Cost of living in Spain vs UK

• How much does life cost in Spain compared to the UK?

• What are the property maintenance costs in Spain?

• Cost of living in different Spanish cities

• Ownership versus rental

• Property taxes

• Other property maintenance costs

• Property maintenance costs compared to the UK

• How much does life cost in Spain?

• Cost of living in Spain versus the UK

1. How much does life cost in Spain compared to the UK?

Moving to another country is a complex and sometimes painful process. In addition to paperwork and other formalities, it’s necessary to assess what life will be like in the new place and, of course, how much it will cost. Housing prices (rent and utilities), insurance, food, and other expense categories - all of this is important. This article is a complete guide to the cost of living in Spain, including major cities and islands. We compare expenses in Spain with expenses in the UK.

Spain’s economy ranks 5th in the EU. However, salaries in the country cannot be called high: by this indicator, Spain ranks 20th in Europe. If we take the average national gross salary of approximately 2000 EUR per month, then the approximate expenses of a family of 3 people with two working members look like this:

• Taxes: 30%
• Utilities: 4–5%
• Food: 10–15%
• Medical insurance: from 1 to 5% depending on the type of policy

On average, life in Spain costs approximately 1200 EUR per month, including all current expenses, food, and rent. At the same time, the average net salary in England in 2026 is about 2800 EUR/month, and for comfortable living in the UK, approximately 2400 EUR/month per person is required.

Let’s examine in detail how much life and housing maintenance costs in Spain - both on average across the country and in cities popular among expats.

2. What are the property maintenance costs in Spain?

Property maintenance in Spain is an aspect that should be considered before purchasing. Although Spain can hardly be called an expensive country in terms of housing and its maintenance, these expenses will still make up a significant part of the monthly budget.

All expenses are divided into two parts. First, fixed payments that will have to be paid even for vacant housing: taxes, insurance, building and surrounding area maintenance (cleaning, garbage collection, etc.). Second, variable payments depending on consumption: utilities (water, electricity, gas) and communications (internet, phone, television). For example, in old buildings the comunidad fee can be 40 EUR per month, while in new large residences - 150 EUR and more.

Overall, expenses depend on the building’s energy efficiency level, the prestige of the residential complex and services provided, number of residents, and level of water and electricity consumption. For clarity, let’s look at examples of annual expenses for maintaining an apartment and villa in Spain.

Apartment/bungalow/townhouse

Villa

Property maintenance costs in Spain can be significant, but they can always be reduced through reasonable consumption, and also by living only during high season and not using additional services.

3. Cost of living in different Spanish cities

The most expensive city in Spain is San Sebastián. The cost of living here is 30% higher than the country average. Madrid comes next, followed by Barcelona. The cheapest city in Spain is Ceuta. The cost of living here is 30% below average. Among the most affordable places are Teruel and Palencia. Let’s examine in detail how much life costs in the most popular cities and islands of Spain.

Cost of living in Madrid

The cost of living in Madrid is lower than in other European capitals, although prices have risen noticeably in recent years.

One of the main expense categories when living in Madrid is housing. You can rent a whole apartment or a separate room. Until recently, rooms in the city were mainly rented by students. However, demand for rooms is growing among people of all ages.

Rental costs depend on the city district. Therefore, we recommend studying Madrid’s neighborhoods before looking for an apartment or room. Choose the one that suits you best (proximity to work, etc.) and matches your financial capabilities.

The cheapest housing, typically studios for one or two people, costs around 700–800 EUR. If you want to live in prestigious areas - Paseo de la Castellana or near El Retiro Park - the average rental price here is 2,000–4,000 EUR. Of course, there are elite villas costing more than 12,000 EUR per month. Renting a room in Madrid will cost approximately 400–600 EUR. Water, electricity, and gas bills should be added to the rent.

If you’re considering buying, Madrid is the third most expensive place to buy real estate after Barcelona and San Sebastián. 1 sq. m in Madrid costs an average of 2852 EUR. Examples of real estate prices in Madrid by district:

Madrid offers a convenient public transport network in all districts. For 50 EUR per month you can use metro, tram, or bus. For those under 26, the price is reduced to €20. Taxis in Madrid are relatively cheap compared to other Spanish cities. The average cost of a city trip is 10–20 EUR.

