Málaga: Spain’s most liveable city, according to poll

Life satisfaction in the largest city on the Costa del Sol is the highest among all Spanish cities, according to data published in a recent poll.

A research group from the European Commission called Urban Audit found that Málaga offers the best quality of life among Spanish cities – and one of the highest in Europe…

Urban Audit’s Perception Survey aimed to measure the quality of life of 79 European cities, asking questions of the public ranging from how satisfied they are with their public spaces to the often thorny issue of the presence of foreigners and the provision of health care and civic services.

The results of the survey suggest a large pat on the back is headed Málaga’s way, with a massive 96 per cent of those surveyed saying that they are happy with life in the Andalusian city. This was the highest figure in Spain – edging past Oviedo (94 per cent), Barcelona (90 per cent) and Madrid (86 per cent) and one of the highest in Europe.

Denmark’s Aalborg topped the overall chart, scoring an unsurpassable 99 per cent, followed by Hamburg, Germany (98 per cent) and then Zurich in Switzerland (tied on 97 per cent with Oslo, Copenhagen and Groningen).

Geography fans will have noted that the leading cities are all located in north or central Europe, with very few ‘Club Med’ cities from southern Europe making the grade, bar Málaga of course. In comparison, Greek capital Athens scored just 52 per cent – one of the lowest figures in the survey, while Italy’s Naples and Palermo also struggled, scoring just 65 and 71 per cent respectively.

As for Málaga, the city scored highly on most metrics, including safety, cleanliness and pride in public streets and buildings, sport and leisure facilities (aided, no doubt, by the excellent beach that runs the length of the city), schools and transport (Málaga airport is one of the largest and most modern airports in Spain, and the city has recently opened its first underground metro line).

Trust in public services and employment scored low, however, but Spanish cities in general performed poorly on these aspects. In Málaga, just 50 per cent of respondents agreed that the city is run efficiently, while only 55 per cent were satisfied with their personal job situation (lower than each of Oviedo, Barcelona and Madrid).

Other metrics where Málaga scored highly were its retail shops, positive perception and impact of foreigners, and the integration of other cultures.

Málaga is not often held up as an example of life in Spain. The cities of Madrid and Barcelona take most of the headlines, while the resort towns of the Costa del Sol perhaps offer more for the expat. But if you are looking to enjoy the best of both worlds – vibrancy, good transport, excellent cuisine, art, culture, job opportunities, safety, stunning weather and beaches, and the chance to mingle with locals and expats alike – then you could certainly do a lot worse than give Málaga a try.