sunbathing and enjoying water sports at Las Arenas beach and then plan to stay for the evening to take in the sunset and enjoy paella at one of the fantastic restaurants on the beach.
The mountains are within easy reach and the Valencian Community offers plenty of scope for excursions to national parks and other sites of historical and cultural interest.
Read More: Quintessential Caribbean And Mediterranean Beachfront
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Expat Eugene Costello moved to Valencia three years ago and has this to say about safety in the city: “It’s incredibly safe. There’s practically no street crime, and violent crime is unheard of. It’s the third-largest city in Spain, but that’s really misleading because it’s so much smaller than Madrid, at nearly 3 million, or Barcelona, at a million and a half—our population is only about 700,000, and that includes the suburbs. It’s a mild, even-tempered city. No one shouts or argues here… it’s so laid-back…”
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Spain has the seventh-best health care in the world according to the World Health Organization’s rankings.
As a North American retiree, you likely won’t have free access to the Spanish public health system. But there is a pay-in plan of around only US$65 a month for under-65s and US$170 a month for older residents. Meantime, private health insurance plans start from around US$300 a month.
There are several hospitals and clinics in Valencia and this accessibility, along with price and quality, make this an excellent city for health care.
Not only is the health care excellent, but the city is known for its healthy lifestyle. With various gardens, parks, and beaches, there are plenty of places to walk, run, cycle, and swim.
On top of that, locals and expats alike enjoy the city’s cuisine—which is based on a healthy and tasty Mediterranean diet.
For minor problems, take advantage of the excellent farmacias (pharmacies), where highly trained pharmacists will recommend advice and remedies, some of which require prescriptions back home.
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Many non-EU citizens require a visa to enter Spain. If the stay is intended to be under three months (90 days), a tourist visa may be required.
This is called a Schengen visa, valid for all of the countries in the Schengen Area, and is issued by the Spanish Embassy in the home country (or the embassy of the Schengen country in which a traveler will arrive).
Anyone arriving in Spain with the intention of staying longer than three months requires a Residence Visa (Visado de Residencia). This must be requested from and issued by the Spanish Embassy of the applicant’s home country, before departure for Spain.
Most importantly, it is different to the standard 90-day Schengen visa in that it allows the holder to begin the residency application process.
Application for residency is not typically accepted from anyone arriving on a Schengen visa.
Spain’s Golden Visa program allows anyone from outside the EU to obtain residency by investing 500,000 euros in real estate.
Residency in Spain doesn’t just allow you to live in Spain. You can stay as long as you like in any of the 26 Schengen visa countries, meaning you could move as you wanted among France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and beyond.
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Winters in Valencia are very mild, while the summers are long and hot. Sunny, pleasant weather prevails for about eight months of the year.
And, if you can’t stand the intense heat of high summer, Valencia provides a more comfortable climate.
With an average temperature in the daytime of around 70°F year-round, Valencia has the perfect weather conditions for an active, healthy, and uplifting lifestyle.
The city of Valencia gets some rain during Fall and it rarely if ever snows.
January is the coldest month with daytime temperatures ranging from 57°F to 68°F.
Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
You’ll find school-age and university students speak some English and are keen to practice. However, older generations don’t so much, unless they work in tourism-related industries, so learning some Spanish before you arrive would be a welcome idea.
You won’t need to perfect your Spanish as there is an established expat community in Valencia, where you can comfortably make friends in your native tongue.
The short answer is Yes. There are several steps to the buying process, but first you need to assemble your team: realtor (corredor de bienes raices), lawyer (abogado), and notary (notario). A gestor (a manager of administration working on your behalf) can be retained to deal with the bureaucracy and can be worth their weight in gold, but this is not an obligation. As in most civil law jurisdictions, the notary is an employee of the state as far as overseeing property transactions. He/she works for neither the buyer or the seller in this case and is impartial.
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