A note on how we wrote this: we live in a small village in the Ribeira Sacra area of Lugo province, so that part of this guide comes from lived experience. For the cities and coastal areas, we’ve drawn on research, local sources, and conversations with other expats, and we’ve been upfront below about which is which.
“Where should we actually live in Galicia?” is probably the single most common question we get asked, and it doesn’t have one answer. Galicia isn’t a single place to move to. It’s a region roughly the size of Belgium, with a rainy Atlantic coast, a drier interior, small cities, big cities, and thousands of villages, and the right answer depends entirely on what kind of life you’re trying to build. This guide walks through the main options.
Best Places to Live in Galicia: At a Glance
There is no single “best” place to live in Galicia. The right choice depends on whether you want city life, beaches, warmer weather, lower costs, an international community, or the peace and space of rural Galicia. For a broader introduction to Galicia itself, our Explore Galicia guide is a useful place to start.
| Area | Best for | Climate | Cost | International community |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago de Compostela | International city life, services and connectivity | Cool and wet | $$ | High |
| A Coruña | Coastal city life and amenities | Mild and wet | $$–$$$ | Medium |
| Vigo | Jobs, city life and access to the Rías Baixas | Mild and wet | $$ | Medium |
| Pontevedra | Smaller city life and walkability | Mild and wet | $$ | Medium |
| Ourense | Warmer inland climate and lower costs | Warmer and drier | $–$$ | Low–Medium |
| Lugo | Affordable city life and access to rural Galicia | Cool and wet | $–$$ | Low–Medium |
| Ribeira Sacra | Nature, space and rural living | More seasonal inland climate | $ | Low |
| Costa da Morte | Wild coast, villages and slower living | Atlantic and wet | $–$$ | Low |
| Rural Galicia | Maximum space, privacy and authenticity | Varies | $ | Low |
Cost is a broad relative guide rather than a precise property-price ranking. Prices vary considerably between neighbourhoods, towns and individual properties.
Santiago de Compostela: For City Life Without the Chaos
Santiago is Galicia’s capital and its most international city, largely because it’s been welcoming pilgrims and students for centuries. It has a university, a small but real expat and international community, good public transport connections, and an airport with direct flights to several European cities.
Life here suits people who want walkable city living, cafe culture, and easy access to healthcare and services, without the size or traffic of a place like Madrid or Barcelona. The old town is beautiful but touristy, especially in high season. Housing costs have risen as the city has become more popular with remote workers, though it remains far cheaper than Spain’s major cities.
Best for: people who want an international, walkable base with strong infrastructure and don’t mind rain most of the year.
A Coruña: The Coastal City With Its Own Identity
A Coruña sits right on the Atlantic and has a distinctly different feel from Santiago, more commercial, more coastal, with a real city beach in the middle of town. It’s Galicia’s largest city by population and has the infrastructure to match: shopping, healthcare, an airport, and good connections along the coast.
The climate here is mild but genuinely wet, similar to much of coastal Galicia. Locals joke that A Coruña has two seasons, rainy and less rainy. The city has a strong local culture and isn’t as geared toward foreigners as Santiago, so a reasonable level of Spanish (or a willingness to learn fast) helps more here.
Best for: people who want proper city amenities and coastal living combined, and don’t mind that English isn’t widely spoken outside tourist areas.
Vigo: Galicia’s Industrial and Economic Hub
Vigo is Galicia’s most populous city and its economic engine, built around fishing, shipbuilding, and the automotive industry (it’s home to a major Citroën/Stellantis plant). It’s less picturesque than Santiago or A Coruña in the postcard sense, but it has a real, working city energy, a large port, and easy access to the Rías Baixas, the string of estuaries and beaches to its south that are among Galicia’s most beautiful coastal landscapes.
Housing tends to be more affordable here relative to its size than in the more touristy parts of the region. Job opportunities, particularly in industry and logistics, are also more concentrated here than elsewhere in Galicia.
Best for: people prioritizing job opportunities and affordability in a genuinely large city, with beach towns a short drive away.
The Rías Baixas: Coastal Towns and Villages
South of Vigo and Pontevedra, the Rías Baixas region is where a lot of Galicia’s postcard imagery comes from: fishing villages, vineyards producing Albariño wine, and beaches that rival anywhere in Spain in summer. Towns like Pontevedra city, Sanxenxo, and Cambados each have their own character, from Pontevedra’s pedestrianized, award-winning old town to Sanxenxo’s more resort-like summer atmosphere.
