Valencia Property Blog

Happy New Year from Valencia Property. 2026 is here and the blog is back after a week off for the holidays. The truth is it's still holiday time in Valencia and Spain as the Kings arrive tomorrow which is when the Spanish traditionally get Xmas presents and the day after is Epiphany which is the last day we can really justify saying it's holiday for a while (Not too long to wait though) As a New Year has arrived we thought that it was time to reaffirm the reasons why you might want to move your life to Valencia this year. Things can get lost in the constant day to day hellscape that is "The News" and "That Warmongering Idiot" (And as usual you don't need me to tell you who "That Warmongering Idiot" is) So it's good to have a goal of moving to somewhere a bit sunnier, with a bit more space and most importantly a place where just a little more sanity prevails.

So today let's take a look at some of the reasons to make sure your goal of moving to Valencia is kept in mind and let's take a look at some of the major reasons why your life in Valencia could be better.

Exceptional Cost of Living

Valencia offers genuine value that stands out even in today's inflationary environment. A couple can live comfortably on €3,000-3,500 monthly, including rent for a modern flat in a good neighbourhood, regular dining out, and cultural activities. Compare this to London, Paris, or major American cities where you'd need €5,000-7,000+ for equivalent quality of life. A three-course meal with wine at a decent restaurant runs €25-35 per person, whilst your morning coffee and pastry costs under €3. Monthly gym membership? Around €30-40. This isn't about living cheaply, more about your money going substantially further, allowing you to save, travel, or simply enjoy life without constant financial pressure.

300+ Days of Sunshine Annually

Valencia's Mediterranean climate genuinely transforms daily life for those escaping dark, grey northern winters, believe me I know, the North of England can be a grim plñace in the winter. With over 300 sunshine days yearly, you'll experience winters where temperatures hover around 15-18°C, but are often in the 20s, with abundant sunshine, perfect for outdoor dining in January. Summers are hot but coastal breezes keep temperatures manageable mostly, rarely reaching the extreme heat of interior Spain. This reliable weather fundamentally changes how you live with dining outside possible all year-round, planning beach trips in February, and discovering that seasonal affective disorder might simply disappear, I know it did for me. The predictability means you can actually plan outdoor activities with confidence, transforming everything from your social life to any fitness routines you may have as your New Year Resolution.

World Class Healthcare System

Spain's healthcare consistently ranks among the top 10 globally, and Valencia's medical facilities exemplify this. The public system (accessible to residents) provides comprehensive care with minimal wait times for serious conditions (though these wait times have grown somewhat since the 2020 Covid surge) Private insurance costs from just €50-150 monthly and grants immediate access to English-speaking specialists. Valencia's hospitals feature modern technology, highly trained doctors (many English-speaking), and an emphasis on preventive care. Most importantly, you'll never face medical bankruptcy or insurance battles. From routine check-ups to specialised treatments, healthcare in Valencia means quality care without financial burden.

Beach And City Lifestyle Combined

Valencia offers something genuinely rare, proper urban living with Mediterranean beaches a 15-minute metro ride away. Start your Saturday with coffee in Ruzafa, spend your afternoon swimming at Las Arenas beach, then catch an opera at the Palau de les Arts by evening (If that's what floats your boat). This isn't a compromise, it's having the best of both worlds simultaneously. The beaches stretch for miles with fine sand, backed by a palm-lined promenade perfect for cycling or evening walks. Unlike resort towns that empty in winter, Valencia's beaches remain active year-round with hardier locals swimming and practising beach volleyball even in January. Living 15 minutes from the sea fundamentally shifts your relationship with the coast as it becomes part of weekly life rather than an occasional treat. Or you could even choose to live in the Cabanyal or the Malvarrosa and be right by the sea with occasional visits to the centre for shopping therapy.

