Malaga loses a spot but remains the second best city in the world to live in

After being number one in 2023, it loses its position in favor of Valencia, mainly due to employment aspects. 10 things that as a person from Malaga you might not know about Malaga and why.

Vista panorámica de Málaga. -

Redacción

2 December 2024

Málaga

You need to know

Málaga has lost the top spot but both the city and Spain continue to be a reference worldwide. The capital of Málaga has been chosen in 2024 as the second-best city in the world to live according to the The Expat City Ranking 2024 by InterNations, the largest international community of expatriates. This time, Valencia took the first place – last year it was third – and Alicante completed the podium – last year it was second. This recognition places the capital of the Costa del Sol again at the top of a list that includes other major cities around the world, a total of 53, thanks to the opinions of more than 12,500 expatriates worldwide, who evaluated key factors such as quality of life, ease of adaptation, and economy.

In this edition of the ranking, Málaga again shares the podium with two other Spanish cities: Valencia and Alicante, which occupy the first and third place, respectively. Completing the top 10 are Panama City, Mexico City, Ras Al Khaimah, Madrid, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. At the other end, cities like Vancouver (53rd), Hamburg (52nd), Toronto (51st), Munich (50th), and Istanbul (49th) are among the worst-rated.

How Expatriates Rate Málaga

"The city has the happiest expatriates (first place), partly due to easy adaptation (first place)," mentions Internations, making clear some of the reasons for Málaga's position, which leads all these social parameters: "Most respondents not only agree that they have a personal support network there and are happy with their social life, but they also feel welcome and at home in Málaga.

However, what seems to have reduced its role are the "serious professional challenges" that Málaga has: "The work abroad index (44th place) indicates serious professional challenges, especially considering that the city ranks 13th in the 2023 index". Indeed, according to last year's ratings compared to the rest, Málaga has lost its top spot due to a drop in ratings in the professional branch: "All four subcategories of the index worsened in performance, from Work and Leisure (9th), which lost its top spot, to Professional Prospects (51st), which went from 36th place to the third-worst place".

And indeed, according to expatriates, "concerns revolve around the local labor market (49% negative responses compared to 31% globally)" also with regard to "personal professional opportunities (39% compared to 25%). And only 38% of expatriates are satisfied with their job security (compared to 56%)".

Where Málaga gains relevance is for expatriate retirees, as they raise the average because "they can freely enjoy their personal finances (3rd) and quality of life (5th), including the sun", as well as the climate (99% satisfaction compared to 58% globally).