Abidjan vs Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

A large, fast-moving, fairly dense city where getting around really means a car. Walkability is poor, pedestrian planning is weak, and the quality of residential neighbourhoods and outer suburbs is uneven.

A compact, low-rise city with an unhurried pace, calmer than busy Madrid and on a par with Málaga. The core is walkable and daily life rarely demands a car, though it spreads out rather than rising into a dense centre.

Recorded homicide is low for the region, which sets it apart from a place like Lagos, but petty street crime, perceived safety, and comfort walking after dark all rate poorly, so caution becomes a daily habit. Road safety is middling, and the broader political backdrop has been historically unsettled.

Reassuringly safe. Violent crime is very low, the roads are among the safer in the region, and walking around at night feels comfortable, in line with other Spanish cities.

Abidjan has a functioning local market and low unemployment, but it remains thin on industry breadth, professional networks, and startup depth. The supply of doctors is very thin, hospital access and overall care quality are limited, and emergency reliability cannot be counted on.

Local employment is the clear limitation in Las Palmas. Solid, dependable public healthcare without quite the depth of the big mainland hospitals in Madrid.

The strongest reason to be here. Abidjan runs on energy more than upkeep: litter collects, drains clog, and cared-for public space barely reaches past the Plateau towers and the lagoon edge.

A capable food and culture scene with a notably large international community, though a step down from the mainland heavyweights. Las Palmas keeps its beachfront and centre decently kept, with a few worn districts at the edges.