Restaurants in Madrid are quite expensive - dinner can cost 60–70 EUR per person in a decent establishment. If you don’t want to spend much, cook at home. One adult will spend about 250–300 EUR per month on groceries when cooking independently.

Also evaluate entertainment prices in the city. Dinner at a restaurant can exceed €200 per person. Fast food will cost €5–10. There are restaurants with “daily menu” for 10–15 EUR. A cinema ticket costs about €8.

Cost of living in Barcelona

Barcelona and cities within an hour’s drive are the most popular places for buying luxury real estate both for family and investment.

Barcelona is not an inexpensive place, it’s the second most expensive city in Spain after San Sebastián. Renting a studio in Barcelona will cost approximately 600–700 EUR per month. Depending on housing condition and district, apartment rental prices range from 800 to 2000 EUR per month. The price per square meter is 2725 EUR. In Barcelona’s suburbs, prices are lower in some places, but in prestigious urbanizations like San Andrés de Llevaneras, only luxury real estate is represented. Here is located the most popular resort and the most valuable real estate in the country.

The most sought-after purchase format in Barcelona is a resale apartment, as in Madrid.

Barcelona is a city with excellent transport connections and all types of public transport. If you’re under 25, you can buy a T-Jove card costing about 80 EUR, valid for 90 days on tram, metro, or bus. If you’re over 25, the T-month card (50 EUR) is available, valid for 30 days on any public transport.

If you cook at home, expenses will be about 50 EUR per week, meaning approximately 250 EUR per month per person. Eating out in Barcelona is quite expensive. Minimum - 25 EUR for dinner at a restaurant.

Entertainment budget: coffee with dessert, tapas, or beer with friends - minimum 10 EUR. Dinner at a restaurant for two - 60–80 EUR. Cinema ticket - about 9 EUR. Nightclub entry - about 15 EUR.

Cost of living in Valencia

600 EUR - the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in Valencia. If you need an apartment with 2–3 bedrooms, expect 1000–1500 EUR depending on the district. The average price per square meter in Valencia for purchase is 1240 EUR. Examples of the most sought-after real estate:

Valencia is a city with a good transport system. Metro is the most popular transport among locals. A single trip costs €1.50, a 10-trip pass costs €7.60. A taxi ride (10 minutes) will cost approximately 11 EUR. 1 liter of gasoline in Valencia costs an average of €1.30.

Despite the high level of Valencian cuisine, restaurant and bar prices are reasonable. There are inexpensive establishments where you can eat for 10 EUR. Dinner at a higher-class restaurant costs about 20 EUR per person. At McDonald’s or Burger King you can eat for 8 EUR or less. With home cooking, expenses will be about 200–250 EUR per person per month.

Valencia has many inexpensive gyms, membership averages 35 EUR/month. A cinema ticket in the city center is 9 EUR, plus another 6–7 for popcorn and drinks. For football fans: a Valencia CF match ticket starts from €20.

Cost of living in Alicante

Alicante is one of the best options for relocation. The city and province attract many foreigners with good weather and excellent cuisine.

400 EUR - the average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in Alicante. The minimum price for renting an apartment with 2 bedrooms is 600 EUR. The average price per square meter in Alicante is 1612 EUR. Resale apartments costing 70,000–130,000 EUR within 10–15 minutes’ walk to the beach are most popular.

Alicante’s real estate market consists predominantly of resale apartments. Most commonly purchased are apartments of 90–120 sq. m costing 75,000–200,000 EUR depending on the district. Usually these are apartments with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Dinner at a restaurant with friends or family averages 15–25 EUR per person. At McDonald’s or Burger King you can eat for €7–8. With home cooking and buying products at the market, expenses may not exceed 200 EUR per person per month.

With frequent public transport use, expenses will be 40–50 EUR per month. A liter of gasoline in Alicante is about €1.30, as in Valencia. A taxi ride costs 7–15 EUR depending on distance.

