Living in Badalona, Spain

What’s it like to move to and live in Badalona?

Just outside of Barcelona, Badalona often flies under the radar. But that’s exactly part of its appeal.

Badalona has the beach, the sunshine, and that Mediterranean lifestyle, but without quite the same crowds or price tag as its famous neighbor. Still, every place has its pros and cons. In this interview, you’ll get a more honest look at what living in Badalona is really like.

This interview is part of the Ask an Expat series. In this series I interview people living all over the world but outside of their country of birth. I try to help paint an honest picture of the ups and downs of living abroad, share tips for anyone thinking about moving abroad, and information about the place the expat now lives in.

Name: Maerle
Age: 43
Hometown: Tilburg, The Netherlands

Her Story:

“I was born and raised in the Netherlands and after I graduated from my International Tourism Management studies I traveled the world with my boyfriend (now husband) for 13 months.

After this, we started working in the Netherlands. I went back to university to get my master’s degree in child psychology, but we could never really settle in the Netherlands again, so we started looking for other options.

We loved Asia, but decided Spain would be a better fit for living permanently. My husband could easily get a few job options in Spain, in Barcelona and Mallorca, but we chose Barcelona as it’s such an international city.

We moved there in the summer of 2016 and I remember it felt so amazing to cycle through the city that we could now call home. We loved our life in Barcelona, but due to the high cost of living, we moved to Badalona.

Before moving to Spain I was already working as a travel blogger next to my work as a psychologist, but I started working on my blogs more after the move, and I do this full-time now.”

Why Did You Move to Badalona?

A young girl rollerblading along a boardwalk lined with palmtrees — La Rambla de Badalona

We were living in a rental place in Barcelona before and we wanted to buy our own place, preferably near the beach. But in Barcelona we just weren’t able to find anything. Everything was expensive, and all the places we saw were small, dark, smelly, and on busy roads.

So we decided to look further.

Since my husband had to be in Barcelona each day for work, we needed to stay close to the city. One day we went for a bike ride to Badalona and we liked it so much that we decided to look for a place there.

We found a great apartment in Badalona and bought it at the end of 2017, when I was pregnant.

When we moved to Badalona I felt a bit sad at first about leaving Barcelona, but I don’t anymore. We still live so close to the city and we have all we need in Badalona. That being said, I’m writing this from Barcelona, because for some appointments or a day out we still go to the city. And it’s just a short metro or train ride away.”

What Do You Like About Living in Badalona?

“The beach absolutely.

When I was a child, I went to the beach once a year, because we lived too far away, but now it’s literally a two-minute walk from our house, so we spend a lot of time there.

In summer it’s great since there are lots of beach bars and we love ending the beach day with some tapas. That’s another thing I love, in Badalona there are so many restaurants and cafes and lots of festivals and celebrations.

There’s always something to do, also for kids.”

What Do You Dislike About Living in Badalona?

“Not much actually. Maybe the fact that the municipality is quite slow when you need a license to renovate your house. We had to wait 1,5 years for it. And it’s not this bad in the municipalities around Badalona.

Also, the humidity and heat in July and August are something I don’t like. You’re sweating all day. Most expats escape the heat by visiting their home country or traveling in the summer.”

Also Read: Things Nobody Tells You About Living in Spain

Is Badalona Safe as a Place to Live?

“Yes I feel like it is.

Badalona is a great place for families, and I have never felt unsafe here. But like in any big city, you have to use common sense.

There are some areas that are best avoided, especially at night. The areas of Sant Roc, La Salut, and Llefià are less safe.”

Is Badalona Expensive as a Place to Live?

“It has become quite expensive, yes.

Housing in Badalona is expensive by Spanish standards, especially in the areas near the beach. We sold our 3-bedroom apartment for 300.000 Euros two years ago and bought our fixer-upper house for 500.000 Euros.

Rentals are expensive too.

The high housing prices are probably caused by the fact that it’s so close to Barcelona.

But the cost of living here is lower than in the Netherlands and many other countries in Europe. Grocery shopping and eating out are a lot cheaper, especially when you order the menu del dia during the week (a three-course meal). You can find them for around 15 euros.”

What is Your Favorite Thing to Do in Badalona?

“Mostly things around the beach. Going for a stroll with sea views, doing a workout on the beach, spending time on the beach with my husband and kids, and ending the day at one of the beach bars in summer.”

Any Favorite Bars and Restaurants in Badalona You’d Love to Share?