This area tends to draw people who want a smaller-town or coastal-village pace of life but still want reasonable access to a city (Vigo or Pontevedra) for work, healthcare, or an airport. Summers here get busy with Spanish domestic tourism, so the character of a town can shift noticeably between July/August and the rest of the year.
Best for: people who want coastal village life with good food and wine culture, and don’t mind a busy few summer months.
Pontevedra: A Smaller City With a Big Quality-of-Life Advantage
Pontevedra is one of the most interesting choices for people who want city services without the scale of Vigo or A Coruña. Its compact, largely pedestrianised centre makes everyday life unusually easy on foot, while the Rías Baixas and Atlantic coast are close by.
For an expat or remote worker, the attraction is the balance: you get restaurants, shops, healthcare and public services, but you are still close to beaches, vineyards and smaller coastal towns. It can also work well for families who want a city environment without a huge-city feel.
Best for: people looking for walkable city life, families, remote workers and those who want easy access to the Rías Baixas.
Lugo: Affordable City Living With Rural Galicia on the Doorstep
Lugo is often overlooked by international buyers, which is part of its appeal. It has a genuine Galician city atmosphere, historic character and generally lower housing costs than the best-known coastal cities. The surrounding province is one of Galicia’s most rural and gives you quick access to countryside, mountains and small villages.
The trade-off is a smaller international community and a cooler, wetter climate. Spanish becomes more important in everyday life, but for someone who wants to integrate rather than live inside an expat bubble, that can be a positive.
Best for: people prioritising affordability, authenticity and access to rural Galicia over an established international community.
Costa da Morte: Wild Coast and Slower Living
The Costa da Morte is a very different proposition from Santiago or Vigo. This is Atlantic Galicia at its wildest: fishing villages, dramatic cliffs, beaches, lighthouses and long stretches of relatively undeveloped coastline.
For someone looking for a second home, a quieter permanent base or a lifestyle centred around nature, it can be extremely attractive. But the same remoteness that makes the area special can make everyday logistics harder. Depending on where you live, you may need a car for shopping, healthcare and other services, and the international community is limited.
Best for: people who value landscape, privacy and a slower pace more than convenience and international connections.
Ourense: Inland, Warmer, and Underrated
Ourense is Galicia’s inland thermal city, sitting along the Río Miño with hot mineral springs running right through it, some free and open to the public. Because it’s inland, it has a noticeably different climate from the coast: hotter, drier summers and colder winters, without the constant rain.
It’s smaller and less internationally known than Santiago, A Coruña, or Vigo, which means fewer expats and a more purely Galician daily life. Cost of living tends to be lower here too. It’s also well positioned for exploring the Ribeira Sacra, the river canyon region to its north.
Best for: people who want a real Spanish/Galician city experience, don’t need an international community around them, and like the idea of a hot spring a short walk from home.
Ribeira Sacra and Rural Lugo Province: Where We Live
This is the part we can speak to directly. The Ribeira Sacra is a river canyon region straddling Lugo and Ourense provinces, known for its terraced vineyards, monasteries, and the Sil and Miño rivers cutting through steep, green hillsides. We live in a small village here, and the reality of that choice is worth being honest about.
The upsides are real: extraordinary landscapes on your doorstep, a slower pace of life, low cost of living, and a strong sense of place. Villages here can have a handful of permanent residents, and the silence and darkness at night are things you don’t get in a city.
The trade-offs are equally real. Services are limited and often a drive away. Spanish (and ideally some Galego) becomes far more necessary here than in Santiago or A Coruña, since almost nobody in daily rural life speaks English. Winters can feel isolating if you’re used to city life, and you need to be genuinely comfortable with your own company, or your household’s. This is not a place to move to expecting an expat social scene to already exist.
Best for: people who want landscape and quiet over convenience, are willing to learn Spanish seriously, and are moving toward a specific way of life rather than away from something else.
Which Part of Galicia Is Best for You?
The best place to live in Galicia depends less on finding a universally “best” town and more on matching the location to the life you actually want to live.
Best for an international community
Santiago de Compostela is the strongest choice if having other international residents, students and newcomers around you matters. A Coruña and Vigo also offer more international connections than smaller inland towns.
Best for beaches and coastal living
A Coruña, Vigo, Pontevedra and the Rías Baixas are strong choices if the Atlantic coast is central to your lifestyle. The trade-off is higher seasonal pressure and, in many areas, higher property prices.
Best for warmer, drier weather
Ourense and parts of inland Galicia generally have hotter summers and less Atlantic rain than the coast. Winters can also feel colder, so climate is about more than simply chasing sunshine.
