From Madrid to Seville: Spain’s stark neighbourhood income divide
Two Andalucía neighbourhoods among the country’s poorest as Madrid and Barcelona dominate wealth rankings
Recent data from Spain’s Tax Agency reveals the widest income gap between neighbourhoods seen in years, with Madrid and Barcelona’s elite districts pulling ahead while some southern areas continue to struggle.La Moraleja in Alcobendas, just outside Madrid, tops the charts for highest average gross income per taxpayer in 2023 at nearly €196,500. It’s followed by Ciudalcampo and Fuente del Fresno, both in the Madrid municipality of San Sebastián de los Reyes, and Barcelona’s Vallvidrera-Tibidabo i Les Planes rounds out the top four. Other affluent neighbourhoods with incomes over €100,000 include Muntaner and Pedralbes in Barcelona and Salamanca-Goya in Madrid.
On the other end of the spectrum is Torreblanca in Seville, Andalucía’s lowest-income neighbourhood, with an average gross income of only €11,354. This figure, though slightly higher than 2022, sits in stark contrast to the wealth of the capital’s northern suburbs. Andalucía also has another area among the poorest four nationally, underscoring the region’s ongoing economic challenges.
The low incomes in Torreblanca reflect persistent social issues such as high unemployment and limited infrastructure, despite ongoing efforts to revitalise the area. Supporting this, other poor neighbourhoods include Nou Alacant in Alicante and Cortijos de Marín in Almería.
These figures shine a light on Spain’s deeply uneven distribution of wealth. The capital’s wealthy districts, often home to business leaders, sports stars, and celebrities, stand in sharp relief against struggling communities that face barriers to economic opportunity and quality services.
- La Moraleja (Madrid): €196,429 average income
- Ciudalcampo (San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid): €121,838
- Fuente del Fresno (San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid): €108,354
- Vallvidrera-Tibidabo i Les Planes (Barcelona): €107,513
- Carrús-Plaza Barcelona (Elche): €17,670
- Cortijos de Marín (Roquetas de Mar, Almería): €17,210
- Nou Alacant (Alicante): €16,868
- Torreblanca (Seville): €11,354
The divide between Spain’s richest and poorest neighbourhoods is staggering: La Moraleja residents earn more than 17 times the average income of those in Torreblanca.
As Spain’s economy moves forward, these figures are a reminder of the urgent need to address the regional disparities that continue to shape everyday lives across the country.
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