Seville receives 2,900 calibrated sunshine hours per year — more than Lisbon. But go 400km north to San Sebastián and that drops to 1,667. Spain's sunshine gap between north and south is larger than the difference between Madrid and Nairobi.
Regional data
| Region | Sunshine hr/day | Temp range (°C) | Est. cost/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canary Islands | 8.3 | 18–28 | ~€1,200 |
| Andalusia (Seville/Malaga) | 7.8 | 8–36 | ~€1,100 |
| Murcia / Alicante | 7.7 | 10–33 | ~€1,200 |
| Valencia | 7.5 | 10–30 | ~€1,400 |
| Balearic Islands | 7.4 | 9–29 | ~€1,500 |
| Catalonia (Barcelona) | 6.9 | 8–28 | ~€1,700 |
| Madrid | 7.4 | 3–32 | ~€1,600 |
| Basque Country | 4.6 | 6–22 | ~€1,600 |
Liveability data
| Metric | Madrid | Seville / Canaries |
|---|---|---|
| Precipitation mm/yr | 436 | 534 / 130 |
| Rainy days/yr | 67 | 53 / 30 |
| Avg humidity | 57% | 57% / 63% |
| PM2.5 (annual avg) | 10 µg/m³ — WHO Good | |
| Global Peace Index | 1.6 — Rank #23 globally | |
| Median broadband | 166 Mbps fixed (5th globally) | |
Spain's national PM2.5 of 10 µg/m³ masks local variation — Madrid city centre can exceed 25 µg/m³ during winter inversions. The Canary Islands stay clean year-round at 5–8 µg/m³. At 166 Mbps, Spain has among the fastest home broadband in Europe — a significant remote-work advantage over Portugal (97 Mbps) and Greece (52 Mbps).
Seasonal sunshine
ERA5-calibrated values. January–December.
Tax data
| Tax type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax (IRPF) | 19–47% | Progressive; top rate on income above €300k |
| Beckham Law (Ley Beckham) | 24% flat | First 6 years for qualifying new residents; income up to €600k |
| Capital gains tax | 19–23% | 19% up to €6k, 21% €6–50k, 23% above €50k (2024) |
| Crypto | 19–28% | Treated as capital gain; same progressive rates |
| Corporate (IS) | 25% | Standard rate; 15% for new companies (2 years) |
| VAT (IVA) | 21% | Standard; 10% reduced, 4% super-reduced |
| Wealth tax | 0.2–3.5% | On net assets above €700k; varies by region |
Country comparison
| Metric | Spain | Portugal | Italy | France |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hr/day | 7.4 | 7.8 | 6.3 | 5.8 |
| Best region | Canaries 3,017 | Algarve 3,141 | Sicily 2,600 | Nice 2,694 |
| Top income tax | 47% | 48% | 43% | 45% |
| Special regime | Beckham 24% | IFICI 10% | €100k flat | Inpatriate 30% |
| Capital gains | 23% | 28% | 26% | 30% |
| Est. cost/mo | ~€1,600 | ~€1,400 | ~€1,600 | ~€2,200 |
Common questions
Spain averages 2,700 calibrated sunshine hours nationally — but this masks enormous regional variation. Seville leads continental Spain at 2,900 hr/yr, while the Canary Islands reach 3,017 hr/yr (Las Palmas). San Sebastián in the north gets only 1,667 hr/yr. Spain has the widest sunshine range of any major European country.
The Beckham Law (Ley Beckham, formally: Special Expatriate Tax Regime) allows qualifying new residents to pay a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-source income for the first 6 years. Eligible people: employees or self-employed individuals relocating to Spain who haven't been Spanish residents in the past 5 years. Income above €600k is taxed at 47%. It was famously used by footballer David Beckham (hence the nickname).
Nationally, Portugal edges Spain slightly (2,853 vs 2,700 hr/yr national average). However, for best-case sunshine, Spain's Canary Islands (3,017 hr/yr) slightly trail Portugal's Algarve (3,141 hr/yr). For continental comparison, Seville (2,900) vs Lisbon (2,853): essentially equivalent. Both significantly outperform northern European alternatives. All values are ERA5-calibrated.
Murcia and Alicante province offer the best cost/sun combination in mainland Spain: 2,800–2,864 hr/yr sunshine at ~€1,100–1,200/mo cost of living. Seville (2,900 hr/yr) runs ~€1,100/mo for a comfortable lifestyle. The Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria) combine 3,000+ hr/yr with ~€1,200–1,300/mo cost — and have the additional benefit of consistent winter sunshine that mainland Spain cannot match.
Spain taxes capital gains at progressive rates: 19% on the first €6,000, 21% on €6,000–50,000, 23% on gains above €50,000 (rates updated for 2024). These apply to worldwide gains for Spanish tax residents. Under the Beckham Law, capital gains on foreign-source assets held before Spanish residency are generally exempt. Crypto is classified as a capital asset and taxed at the same rates.
Keep exploring
Explore calibrated sunshine data across all Spanish regions — from the Canary Islands to the Pyrenees.
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