Alicante, the historic Mediterranean port city, is just a short flight from the UK and has been named one of the world's best cities to live in by Forbes magazine's recent InterNations Expat City Rankings. Spain dominated the study with Alicante ranking third, only surpassed by Valencia and Malaga. In total, five Spanish cities made the top 10. Alicante outshines its Spanish counterparts in housing, with over two-thirds (68 per cent) of those surveyed rating affordability as 'positive' - double the global average.
The city also scores well in 'Digital life', ranking 16th, and is deemed 'decent' for expats seeking good internet access. Madrid ranks seventh in the survey while Barcelona is further down the list at 21. A total of 62 per cent of participants said it's 'easy to find' housing in Alicante, compared to the global figure of 45 per cent. However, Alicante received negative feedback regarding online government services and issues with 'bureaucracy and local authorities'.
Career prospects and job security were marked down, although many expats don't see this as a problem as they are either retired or working part-time. According to the most recent census, Alicante's population is nearly 350,000, making it the second-largest city in the Valencian Community, reports the Express.
The late 1950s and early 1960s marked the start of a lasting transformation of the city by the tourist industry, with its pleasant climate being the biggest draw for potential buyers. The city enjoys mild winters, hot summers, abundant sunshine and relatively little rainfall.
