Seville is the capital of Andalusia, the fourth largest city in Spain with about 700,000 inhabitants, and there are many expats currently living in Seville.
It has a beautiful historic center. The Giralda, the Golden Tower, the Alcazar or the Plaza de España are just some of the characteristic places of the city. Although Seville is not located by the sea, it is one of the most visited Spanish cities by tourists. It is a big city, but not too big. All the stores, restaurants and cafes are nearby and can be reached with a nice walk. The sea is an hour away by car, as well as the main natural parks.
Despite being one of the most important cities in Spain, public transportation is not the best. Buses are rarely on time, even though the public transportation network has improved significantly in recent years. There are traffic jams throughout the day, and the roads are in need of improvement. However, there are also many bicycle paths.
The weather is warm and pleasant. The average annual temperature is 18° C, and it usually does not rain very often. Summers, however, can be extremely hot and stuffy, with temperatures exceeding 40°C, while in winter humidity is high and houses are usually not heated.
The cost of living in Seville is low compared to other European cities of similar size, except perhaps for transportation costs. Real estate costs are also quite reasonable, although the real estate market is growing, as it is throughout the country.
If you are outgoing and want to make new friends, Seville is the place for you. Sevillians are very open and helpful to everyone. Even in the first few days it will be easy to make new friends. Seville is a very active city, with a lively nightlife and many cultural activities. Here you will not lack places and friends to go out.
Two of the most famous festivals of the country and the world take place in this city: the April Fair and the Holy Week of Seville, whose importance you can only understand if you experience them.
On the other hand, if you are looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place for you. For many Sevillians, talking means shouting, and unless you are lucky enough to live on the top floor of a skyscraper, you will have to live with it all day. On top of the noise people make, there is also the construction noise, as the Andalusian capital seems to be a city that is constantly being renovated.
If you are thinking of looking for work in Seville, you should know that it will not be easy because there are many unemployed people in Seville. Although the unemployment rate has decreased in recent years, it is still very high: almost 20% of people are unemployed. If you have foreign language skills, the only sector where you can find work relatively easily is tourism or hospitality.
Living and working in Seville pros and cons
Living in Seville, Pros
- Very beautiful city
- Friendly and open minded people
- Nice weather
- Cheap cost of living
Living in Seville, cons
- Crowded city center (many tourists)
- Extreme heat in summer
- Few job opportunities
- Absence of the sea
- Noisy city
Living and working in Seville, conclusion
Seville is a medium-sized city that has the advantages of a big city, but it is not very big. Its economy is based on services and tourism. There are suburban neighborhoods where life is cheap, and central neighborhoods (near the historic center) where prices are very high. Employment opportunities are few. Unemployment rates are high, and so is social inequality. Andalusia is a poor region that still receives European development aid.
But people are open, helpful and tolerant. The city is fascinating and life is quiet and stress-free. You can feel the typical atmosphere that you can only find in southern Spain.
If you want to have all the information about how to work in Spain, I recommend you to read the article: Working in Spain
If you want to have all the information about living in Spain, you can read the article: Moving to Spain
