A family prioritizing schools and connectivity
For this family, access to strong schools, healthcare, infrastructure, and international connections carries more weight than minimizing everyday costs.
Spain's larger metros raise the everyday cost base. This category is where Portugal remains clearly stronger for this family.
Spain offers international school provision and direct connections across several cities, so the family is not tied to a single metro area.
If the housing budget narrows, cost of living becomes the binding constraint and the result is sensitive to that trade-off.