Living in Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes

What Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes is like

Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes grew together until the border between them disappeared from the street. Between them they have more than two hundred thousand residents and a large share of northern Madrid's office jobs.

That's their central argument: if you work in Arroyo de la Vega or the A-1 business parks, you can walk or make a ten-minute trip, and still have a direct Metro line to Nuevos Ministerios for everything else. It's one of the few places outside the city where you don't have to choose between being near work and being connected to Madrid.

In exchange, rent doesn't fall as much as in the southern suburbs. It's still below Madrid's central districts, but it's the most expensive option on this list, and it's worth comparing with Tetuán or Ciudad Lineal before deciding: for some people, Madrid city ends up the better deal.

What works in its favor

Walk to work

Arroyo de la Vega is home to the headquarters of major companies, within walking distance of thousands of homes. That ten-minute commute is worth a lot.

Direct Metro on line 10

No change to Nuevos Ministerios and Plaza de España. Line 10 is fast and runs beneath the Castellana for most of the way.

Above-average facilities

Sports centres, libraries and well-kept parks. They are two of the best-equipped towns in the region.

What to know before moving

• It's the most expensive of the options outside Madrid city covered here. Being close to the northern jobs shows in the rent.
• The car still matters in the more spread-out residential developments; the Metro covers the central spine well and the edges less so.

Does Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes make sense for you?

It depends on where you need to be each week and how often. Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes can be an excellent decision or an expensive mistake; your routine makes the difference.

Test it in the explorer in about two minutes. Add your budget and regular destinations to see whether Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes reaches your shortlist and which other areas compete with it.