Entertainment: nightclub entry is 10–20 EUR (on holidays like New Year, prices can be significantly higher). Cinema ticket averages €9.

Cost of living in Málaga and Marbella

In Málaga, rent won’t hit your wallet hard: renting a furnished one-bedroom apartment costs an average of 450–700 EUR, the difference determined by location. Water, gas, and electricity costs are about €100 per month for an 80 sq. m apartment.

If you’re planning to buy, a square meter in Málaga costs 2000–2500 EUR depending on district, design, and location. In Marbella and its surroundings - the famous Costa del Sol resorts - a square meter costs at least 3000 EUR, averaging about 3150 EUR.

Real estate prices in Marbella:

Real estate prices in Málaga:

In higher category restaurants, dinner will cost up to €30 per guest. Coca-Cola or Pepsi in a bar costs €1.7; beer costs about €2.5 for 0.5 l of local brand. In Marbella, on Golden Mile and in Puerto Banús, there are many upscale establishments - up to 100 EUR per person. Public transport in Málaga is among the cheapest in Spain: a ticket costs €1.35. Monthly pass - €40.

Minimum taxi rate is €3.70, but this is compensated by low per-kilometer cost: €0.95 during the day and €1.15 at night. Gasoline costs about €1.3 per liter, as in other parts of Spain.

Cost of living in Tenerife

Despite its status as a popular tourist destination, rental costs in Tenerife remain at acceptable levels. Renting a one-bedroom apartment averages 500–650 EUR per month. Tenerife is one of the places with the lowest utility costs in Spain: water, electricity, gas, and garbage total only €90 per month for an 80 m² apartment.

If you’re planning to buy, a square meter in Tenerife costs 1600–2200 EUR. The price per square meter in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is 1795 EUR.

Real estate prices in Tenerife:

For €10 you can try Canarian cuisine dishes in one of the numerous bars and restaurants. At a higher category restaurant - from €25 per person. In Tenerife you can always save money by eating at street establishments (good arepa or kebab costs about €3). Lunch at fast food (McDonald’s and similar) starts from €7.5. Beer in a bar costs 1.6 EUR for 0.5 l of local production. Coca-Cola or Pepsi 33 cl costs €1.10.

A single transport ticket on the island costs €1.5. Monthly pass costs about €40. Taxi starts from 3.25 EUR, €0.71 per km during daytime. Tenerife gas stations compete on prices: a liter of 95 gasoline costs from 0.90 to 1.15 EUR.

Gym membership costs up to €40 per month. Two cinema tickets cost about €15. Internet costs €43 per month.

Cost of living in Mallorca

600–800 EUR - the cost of renting an apartment in Mallorca. This is the price for a one-bedroom apartment; a house with 3 bedrooms will cost 800–1100 EUR per month.

If you want to buy real estate, a square meter of new construction can cost up to 3200 EUR. On average, 1 sq. m in Mallorca costs 2096 EUR. Examples of properties with prices:

The abundance of foreigners in Mallorca makes the city’s bars and restaurants profitable. It will be difficult to have lunch for less than €13 at a restaurant in Mallorca. Dinner at a well-known restaurant requires about 25 EUR. However, ordering at KFC or McDonald’s costs only 9 EUR.

In Mallorca, metro travel costs €1.60. If you frequently use public transport, buy a monthly pass for 40 EUR. Taxis on the island are expensive due to the large number of tourists - more than 10 EUR for a 20-minute ride.

Cinema ticket costs about €9. Popcorn and drink cost another 6 EUR. Monthly gym membership with modern equipment averages 50 EUR.

4. Ownership versus rental

A foreigner can buy a house or apartment in Spain without restrictions or rent suitable housing. Depending on the option, expenses will differ. Let’s examine them in detail. In the largest cities - Madrid, Barcelona, Vitoria, Seville, San Sebastián, and Bilbao - it’s certainly comfortable to live, but rental costs there are significantly higher than the country average.

Therefore, Spaniards themselves prefer to settle in the suburbs of these metropolises. Spain has well-developed public transport, and the journey from home to the city center office by train or bus takes about 30 minutes.

