Living in Spain: Is Oviedo a Good Place to Live?

Letter From Oviedo

My one-year report card after rating 12 aspects of everyday life in Oviedo

After living in Oviedo, Spain, for one full year (on July 31), I think I can finally answer the question I receive more than any other:

"Is Oviedo really a good place to live?"

There is an important distinction to make before we begin. Visiting a city and living in a city are two different experiences. A tourist sees beautiful architecture, charming cafés, and picturesque parks. A resident deals with grocery shopping, buses, banks, healthcare, immigration paperwork, weather, internet providers, and all the countless little details that determine whether a place truly feels like home.

This report card is about living in Oviedo—not spending a long weekend here.

One more point is worth mentioning. I am writing, in part, from the perspective of a Black American immigrant. Before moving to Spain, one of my biggest questions was whether I would encounter racism or the kinds of subtle, everyday microaggressions that many Black Americans worry about when considering a move abroad. While everyone's experience is different, mine in that regard during this first year has been overwhelmingly positive. That perspective naturally influences some of the ratings below.

My Grading Scale

• A: 9–10

• B: 7–8

• C: 5–6

• D: 3–4

• F: 2 or below

🚶 Walkability — 10/10 (A)

Oviedo is one of the most walkable cities I've ever lived in.

Many pedestrian streets free of vehicles

Almost every destination within the city can be reached on foot in roughly five to forty minutes. The sidewalks are wide, clean, and well maintained. Crosswalks are plentiful, and because pedestrians can often take shortcuts unavailable to cars, walking is frequently just as fast or faster than driving would be.

Verdict: A world-class walking city.

🚗 Traffic — 8/10 (B)

Compared with many cities, Oviedo is refreshingly free of gridlock. Rush hour exists, but the paralyzing traffic common in larger metropolitan areas is largely absent.

Verdict: Easy to get around without spending your life in traffic.

🚌 Public Transportation — 9/10 (A)

The city bus network covers Oviedo extremely well.

The buses are modern, clean, punctual, and inexpensive. My only criticism has nothing to do with the buses themselves: commuters often carry on lively conversations at a volume that may surprise visitors from quieter cultures. That's simply part of everyday Spanish life.

Verdict: An excellent transportation system.

🌦️ Living in Spain: Weather — 7/10 (B)

One of Asturias' greatest strengths is avoiding the intense summer heat common in southern Spain. Summers remain comparatively comfortable, although temperatures have shown an upward trend in recent years.

The tradeoff is winter. Rain is plentiful, which keeps the region lush and green but may disappoint dedicated sun worshippers.

Verdict: Pleasant overall, provided you don't mind rain.

🇬🇧 English Friendliness — 8/10 (B)

Although Spanish is essential for integrating into daily life, I’ve found the Spaniards willing to help in English to whatever extent possible.

Spain's English proficiency generally trails that of Scandinavian countries, but most visitors and new residents can still find assistance when necessary.

Verdict: Better than many people expect.

💶 Cost of Living — 10/10 (A)

For anyone arriving from the United States, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, or even parts of southern Spain, prices can be genuinely surprising.

Practically all cafés have freshly squeezed orange juice

Coffee often costs only a couple of euros. Fresh bread is inexpensive, supermarket prices are reasonable, and eating out remains affordable by international standards.

This category is one of Oviedo's greatest strengths.

Verdict: Outstanding value for money.

🥗 Food — 6/10 (C)

This score reflects my own dietary preferences.

If you enjoy meat, seafood, and traditional Asturian cuisine, you'll have no shortage of excellent choices.

Vegetarians and especially vegans, however, may find restaurant options somewhat limited. Ham, chicken, beef, and fish dominate many menus.

On the other hand, Asturias offers wonderful cheeses and many traditional regional specialties.

Plentiful fruit shops everywhere

Verdict: Excellent for omnivores; more challenging for plant-based eaters.

🌳 Green Spaces & Scenery — 10/10 (A)

Campo de San Francisco alone deserves special recognition.

Campo [Parque] de San Francisco

Oviedo's parks are beautiful, remarkably clean, well maintained, and feel safe throughout the day and night. The city also benefits from spectacular surroundings, with the mountains never far away.

Verdict: One of Oviedo's defining strengths.

🛡️ Safety — 8/10 (B)

Oviedo feels exceptionally safe.

Trust between people is generally high. While you will encounter some begging, aggressive panhandling is rare.

As a Black American, one of my greatest concerns before moving to Spain involved racism and everyday microaggressions. During my first year in Oviedo, I experienced little to none. That has been one of the city's most pleasant surprises.

Verdict: A city where I feel comfortable walking almost anywhere.

🩺 Healthcare — 6.5/10 (C+)

The quality of medical care is generally very good, particularly for urgent medical needs. Urgent care is efficient, waiting times have generally been short in my experience, and telemedicine is available 24/7.

One of Spain's biggest advantages is the affordability of medications. Even without insurance, many prescription drugs cost a fraction of what Americans are accustomed to paying, removing a major source of financial stress. Several prescriptions that would cost hundreds of dollars in the United States can cost only a few euros in Spain.

Where the system loses points is coordination. Communication between primary care physicians, specialists, laboratories, and pharmacies often feels fragmented. Patients are expected to take a more active role in connecting the dots than I was used to in the United States.

One caveat: I haven't required emergency room care, so this rating does not evaluate

.

Verdict: Excellent access, but coordination could be much better.

📄 Bureaucracy — 4/10 (D)

This was my lowest score.

Opening a bank account is surprisingly straightforward with a passport, but many other aspects of Spanish bureaucracy can be frustrating.

Banking security requirements often feel excessive, obtaining a mobile phone as a new immigrant can be unexpectedly complicated, and immigration procedures involve significant paperwork and inflexible computer systems.

Everything eventually gets done—but patience is essential.

Verdict: The city's weakest category.

🚭 Air Quality — 6/10 (C)

Overall air quality is generally good.

The biggest drawback is smoking.

With roughly one-quarter of Spanish adults smoking, it is common to encounter cigarette smoke at parks, bus stops, beaches, outdoor restaurant terraces, and simply while walking through the city.

For nonsmokers, this noticeably detracts from an otherwise excellent outdoor environment.

Verdict: Good air quality, diminished by the prevalence of smoking.

😊 Overall Quality of Life — 9/10 (A)

Despite the criticisms above, this is where Oviedo shines.

The people are generally kind and welcoming. Violence is uncommon. Cafés are everywhere. Good coffee is easy to find.

Relaxed café time is an integral part of life--sit as long as you like

The city is beautiful, clean, and compact. Day-to-day life feels calmer and less stressful than in many places I have lived.

No city is perfect.

But after one year, there is remarkably little I would change.

Final Score

Total Points: 101.5 out of 120

Average Score: 8.46/10

Overall Grade: B+

Would I move to Oviedo again? Yes.

Every city has strengths and weaknesses, and I've tried to evaluate both honestly. For me, Oviedo's advantages overwhelmingly outweigh its shortcomings. It isn't merely a wonderful place to visit.