Spain vs United Kingdom

Spain
Europe
Capital Madrid · 47M people · Euro
United Kingdom
Europe
Capital London · 66M people · Pound
Cost of living
Spain
$363/mo
Safety
Spain
0.2/5
Getting around
United Kingdom
0.2/5
Culture
United Kingdom
0.4/5
Passport reach
United Kingdom
not scored
Airports
Spain
28M passengers/yr
Climate
Depends on you
not scored
Overall
Spain edges it, 3–2.
Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.

Cost of living

monthly median · solo budget

Spain is cheaper
$1,884/mo
Minimalist $1,420 · Comfort $2,926
ranks #69 of 95 worldwide
$2,247/mo
Minimalist $1,718 · Comfort $3,477
ranks #78 of 95 worldwide

Cost in the three biggest cities

Madrid$2,244$3,737London
Valencia$1,754$1,927Liverpool

Between the two, Spain is cheaper — $1,884/mo vs $2,247/mo.

Spain is pricier than 23 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is pricier than 31 of 41 European countries.

Safety

safety index

Spain is safer

Spain

2.8/5
Mixed picture

United Kingdom

2.6/5
Mixed picture
Street safety3.4/53.1/5+0.3
Property safety2.3/52.1/5+0.2
Road safety3.1/53.1/5Even
Earthquake safety3.5/55.0/5+1.5
Wildfire safety2.1/54.1/5+2.0
Flood safety3.1/53.1/5Even

Between the two, Spain is safer — 2.8/5 vs 2.6/5.

Spain is less safe than 24 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is less safe than 27 of 41 European countries.

Getting around

transit & transport systems

United Kingdom scores higher

Spain

3.1/5
City-dependent

United Kingdom

3.3/5
City-dependent
Walkability4.5/54.2/5+0.3
Transit3.5/53.9/5+0.4
Cycling2.9/52.5/5+0.4
Airport access3.6/53.3/5+0.3

Between the two, United Kingdom scores higher on mobility — 3.3/5 vs 3.1/5.

Spain is easier to get around than 25 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is easier to get around than 31 of 41 European countries.

Culture

cultural depth

United Kingdom scores higher

Spain

4.0/5
Strong scene

United Kingdom

4.4/5
Rich culture

World Heritage sites

Photos via Wikimedia Commons · data UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Between the two, United Kingdom scores higher on culture — 4.4/5 vs 4.0/5.

Spain is richer in culture than 32 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is richer in culture than 39 of 41 European countries.

Passport reach

what the passport opens

United Kingdom reaches more
Visa-free destinations105126+21
GDP reach92%92%Even
Heritage sites reachable11331133Even

Spain's passport reaches 105 destinations visa-free to United Kingdom's 126 — United Kingdom opens more doors without a visa.

Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.

Airports

international connectivity

Spain is better connected

Flight connectivity in the biggest cities

MadridMAD68M84MLondonLHR
BarcelonaBCN57M43MBrightonLGW
PalmaPMI34M32MManchesterMAN
Major airports2415+9
Annual passengers315M287M+28M

Between the two, Spain is better connected — 315M passengers/yr vs 287M passengers/yr.

Spain is busier than 83 of 87 countries worldwide; United Kingdom is busier than 80 of 87 countries worldwide. Spain sees ~7 air passengers per resident a year; United Kingdom sees ~4 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.

Climate

where most people live · °C

Depends on you
Spain-5°C to 35°C
United Kingdom-14°C to 25°C
-20°0°10°30°40°

Spain runs -5°C to 35°C for most people; the United Kingdom runs -14°C to 25°C for most people.

Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.

Spain vs United Kingdom: frequently asked

▶Should I move to Spain or United Kingdom?
Spain edges it, 3–2. Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.
▶Is Spain or United Kingdom cheaper?
Between the two, Spain is cheaper — $1,884/mo vs $2,247/mo. Spain is pricier than 23 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is pricier than 31 of 41 European countries.
▶Is Spain or United Kingdom safer?
Between the two, Spain is safer — 2.8/5 vs 2.6/5. Spain is less safe than 24 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is less safe than 27 of 41 European countries.
▶Is it easier to get around in Spain or United Kingdom?
Between the two, United Kingdom scores higher on mobility — 3.3/5 vs 3.1/5. Spain is easier to get around than 25 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is easier to get around than 31 of 41 European countries.
▶Does Spain or United Kingdom have a richer culture?
Between the two, United Kingdom scores higher on culture — 4.4/5 vs 4.0/5. Spain is richer in culture than 32 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is richer in culture than 39 of 41 European countries.
▶Which has better flight connections, Spain or United Kingdom?
Between the two, Spain is better connected — 315M passengers/yr vs 287M passengers/yr. Spain is busier than 83 of 87 countries worldwide; United Kingdom is busier than 80 of 87 countries worldwide. Spain sees ~7 air passengers per resident a year; United Kingdom sees ~4 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.
▶Which passport is stronger, Spain or United Kingdom?
Spain's passport reaches 105 destinations visa-free to United Kingdom's 126 — United Kingdom opens more doors without a visa. Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.
▶What is the climate like in Spain versus United Kingdom?
Spain runs -5°C to 35°C for most people; the United Kingdom runs -14°C to 25°C for most people. Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.