Renting an apartment with one bedroom will cost approximately 450–650 EUR, with two - 600–1000 EUR. In large cities, an apartment of 60–90 sq. m can cost more than a thousand euros. The average monthly rent for the most sought-after types of housing is about 700 EUR. A room can be rented for 200–450 EUR. Utility bills should be added to this: electricity, water, gas, and internet. Heating will have to be paid separately: from 50 to 150 EUR per month.

The average rental cost in Spain is 9 EUR per square meter of housing. All property owners in Spain should consider that according to the country’s laws, tenants are more protected than landlords. The initial long-term rental contract is usually concluded for 1 year, but the tenant has the right to extend it annually for up to 5 years. During these five years, rent can only be increased in accordance with the inflation index.

Useful to know: the average real estate yield in Spain is about 6% per year. The current mortgage rate in Spain is about 2.25%.

Examples of rental costs in regions most popular among foreigners:

• In Málaga you can rent an apartment with a total area of 85 sq. m with 1 bathroom and 2 bedrooms for 750 euros per month.

• In Torrevieja an apartment with a total area of 120 square meters with 4 bedrooms costs 400 euros per week.

• In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria you can find an apartment with a total area of 80 square meters with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for 600 euros per month.

Comparison of average purchase and rental prices in Spain:

How much can you spend on real estate in Spain? It depends on the chosen coast, budget, and preferences. The most popular, affordable, and warm is Costa Blanca. Prices for the most sought-after real estate in Spanish cities:

Important points to understand when buying real estate in Spain:

1. Getting a mortgage in Spain is not difficult (lowest rate in Europe!) with stable income.

2. Housing in Spain is not just a purchase, but also maintenance. Utility bills and unforeseen expenses can amount to 2,000–5,000 and even 7,000 EUR depending on location and property type. But you can always get insurance covering emergency situations.

3. The “buy and rent” option may work or may not, since competition is quite high. For this we recommend contacting an agency that will rent your apartment for a fee.

4. Seasonal rental or for a couple of years is a reasonable choice, but if you’re planning permanent residence in Spain, we recommend considering buying your own housing. Especially in the case of new construction in a large city or resort, where the price grows significantly after construction completion, allowing you to make a profit.

5. Property taxes

When owning real estate, you cannot forget about paying taxes. There are three main property taxes to consider.

1. Municipal property tax (Impuesto Sobre Bienes Inmuebles, or IBI) - from 0.4 to 1.1% of the cadastral value of the property, which is several times lower than market price.

2. Personal income tax (Impuesto Sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas, or IRPF) - if the property is a second home, not the main place of residence. The rate is 0.48% or 0.265% of the inventory value. If the cadastral value was revised after 1994, the reduced rate applies.

3. Wealth tax - if assets exceed 700,000 EUR, you must pay from 0.2 to 2.5% depending on the rates of the region of residence.

6. Other property maintenance costs

Community fees for maintaining common areas (comunidad) are a common expense category in residential complexes.

Apartment owners with common areas (pool, garden, guarded parking, common staircase, basement, courtyard) pay €1000–2000 per year for territory maintenance in case of new or luxury complexes. For individual houses, the amount depends on the degree of urbanization (garbage collection, security, territory cleaning, street lighting) and amounts to €500–€1500 per year. In luxury complexes with developed infrastructure (tennis courts, sauna, gym, restaurant, pool) the annual fee can be several times higher.

Weekly gardener work will cost a private house owner €80–200 per month (depending on plot size), pool cleaning (once a week) - €50–120 per month; house cleaning - €7–10 per hour.

If the owner cannot permanently stay in Spain, they should use the services of a management company. Management companies pay bills, monitor property condition, and clean common areas. When buying an apartment in a modern complex, finding such a company is not difficult - they are often created by the developer themselves. In Spain, management company services are cheaper than in the rest of Europe. Often the fee is charged not per square meter, but per housing unit and amounts to €1 per day (€365 per year).

There are companies that calculate service costs by area, but then the price per square meter decreases with increasing area. Per year - from €6 to €15 (average €8.4) per sq. m. For this amount, management companies provide security and maintenance of the entire complex, including cleaning of common areas (while you can arrange private apartment cleaning for an additional fee).

