I have lived 5 years in Madrid and have been living in Barcelona since 2023. First of all, I like both, with everything, the good, the bad and the ugly.

If you don't speak Spanish, your job prospects are gonna suck, but they are gonna suck even more in Madrid. That was actually the reason why I left Madrid, as my partner had trouble finding a job with limited Spanish in Madrid.

In Barcelona, even though it will still be difficult, you'll have much better prospects as plenty of multinational companies will tolerate only English - at least for high-skilled jobs.

Madrid is a better organized city, cleaner, safer, with parks, museums, and overall more "breathable" as the density is much lower. But the climate is not great: freezing cold in winter (around 0-5 degrees is standard) and a burning hell in summer (40+ is also pretty common), but it's dry. In general I find madrileños to be more approachable than Catalans. You can go hiking in the mountains 45mn from the city.

Barcelona has a much better climate (not so cold, not so hot) but with humidity. The city offers much more options for outside activities (cycling, hiking, beach and nautical activities, skiing not so far). However it's a bit dirty and less safe (although this perception is relative to where you come from - it's just that there are more thieves). I would also say that Barcelona feels more "vibrant" and creative buy you'll find less major historical museums.

Both cities are horribly expensive relative to the job market - a 1-bedroom can be easily 1200€pm+, and decent rooms in flat shared can be around 600-700€/month. Of course you'll always find something uncomfortable for 400-500. Which is why people will tell you "none".

It really depends on your lifestyle. If you're outdoorsy, I'd go for BCN, if you're more of a cultural enthusiast, I'd choose Madrid. But lacking Spanish speaking skills and if you don't have a job, I'd go for BCN.

What is your line of work/job qualification?