Spain
Working in Málaga
The one Spanish city on this list whose job market changed character within a decade: from tourism and construction to a technology hub with international offices.
What the city runs on
A technology cluster that has grown quickly, anchored by the Málaga TechPark and by the arrival of engineering and cybersecurity offices of several large international firms. Tourism and the property economy remain large, and the port handles cruise traffic.
Why it is on this list at all
Because the offers are now genuinely there. A decade ago a foreign professional moving to Málaga was almost certainly working remotely or in tourism; now there are local employers hiring internationally for technical roles. The pay sits below Madrid and Barcelona, and so does the cost of living.
What to check before you sign
Whether the entity employing you is Spanish, since some of these offices hire through group companies elsewhere. That determines your tax position and whether the Spanish special regime is available to you at all.
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