Housing insurance is not mandatory if the property was not bought with a mortgage. Depending on insurance coverage volume, the cost varies. Minimum amount starts from €80. The most comprehensive insurance, including possible damage to third parties, costs €460 per year.

7. Property maintenance costs compared to the UK

Let’s look at the average cost of annual expenses for maintaining a 2-bedroom apartment in the UK.

Considering that apartment maintenance in Spain averages 3100 EUR, the almost two-fold difference is obvious. By the way, housing insurance in England costs an average of 200–700 EUR per year, which is not much more expensive than in Spain.

Renting a studio in England averages from 700 to 1600 EUR, a 2-bedroom apartment/townhouse - from 1000 to 3000 EUR, a 3-bedroom apartment, house or townhouse - from 1200 to 5000 EUR. The price range is wide since the cost of living in London and, for example, Birmingham differs significantly. In London or Manchester, expenses will be closer to the upper limit.

On average, rental prices in the UK are 37% higher than in Spain, and purchase costs are approximately 70% higher!

8. How much does life cost in Spain?

We have already examined housing maintenance costs. Now let’s turn to other expense categories, prices for which may pleasantly surprise you.

Cost of public transport in Spain

Despite the fact that every Spanish family has more than one car, transport costs include not only gasoline costs (about €1.1–1.3 per 1 liter) and car maintenance, but also public transport costs.

A bus trip costs €1.4. You can save by buying a monthly travel card for €45–55. Its advantage is that transfers from route to route within an hour and a half are not counted as separate trips. In cities with metro, the card allows using both metro and surface transport (buses, trams, some funiculars, and even urban trains).

If you want to travel, for example from Barcelona to Valencia or Madrid by train, the trip can cost €50–80 per person. (The closer to the travel date, the higher the price; ticket sales begin 60 days in advance.)

For long trips with family, Spaniards prefer cars - it’s more affordable. By the way, personal car insurance costs about €400–500 per year, and vehicle tax - €100–150 per year.

Cost of food in Spain

Everyone has their own ideas about what “expensive” or “cheap” means. Some eat only in restaurants, others visit them only on special occasions; some spend €30 per week on groceries per person, others spend hundreds. Let’s look at average prices for products in Spanish supermarkets.

Local residents prefer to buy vegetables and fruits at food markets, where there’s more choice and lower prices, and other products at supermarkets near home.

Average cost of lunch with drinks at a restaurant ranges from €12 to 50 per person depending on establishment category and menu. Location also affects price. For example, if you decide to have lunch in the tourist center of Barcelona or Valencia, you’ll likely spend more than €15 per person, even just for a piece of pizza and a glass of beer.

Outside tourist zones you can find a three-course lunch for less than €15. There are buffets where you can eat without limits for €15–20.

Fast food is significantly cheaper: €4 for local paella at a café; about €8 for lunch at American fast food.

Interesting fact: in Barcelona a glass of cold beer at a restaurant costs €6, in a bar on Costa Blanca - €1.5–2.

Depending on preferences, food expenses can range from €200 to several hundred euros per month. Home cooking for a family significantly reduces food costs per person, while frequent restaurant visits substantially increase overall expenses.

Cost of education in Spain

Regarding primary and secondary education, there are 3 types of schools in Spain: state, private, and Catholic. In private or international schools, education is conducted in English following British programs (or others, for example Montessori). It’s believed that after graduating from such an educational institution, it won’t be difficult for a child to enter prestigious world universities. Tuition costs from 500 to 1000 EUR per month. It can be more, but as an exception. The amount includes a full “service” package - sports, electives, meals, transport, etc.

Most children in Spain attend state schools, where education is free. In some municipal schools, parents only pay for textbooks - from 100 to 350 EUR per year depending on the child’s age.

Catholic schools devote much time to religion. Unlike state and private schools, Catholic schools not only educate but also discipline children.

