Should You Move to Valencia in 2027? A No-BS Guide From a Resident

So you are thinking about a move to Valencia next year. Maybe you saw it on one of those “best cities in Europe” list. Or maybe you just keep seeing it on Instagram. Either way, you need a non-sugarcoated answer to one question: should you actually move to Valencia?

I have lived here since 2018, my husband is Valencian, and I get asked this constantly. So here is the real version, not the postcard one.

The short answer: Valencia is a dream to visit and a genuinely good place to live, but it is not the cheap, easy paradise the relocation videos sell. It has an amazing culture and a pretty good quality of life, but it’s far from perfect! 

And for the longer answer – well, that’s what this article is for. 

Should you move to Valencia?

Well, maybe. If you’re ready to deal with paperwork, learn two languages, and deal with a housing crisis. 

Because you do get the sunshine, the beach, world-class food, and a walkable city that can be much nicer than most of Northern Europe or the US. But if you need a local job, a high salary, or a cheap secret… then it’s gonna be a no. Because those three things are basically myths at this point.

I go through all my thoughts in this video. So if you’d rather listen than read, you can find it here:

Why you should trust me

Before we jump into all the details, I’d like to clear something up for you. I’m not necessarily interested in convincing you to move to València. In fact, I sort of consider myself to be an anti-influencer. All of my videos on social media tend to talk about the problems related to moving abroad.

But of course, I’ve lived here since 2018 and I’m not moving back. So naturally it’s not allllll bad lol.

My point is, I want to give you a realistic image of the city. I would hate for you to waste SO much time, energy, and money into moving here… just to find out that you don’t really like it. And because of all the people that post things online and make it look like a paradise, that happens kind of frequently.

So I’m going to do my best to give you sincere advice so you can figure out if València is right for you.

And if you want to have a quick chat with me, feel free to book a consultation call.

Now, let’s start with the good parts of moving to this lovely city 🙂

The pros of living in València

The everyday quality of life is the real reason people stay. 

You get a medieval old town and the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences in the same city. There’s a nine-kilometer park where a river used to run, the beach, the mountains, and some of the best food in Spain, all within reach.

And then the climate alone sells it for a lot of people. While the summers are brutally hot, the winters are mild and the autumns stay warm long after the rest of Europe has given up on the sun.

Then there is Valencian food. We’re practically the garden of Europe, and you can tell by the gastronomy! Super tasty dishes and lots of variety! 

If you want to see whether the city is worth it before you commit to living here, my is Valencia worth visiting guide walks through the visitor side.

Is Valencia still affordable in 2027?

I would say that Valencia is not affordable. At least, not for Valencians. Rents have climbed hard, long-term apartments keep getting turned into Airbnbs, and locals are being priced out of their own neighborhoods. If your income comes from abroad, then it’s definitely better for you. 

But then again, foreigners living here and paying income tax in another country is part of the reason for the housing crisis…

I have watched this shift in real time since 2018, so I want to be very clear here. Valencia is affordable relative to where most of my readers are coming from, not affordable in some absolute, escape-the-rat-race sense.

How much do you really need per month to live in Valencia?

As a rough guide, a comfortable solo budget lands well above the “800 euros a month” myth once you add real rent, and a couple sharing splits the biggest cost. 

Rather than pin a single number here that will drift, I keep a full, sourced breakdown updated in my cost of living in Valencia guide, which has the most up-to-date figures. 

But a quick summary, most people are spending at least €1.400 per month. And the average salary is around €1.500… soo…

Finding an Apartment

I’d say the hardest part for people tends to be getting that first apartment, and then registering at the city hall. 

This is called the empadronament process. That said, once you know which area suits you, and more-or-less how the process works, finding an apartment gets much easier, and my where to live in Valencia guide breaks the neighborhoods down for movers specifically.

The Job Market

You can get a job in Valencia, but salaries are modest and the market is competitive, especially if you do not speak Spanish and Valencian well. 

The average wage is around €1.700 a month (before taxes).  That’s probably below what a lot of newcomers are used to, so definitely something to keep in mind.

This is the part the glossy relocation content skips, and it is the single biggest thing to be realistic about. If your whole plan depends on landing a well-paid local job after you arrive, Valencia is a risky bet.

Do you need to speak Spanish and Valencian to live in Valencia?

Yes! You need functional Spanish to actually live here, not just to survive as a tourist, and learning some Valencian is the key to actually feeling like you belong here. 

Valencia has its own co-official language, Valencian, spoken in homes, schools, and on every street sign, and making the effort signals that you are here for the culture and not just the cheap flights. You’ll definitely need some Spanish for paperwork and visiting other places in Spain. But if you’re moving to a bilingual area, you need to know both languages. 

I speak Valencian at home with my husband and his family, and I promise you, the moment locals hear you trying, lots of doors suddenly open. If you want to start, my guides on how to learn Valencian and why Valencian matters are the place to begin.

