SECONDARY DECISION

Compare city context

Comparison does not replace the verdict. Use it to test real options after reviewing the Career Page score, evidence and path.

Spain city comparison

Madrid vs Barcelona

Compare the same INE municipality population boundary, verified teaching-location evidence and the five reviewed decision metrics. Living-cost references and transport products retain their original source methodology, so Spain Compare does not turn heterogeneous references into a cheapest-city score.

Madrid, Comunidad de

Madrid

INE municipality 28079

City profile

Cataluña

Barcelona

INE municipality 08019

City profile

Municipality population

Same INE municipality contract and 2025 reference date

Madrid3,51M
Barcelona1,73M

Student living-cost reference

Different official methodologies; ranking_safe=false and no cheapest-city inference

Madrid€800–€1,600 / month · full-budget reference
Barcelona€1,300–€1,500 / month · full-budget reference

Local transport reference

Source-native ticket and validity period; no synthetic monthly normalization

Madrid€10 / 30 days
Barcelona€45.50 / 90 days

Student work context

National 30-hour compatibility rule; not a city differentiator

Madrid30 h / week
Barcelona30 h / week

Verified teaching locations

Selected provider foundation, not a complete Spain higher-education inventory

Madrid2 institutions · 2 locations
Barcelona2 institutions · 2 locations

Programme evidence

Exact source-city linkage only; zero means verification pending, never no programmes

Madrid50 verified-partial programmes
Barcelona33 verified-partial programmes

Career environment

Official local economic context; not a shortage ranking or job guarantee

MadridCybersecurity · Digital health · Big Data and artificial intelligence · Construction, architecture and engineering · Logistics and urban distribution · Fintech and Insurtech
BarcelonaDigital economy · Creative and cultural industries · Health and quality of life · Green economy and sustainability · Blue economy · Manufacturing industry

Spain Compare intentionally does not score a winner. Student living-cost references mix full-budget and partial-cost methodologies, transport products use different validity periods, the 30-hour work rule is national, and programme counts are shown only where exact programme-to-city evidence is already verified.