Best for rural life and space
Ribeira Sacra, rural Lugo and inland Galicia offer space, quiet, nature and often better value for money. You will usually need a car, stronger Spanish and more tolerance for limited local services.
Best for families and everyday convenience
Santiago, A Coruña, Vigo and Pontevedra offer the broadest range of schools, healthcare, shops, transport and activities. Smaller towns can work very well too, particularly if you are happy to drive for some services.
Best for remote workers and retirees
If your income does not depend on finding a local job, Galicia opens up considerably. You can prioritise landscape, climate, property and quality of life rather than proximity to an employer. This is where smaller towns and rural areas become particularly interesting.
Cost of Living and Property in Galicia
One of Galicia’s biggest attractions is that property and everyday living costs can still compare favourably with many better-known parts of Spain. But there is a huge difference between a central apartment in Santiago, a coastal property in a popular Rías Baixas town and a house in a small inland village.
If you are considering a move, do not look at the purchase price alone. Factor in renovation, heating, insulation, property taxes, insurance, transport and the ongoing cost of maintaining a rural property.
Our guide to moving to Galicia goes into the wider practical side of relocating, while our articles on living in Galicia cover everyday life after the move.
Climate: Coast vs Inland Galicia
Climate is one of the biggest differences between areas of Galicia. The Atlantic coast is generally mild but wet, while inland areas can have much hotter summers and colder winters. Even relatively short distances can make a noticeable difference.
If weather is an important part of your decision, it is worth looking beyond annual temperature averages. Rainfall, winter humidity, summer heat, wind and the amount of sunshine can all affect what a place feels like to live in year-round.
Healthcare, Services and Connectivity
For many people moving to Galicia, access to healthcare and everyday services matters more than it did when they were simply visiting. Larger cities naturally offer the widest range of hospitals, medical specialists, schools, shops and public transport.
In rural Galicia, services are often perfectly manageable but further away. A car can become essential, particularly if you live in a small village. Before buying a rural property, visit the area outside the summer season and test the practical journey to the nearest supermarket, health centre, pharmacy and larger town.
Buying Property: Location Matters More Than the House
A beautiful stone house in a remote village can look like incredible value on a property website. Living there is another question. Before buying, think carefully about road access, internet, water, heating, drainage, renovation requirements and how close you are to essential services.
Our wider Moving to Galicia content is the best place to explore the practical side of property, relocation and settling in.
FAQ: Living in Galicia as an Expat
What is the best place to live in Galicia for expats?
For many newcomers, Santiago de Compostela is the easiest starting point because it combines services, transport, an international community and a manageable city size. But the best place depends on your priorities. If you want beaches, rural space or warmer inland weather, another part of Galicia may suit you better.
Where is the cheapest place to live in Galicia?
In general, smaller inland towns and rural areas tend to be more affordable than the most popular coastal locations and larger cities. Individual property prices vary enormously, so compare the total cost of living rather than relying on a simple city ranking.
Is Galicia a good place to retire?
It can be. Galicia offers a slower pace of life, good food, dramatic landscapes and many areas where property can still be relatively affordable. The main question for retirees is often how close they want to be to healthcare and everyday services.
Where do most expats live in Galicia?
International residents are spread across Galicia rather than concentrated in one single expat centre. Larger cities such as Santiago, A Coruña and Vigo have more international residents, while coastal and rural areas attract people looking for a different lifestyle.
Do I need to speak Spanish to live in Galicia?
You can get by with English in some international and tourist-oriented settings, but Spanish becomes increasingly important as you move into smaller towns and rural areas. Learning Spanish will make everyday life significantly easier and will help you connect with the local community.
Is rural Galicia a good choice for foreigners?
It can be an excellent choice for people who genuinely want a quieter lifestyle, space and nature. It is less suitable if you need frequent public transport, a large international community or easy access to specialist services.
How to Actually Choose
A few honest questions worth asking yourself before picking a spot:
How much Spanish are you willing to learn, and how fast? The coastal cities give you more room to ease into it. Rural inland Galicia does not.
Do you need a job locally, or are you bringing your income with you? Vigo and Santiago have the most local job opportunities. If you’re remote-working or retired, that constraint disappears and opens up the whole map.
How much do you need other expats nearby? Santiago has the most built-in international community. Rural Galicia has close to none.
City energy or silence? This sounds obvious, but it’s worth being honest with yourself about which one you’ll actually be happy with after the novelty of moving wears off.
There’s no wrong answer here, only a wrong fit. Galicia is small enough that wherever you land, the rest of the region is a manageable drive away.