Bureaucracy is… very annoying

It is slow, appointment-dependent, and it will test your patience, so treat it as a marathon rather than an afternoon errand. 

Between your NIE, your empadronament at the local ajuntament, residency paperwork, and healthcare registration, expect things that feel like they should take a day to stretch into weeks of waiting for the right cita previa. None of it is impossible, but very little of it is fast.

So right now we’re just focusing on if you should or shouldn’t move to Valencia. But for the actual process, see my guides:

• Getting your NIE
• Empadronament, 
• How to move to Spain

Which visa do you need to move to Valencia?

For most non-EU movers it comes down to the Digital Nomad Visa if you work remotely, the Non-Lucrative Visa if you have income without working (popular with retirees), or a student or work visa depending on your situation. 

The right one depends entirely on your situation, so this is worth getting right before anything else. I am not a lawyer, so treat this as a starting point rather than legal advice.

My full Spain visa options guide covers each route in detail. If you would rather have a bilingual legal team handle the paperwork, I recommend Your Spanish Visa, who will tell you which visa fits before you spend a cent.

Where should you live in Valencia?

The best neighborhood really depends on what you’re looking for! Everyone is different, and there’s no single “best” neighborhood. You have to consider price point, your family situation, what your priorities are, etc. Valencia is a big city and has lots of different areas!

Rather than guess from abroad, take my neighborhood quiz to get matched, then read the full where to live in Valencia breakdown for the lengthier breakdown of the pros and cons of each.

Is Valencia better than Barcelona or Madrid?

For a lot of people, yes, but it depends on what you want. Valencia is smaller, calmer, and more walkable than Barcelona or Madrid. Plus the beach is right there and you get less of the big-city grind. 

The trade-off is a smaller job market, a quieter nightlife, and a less international scene, so if you crave a huge, buzzing metropolis, one of the bigger two may suit you better.

I chose Valencia over both, and I have never regretted it. Though I will admit the smaller size is exactly the thing some people miss. If you’re coming from a place like NYC, you may find that Valencia is quite small. 

Since it’s also not as international, sometimes you’ll struggle with the languages more. There are fewer international community experiences and not everyone here speaks English. So I’d say València is a better option if you’re willing to put in the work and adapt into a new culture. 

The cons of moving to València

Beyond cost and paperwork, the cons are the weather extremes, a few daily annoyances, and the emotional adjustment. 

The summers are really quite extreme. And most people just are NOT ready for it. Then, surprisingly, the winter is harsh too. Because even though the thermometer isn’t toooo low, the humidity really hits hard. 

And of course, Autumn brings the occasional flash flood. We had some serious floods in 2024 that destroyed several towns surrounding the city. 

There is also the part no relocation service will mention to you lol. Which is that the first year can be lonely. The first three months feel like a vacation, and then real life sets in, you realize making local friends takes real time and effort. 

And while I’d say Valencia is also generally safe, sometimes petty theft like pickpocketing and bike theft is worth watching. Especially as the city continues to grow. So my is Valencia safe guide covers that.

Who should (and shouldn’t) move to Valencia?

Overall, I’d say that Valencia is a great fit for people who really value learning and adapting into a new culture. If you’re willing to learn the languageS and accept a slower, smaller-city pace, you’ll probably like it. 

This means it’s generally welcoming for LGBT movers and comfortable for solo women. You also don’t need an incredibly high salary, although that’s slowly changing. If you enjoy being outdoors and like to learn about new festivals and traditions, you’ll probably like it.  

But if you’re looking for a cheap Mediterranean “secret”… well, València isn’t it. Or if you’re someone that wants a really big, international scene to live with other digital nomads… I don’t think you’ll like it here. 

As an American who moved here myself, I will say the people who thrive are the ones who treat Valencia as a home to fit into, rather than a cheaper version of the one they left. The ones who struggle usually came for the price tag or the weather, but never adjusted to the culture.

tl;dr

• Valencia is a dream to visit and a rewarding place to live, but not the cheap, easy paradise it is sold as.
• It is still good value versus Northern Europe and the US, though rents are rising and locals are being priced out.
• Finding an apartment as a foreigner is the hardest practical step
• Salaries are modest, so most successful movers bring remote income, self-employment, or savings.
• Learning both Valencian and Spanish is key to feeling like you belong
• It fits LGBT movers, and culture-first people, but it is a poor fit for high-salary job seekers or bargain hunters.

More Valencia Resources:

I hope this has helped you make some decisions on whether you should move to Valencia! I’ve helped a lot of people make the decision, and I can help you figure out if it’s right for you.

➡️ Book a consult

Or if you have any questions at all, just reach out! I also offer a free relocation checklist if you’d like to look at that first. 

Fins ara,

Kevin

Frequently asked questions about moving to Valencia