Education at Spanish universities is economically advantageous, especially compared to the UK. State universities remain significantly more affordable than private ones. Depending on university level, tuition at a state university costs from 1,000 EUR per year, at private - from 7,000 to 22,000 EUR per year. The possibility of receiving scholarships or study grants should be considered. MBA program costs range from 7,000 to 40,000 EUR. You’ll also need to account for textbook costs - about 500 EUR at the bookstore each September.

For understanding: studying “medicine” at private universities with this program costs 17,000 EUR per year.

Cost of healthcare in Spain

Medical insurance is another mandatory expense category. In Spain, if a person is officially registered at their place of residence, they have the right to free medical care. But not all services can be obtained for free, and the queue for appointments can be very long: with insurance, waiting time is significantly reduced.

Medical insurance costs from €30 to 80 per month depending on needs and age. A doctor’s visit without insurance and without the right to free medical care can cost €100–300.

Who has the right to free medical care in state medical institutions?

• Spanish citizens

• EU citizens (European Health Insurance Card) or citizens of countries with which Spain has certain agreements. Citizens of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, according to the agreement, have the right to free medical care in Spain in case of illness or accident. Residents of countries such as Andorra, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Paraguay, thanks to bilateral agreements with Spain, also have the right to free emergency medical care or expense reimbursement.

• Those with tourist insurance or international insurance valid in Spain;

• In emergency cases - children under 18 and pregnant women (Ley Orgánica 4/2000). According to law, foreign minors, as well as women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period have the right to emergency medical care regardless of their legal status in Spain.

Tourists from other countries, in the absence of documents giving the right to free medical care in Spain, are forced to turn to private or state medical centers on a paid basis, even in emergency cases.

Cost of childcare in Spain

Expenses for childcare institutions are quite high. According to tariffs published by autonomous communities for nurseries, monthly fees are 350–400 EUR for families with no other childcare option during working hours. In state nurseries, tariffs are calculated individually - based on income and family composition. Most pay a monthly fee including full day and meals. For example, in Madrid’s autonomous community, prices vary from €60 for the lowest incomes to €200 for the highest. Usually nurseries accept children from 3 months to 3 years. Maternity leave in Spain lasts up to 4 months, so leaving babies in nurseries after returning to work is common practice.

Children from 3 to 6 years can attend preschool institutions or kindergartens in Spain. Cost is about 200–600 EUR. Although preschool education is not mandatory, virtually everyone attends it.

42,600 EUR - average expenses for a child in the first three years of life in Spain. The cost of raising a child from birth to 18 years is minimum 120,000 and maximum 350,000 EUR. The first three years are one of the most expensive stages. On average, child expenses amount to 1,183 EUR per month in the first three years, which equals 81% of the average net monthly salary of a worker in Spain.

9. Cost of living in Spain versus the UK

The cost of living in the UK is generally significantly higher than in Spain. However, this difference primarily affects tourists or unemployed people, since the average salary in the UK is almost 60% higher than in Spain. For clarity, we analyzed and compared the cost of products, real estate, and other expenses in Spain and England. Prices are given in euros.

Products and restaurants

Utilities and transport

Sports and leisure

Childcare and education

*Most students choose state universities in Spain.

Real estate: rental and purchase

The food basket and restaurant visits in the UK cost significantly more. Consumer prices in the UK are on average 30% higher than in Spain, and restaurants in Spain are 40% more affordable. UK prices are expected to rise by at least 10% due to BREXIT.

Public transport in the UK is one and a half times more expensive than in Spain. Spain ranks second after Italy in Europe for affordable tariffs - averaging 45 EUR for a monthly travel pass. Unfortunately, the cost per kilometer by taxi in the UK is on average twice as high as in Spain. Overall, the cost of living in Spain is 20–30% lower than in the UK, depending on the city, and rental prices are on average 30–40% lower.

Renting a standard apartment up to two rooms in the city center costs approximately 650 EUR. The UK is the least affordable option from a real estate market perspective. It’s the most expensive country for apartment rental: monthly rent with utilities exceeds 1000 EUR. Monthly utility costs in Spain are among the lowest in Europe.

If you add year-round sunny weather and warm sea to Spain’s affordable prices, the UK cannot compete. That’s exactly why Spain remains the number 1 destination for British retirees.