A Thriving International Community

Valencia's international community has grown substantially in recent years, with Americans now representing nearly 50% of our property buyers at Valencia Property, yes we are partially reposnsible, and we mean the good Americans too, not the Maga red hat types. This growing presence means English-language meetups, business networks, and social groups for every interest until your Spanish gets up to speed. The expat Facebook groups have thousands of active members sharing recommendations and organising events and very often getting into stupid arguments. Valencia itself meanwhile maintains its authentic Spanish character. You're joining a community within a genuinely Spanish city, not an expat/immigrant bubble. This balance works well because you'll have enough of the support network when needed whilst still experiencing real Spanish life. Many of our American clients report that Valencia's international scene helped them settle quickly whilst the city's Spanish character provided the authentic experience they wanted.

Outstanding Food Culture

Valencia isn't just the birthplace of paella, it's a city where food is treated as art and a bit of a daily celebration. Visit the Mercado Central, one of Europe's largest fresh food markets, where vendors have sold produce, seafood, and meats for over a century. You'll buy tomatoes picked that morning while fishmongers display catches brought in hours earlier (Don't go on Mondays). The famous Valencian paella, cooked over orange wood, bears little resemblance to versions served elsewhere, no chorizo in it. Here it's a Sunday ritual, best enjoyed at beachside restaurants or a friend's finca, cooked while drinking cheap beer and wine and shooting the breeze. The Mediterranean diet isn't a trend here, it's how people naturally eat, abundant fresh vegetables, olive oil, fish, and seasonal fruits. Dining out is affordable enough to do it regularly, with a menú del día (three-course lunch with wine) available for €14-20 at neighbourhood restaurants serving genuine, quality cuisine. This food culture transforms daily life as grocery shopping becomes a pleasure and meals become social events rather than rushed necessities. Enjoy food rather than just using it as fuel!

Walkable, Cycle Friendly Infrastructure

Valencia has invested heavily in becoming one of Europe's most bike friendly cities, with over 160 kilometres of protected cycle lanes connecting every neighbourhood. The entire city is comprehensively flat as the proverbial pancake making cycling effortless, and the public bike-share system (Valenbisi) offers annual memberships for just €30 if you don't want to shell out for your own bike. Most residents rarely need a car and the historic centre is entirely walkable, metro lines connect beaches to city centre, and they also serve outer areas efficiently. This car-free lifestyle isn't about sacrifice, it's genuinely liberating and one of the reasons people give for coming here to live after suffering years of traffic jams and congestion. You'll save thousands annually on vehicle costs whilst staying more active and reducing stress. The former riverbed (Jardín del Turia) has been transformed into a 9-kilometre urban park cutting through the city and is perfect for cycling, running, or walking to work surrounded by gardens rather than traffic. This infrastructure supports a lifestyle where 15-minute errands by bike replace stressful drives and parking struggles. Yes, the 15 minute city already exists, Spain has it in virtually every city in the country. It really is something to aspire to and not make into a wedge issue for culture wars.

A Rich Cultural Calendar

Valencia's cultural calendar rivals much bigger cities, anchored of course by Las Fallas - a spectacular week/month-long festival each March where the city fills with enormous artistic sculptures built throughout the year, then ceremonially burnt in a celebration combining art, pyrotechnics, and tradition dating to the 18th century. But Fallas is just the beginning: the city hosts major international film festivals, classical music series at world-class venues like the Palau de la Música, contemporary art exhibitions at IVAM, and the globally recognised Les Arts opera house presenting performances that would cost triple elsewhere. Summer brings outdoor cinema, beach concerts, and neighbourhood festivals celebrating local patron saints with days of music, food, and fireworks. The City of Arts and Sciences complex hosts science exhibitions, an oceanographic park, and an IMAX theatre. This isn't culture you need to seek out as it surrounds you and much of it free or eminently affordable, creating a lifestyle where world-class cultural experiences become routine and a part of daily life rather than special occasions. Yes, at times we seriously overlook this and view it as an impediment to getting work done. We all need to take a step back and appreciate things occasionally.

