How much does it cost to live in Spain?

Rent is by far the biggest cost in Spain, and it varies a lot: a flat in Madrid costs well over half as much again as the same flat in Alicante. Here’s what a typical household spends, using 2026 figures.

Rent by city

Rents are quoted per month. These are typical asking rents in each city for an unfurnished home, worked out from idealista’s September 2026 price per square metre for each city and Brains Real Estate’s typical rents by number of bedrooms (Q2 2026). They are the figures our calculators use. They are market estimates, not official data, and central or sea-view areas cost more.

Over the year to September 2026, rents rose 7.3% in Palma, 5.9% in Alicante, 4.8% in Madrid, 3.9% in Málaga and 3.1% in Valencia, but fell 0.8% in Barcelona. You usually pay a deposit (fianza) of one month’s rent, and the landlord pays any agency fees. See Choosing where to live and Renting a home in Spain.

Bills

In most rentals you pay your own electricity, gas, water and internet. National averages give a rough guide:

Our calculators allow €125 a month for electricity, gas and water in a flat and €200 in a house, plus €30 for internet and €15 per mobile.

Tax on what you buy (IVA)

Spain’s VAT is called IVA. Prices in shops include it.

Food and eating out

Spain’s Household Budget Survey found that the average household spent €35,101 in 2025, or €14,066 per person. Our calculators allow €215 a month per adult and €130 per child for food at home, based on that survey.

A menú del día is a fixed-price set lunch, mostly offered on weekdays. See Food shopping and eating out.

Getting around

These prices include discounts funded by the government and regions, which have been renewed year by year. Many people on the coasts rely on a car. See Getting around without a car and Driving in Spain.

Health cover

Some visas, such as the non-lucrative visa, need private health insurance, and some people buy it alongside public cover. In October 2026 the cheapest private policy without co-payments on one comparison site cost €60.02 a month for a 24-year-old and €73.36 for a middle-aged adult. Our calculators allow €90 a month for a single adult, to cover older ages and fuller policies. See Healthcare in Spain.

A sample monthly budget in Madrid

This adds up the figures above. It leaves out eating out, childcare, school fees, health insurance, a car and holidays.

With the same household, the total is about €480–700 a month lower in Valencia and €640–940 lower in Alicante, mostly because of rent. Try your own numbers in the cost of living calculator, and work out how much to save before you go with the moving fund calculator.