“There are lots of options, so it’s hard to choose just a few favorites.

I love Chiringuito Wayra, but this beach bar is only open in the warmer months (from May to October). You can enjoy tapas and drinks with your feet in the sand; life doesn’t get any better than that. The service here is great, and the food is amazing as well.

Gastroteca Espai Classual is a lovely restaurant with unique dishes you definitely want to try. My husband and I go here when we have something to celebrate. It’s not cheap, but it’s good.

La Cuineta d’en Persi is great if you want a local experience. Definitely order the potatoes with spicy cheese here.

For a summer vacation feel, go and have a drink at the rooftop bar of Hotel Marina.”

What is the Expat / International Community Like in Badalona?

“When we first moved to Badalona, there weren’t many expats here, but over the years the expat community has grown quite a bit.

Most people integrate well with the Catalans, but we do have a special WhatsApp group, and there are some expat meetups organized as well.

If you want to meet other expats living in Badalona I’d recommend joining this Facebook group for expats in Badalona to find out about events and Whatsapp groups.”

Any Tips for Moving to / Living in Badalona?

“Learn Catalan, it will make your life a lot easier.

Before we moved to Catalonia, we didn’t expect the Catalan language to be this important, but it definitely is. We speak Spanish, but in most areas of Badalona Catalan is spoken a lot.

Another tip when moving here: please don’t pay any money for a rental property if you haven’t seen the property. There are so many scams! We learned this the hard way when we first moved to Barcelona.

Paperwork can also be a hassle here. If you want to be a resident, you need a NIE, which is quite hard to obtain, or actually, it’s mostly getting the appointment that can take a long time.”

Editor’s Tip: I also live in Spain (in Valencia) and if the immigration paperwork feels overwhelming, I can highly recommend Movingtospain.com to help you with this.

Any Resources You Found Useful During the Process of Moving to and Building a New Life in Badalona?

“To find housing, check out Idealista.com. There you can find places for rent and for sale, get an idea of the prices, mortgages etc.

I also found Facebook very useful. There are some Badalona Facebook groups, but most of them are in Spanish. I joined a few Barcelona Facebook groups when we moved here, and found these more useful for expats who don’t speak Spanish. There are more people from Badalona in those groups, so you can ask your questions there.”

Is There Something You Just Have to See or Do When You Are in Badalona?

“I would say spend time at the beach. You can have a nice stroll for about 3 km along the sea, from the port of Badalona all the way to Barca Maria, or even further to the next town, Montgat.

If you have kids, go for a stroll in Parc de Can Solei i Ca l’Arnús. It’s a beautiful old park, and it has a very nice playground.

Also, enjoy a long Sunday lunch at one of the terraces on La Rambla de Badalona.”

About Maerle

Maerle is a passionate traveler from the Netherlands who has been living in Catalonia, Spain, since 2016.

She writes about her favorite places in the region on her website Traveltocatalonia.com.

About Badalona

Badalona is a coastal city just northeast of Barcelona, and part of the wider Barcelona metropolitan area.

With a population of around 230,000, it’s one of the largest cities in Catalonia, yet it still feels more local and laid-back than its famous neighbor.

Many people choose to live here for the balance it offers: easy access to Barcelona’s job market and international connections, combined with a more relaxed, residential atmosphere.

One of Badalona’s biggest draws is its coastline. The city has several kilometers of sandy beaches, a long promenade, and a more authentic, less touristy vibe than Barcelona. At the same time, you’ll find all the essentials for daily life: shops, markets, healthcare facilities, and schools.

Getting around is straightforward. Badalona is well connected by public transport, including the metro (L2), commuter trains (Rodalies), and buses, making it easy to reach central Barcelona in 20–30 minutes. This makes it a popular choice for commuters who want to live by the sea without paying Barcelona prices.

In terms of cost of living, Badalona is generally more affordable than Barcelona, especially when it comes to rent. That said, prices have been rising in recent years as more people look beyond Barcelona for housing. You’ll still find better value here, but it’s not the hidden gem it once was.

Culturally, Badalona has a strong Catalan identity and a real sense of community. Local festivals, traditional events, and neighborhood life play a big role here. While you can get by with Spanish, you’ll hear a lot of Catalan in daily life.

Overall, Badalona is a great option if you’re looking for a more local, coastal lifestyle near Barcelona, just with fewer crowds and a slightly slower pace of life.

Also Read:

Living in Badalona, Spain – Interview With an Expat