A Safe, Family Friendly Environment

Valencia consistently ranks among Europe's safest major cities, with crime rates dramatically lower than comparable American or British cities. Parents routinely let teenagers navigate the city independently via metro, children play in parks whilst parents relax at nearby cafés, and the concept of "sketchy neighbourhoods" barely exists by European standards. The city's design supports family life with countless playgrounds in every neighbourhood, beaches with designated family areas and lifeguards, and the Turia Gardens providing 9 kilometres of car-free space for cycling and sports. Spanish culture is genuinely child-friendly. The restaurants welcome families at all hours, children attend neighbourhood festivals, and the Mediterranean lifestyle of outdoor living suits active kids. Evening paseos (walks) see entire families strolling together, children playing in plazas until deep into the night during summer while parents socialise nearby. This combination of safety, infrastructure, and family-oriented culture creates an environment where children gain independence whilst parents maintain peace of mind.

An Easy Non-Lucrative Visa Pathway

For non-EU citizens seeking Spanish residency, the non-lucrative visa offers a straightforward route without requiring property purchase (Though we do think you will buy and you should do it with us). By demonstrating sufficient passive income or savings (currently around €28,000-30,000 annually for an individual, plus roughly 25% of that for each dependent), you can obtain renewable residency permits allowing you to live in Spain. The visa includes your spouse and dependent children, provides access to Spanish healthcare after the first year (Convenio Especial), and creates a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship. Whilst you cannot work in Spain on this visa, it's ideal for retirees, people with non-Spanish income such as dividend payments and stipends, or those with investment income. Combined with Valencia's lower cost of living, the financial requirements are genuinely achievable for middle-class professionals, making European residency more accessible than many realise.

More Next Week

We are going to give you another ten reasons to whet your appetite for coming to live in Valencia next week including the "Sanity Clause" of not having to deal with that idiot every day, but that's enough for today. we don't want you drooling too much in the colder winter months. For now let's leave you with a few more morsels to get your teeth into, a property of the week, a Stepping Stone rental of the week and more "if you liked this" to read and listen to.

Just one last thing before that though. Send us your requirements. Fill in the form below and we can start your search in Valencia.

Property of the Week

New Year but not a new property as we didn't list anything over Xmas.

Sometimes you see a property and you know it just ticks all of the boxes. It's in the right place, at the right price being sold for the right reasons and it just feels right. This could well be one of those.

Set on the third floor with lift of a block in central Cabanyal near to both the beach and Marina, this excellently modernised property is ready to move into straight away as it comes fully furnished. Currently it has two bedrooms and a large dressing room which was converted from a third bedroom but could easily be converted back if you require that third room, You have an extremely large and light living area with incorporated kitchen and dining area, bathroom and utility room.

The only things you need to think about on buying this property would be what your lifestyle near the beach in Valencia looks like. Get up and take a stroll along the promenade in the morning, a visit to one of the local hipster cafes for breakfast, cross the road to the sports centre for gym time or tennis, some work perhaps, roller skate around the Marina while checking up the start up culture in the Lanzadera, Lunch and maybe take in some music at the Fabrica de Hielo if it's a weekend, stock up at the local Cabanyal market with gorgeous fresh food that changes all year round and then out for drinks with friends in the evening after the obligatory Spanish classes. It's not a dream, it's the Valencia lifestyle for many.

Take a look at the images and floor plan and contact us to reserve your viewing.

Stepping Stone Rental of the Week

We are delighted with this exceptionally beautiful flat that has just become available. Located on the third floor of a building dating from 1830. The location of the flat is truly unique, right in the heart of the old town. From one of the two balconies, you can see the Torres de Serrano, and the other balcony overlooks the oldest tower in the city. When you step out your apartment, you are moments away from Turia Park. The flat is located on a corner, it is very light and you have no neighbours above. It is completely renovated, but owners have preserved the original details as much as possible - giving the apartment a mix of old and new. Two large bedrooms, one with a double bed, and the other furnished as a workspace with a sofa bed. There is a bright and high ceilinged living room and separate kitchen. The bathroom has a large walk-in shower.
High quality finish, stylish decoration, and everything has been thought of. All you have to do is put down your suitcase and start immersing yourself in vibrant Spanish life.

If You Liked This...

Then you might well want to click through to the following articles, socials and podcasts. just click on the images to be taken to more excellent writing and content. And let's start with me being an idiot...