Safest cities to retire in Spain according to Retirely scores
Published
Safety is often the first filter adult children use when helping parents choose a Spanish retirement base. Retirely publishes a safety score, crime level, and rank among its city set—useful for comparing options beyond headlines or one viral video.
Here we look at Asturias, Bilbao, Spanish Pyrenees, Sitges, Seville, Valencia, and Alicante, then pair safety with living costs, healthcare, and climate so the list stays practical. This is not legal, tax, visa, or medical advice. Treat Retirely figures as planning baselines, then verify rents, clinic access, and neighbourhood feel in person.
Metrics snapshot: 16 Jul 2026 — re-check city pages on publish.
How to read Retirely safety metrics
Higher safety score and better rank (rank 1 = safest in the Retirely set of 70) are the primary signals. Crime level labels (Low / Medium / High) summarise the same underlying view. Safety does not replace common-sense habits, insurance, or neighbourhood research after dark—but it is a consistent way to compare Retirely destinations.
Always read safety next to healthcare and couple living costs (plus rent) so the shortlist works for daily life, not only for a peace-of-mind ranking.
Safety leaders in this Spanish set
| City | Safety score | Crime level | Rank | Couple living costs | Healthcare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Pyrenees | 88 | Low | 1 / 70 | €702 | 81 High (rank 22) |
| Bilbao | 87 | Low | 2 | €618 | 88 High (rank 5) |
| Asturias | 80 | Low | 3 | €615 | 87 High (rank 6) |
| Alicante | 77 | Low | 4 | €589 | 80 High (rank 28) |
| Valencia | 75 | Low | 12 | €610 | 81 High (rank 22) |
| Seville | 68 | Medium | 16 | €581 | 77 High (rank 38) |
| Sitges | 66 | Medium | 21 | €668 | 86 High (rank 10) |
Northern and mountain options dominate: Spanish Pyrenees (#1), Bilbao (#2), Asturias (#3). On the Med, Alicante (#4) and Valencia (#12) still post Low crime labels. Seville and Sitges sit in Medium crime bands with mid-teens to low-20s ranks—acceptable for many retirees, but not the Retirely safety podium.
Pairing safety with cost and rent
Couple living costs in this set mostly cluster around €581–€610, with Spanish Pyrenees a little higher at €702. Seville (€581) and Alicante (€589) look especially friendly on day-to-day costs; Bilbao and Asturias sit near €618 and €615.
Rent still matters. Asturias’ 95 m² rent band is €377–€832 (rank 16). Spanish Pyrenees €555–€686 (rank 10). Bilbao €729–€1,272 (rank 34). Alicante €762–€1,087 (rank 26). Valencia €705–€1,342 (rank 36). Seville €512–€919 (rank 22). Sitges is the premium renter’s pick here (€1,049–€1,886, rank 56).
Stack rent on living costs for a full monthly picture. A “safer” mountain town with low rent can beat a stylish coastal town on total spend even if couple living costs look similar.
Healthcare as complementary peace of mind
Bilbao (88, rank 5) and Asturias (87, rank 6) combine top-tier safety with strong healthcare scores—often the best dual reading for retirees who want both. Sitges matches a high healthcare reading (86, rank 10). Valencia and the Spanish Pyrenees post 81; Alicante 80; Seville 77—all labelled High on Retirely.
Climate among safer options
Safety leaders in the green north trade sunshine for rain. Asturias: weather score 52, rain 135, winter mildness 75, comfort days 223, sunshine about 2,904 hours. Bilbao: weather 44, rain 140, winter mildness 68, comfort days 191. Spanish Pyrenees: weather 43, winter mildness 117, only 88 comfort days—beautiful, but a serious winter.
Mediterranean safer picks feel different: Alicante weather 64, rain 35, sunshine about 3,738 hours, comfort days 154. Valencia weather 60, rain 48, comfort days 182. Sitges weather 67 with 192 comfort days. Seville scores 54 on weather with strong sunshine (about 3,661 hours) but only 127 comfort days—summer heat is the caveat, not winter cold.
Practical takeaways
- For Retirely’s safest Spanish reads, start with Spanish Pyrenees, Bilbao, Asturias, then Alicante.
- Pair northern safety with wetter winters; pair Med safety with warmer, drier winters.
- Bilbao and Asturias also excel on healthcare ranks—strong “sleep well” combinations.
- Sitges is safer enough for many, but rent is premium versus Asturias or the Pyrenees.
- Always add the rent band to couple living costs before you finalise a budget.
- Walk the neighbourhood at dusk on your scouting trip; scores are starting points.
Scouting week checklist (for you or adult children helping)
Metrics shrink the map; a scouting week decides the flat. Use this simple loop in every shortlist city:
- Morning: walk the residential streets you might actually live on—not only the old town square.
- Midday: price a normal food shop for a week’s basket and note whether staff switch to English comfortably.
- Afternoon: visit a health centre or private clinic reception and ask how appointments work for newcomers (without treating the answer as formal advice).
- Evening: test internet in the candidate apartment at the hour you would call family abroad.
- Night: return after dark and notice lighting, noise, and how you feel walking home.
Write down Retirely’s published figures beside what you observed. If rent asking prices sit far above the Retirely 95 m² band, adjust the budget—or the neighbourhood—before you fall in love with a view. Bring a second person if mobility or language fatigue is a concern; two notebooks beat one optimistic memory.
Soft next step on Retirely
Sort Spanish cities by safety on Retirely, then overlay healthcare and living costs on each city page.