Cost of living in Spain
Summary of cost of living in Spain
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: $3,503 (€3,252)
- Single person estimated monthly costs: $1,777 (€1,650)
- Spain is the cheapest country in Western Europe (18 out of 18)
- Cost of living in Spain is cheaper than in 54% of countries in the World (37 out of 68)
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | USD | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | €17 | ($19) | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | €9 | ($10) | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | €3.86 | ($4.16) | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | €1.03 | ($1.11) | |
| 12 eggs, large | €3.12 | ($3.36) | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | €2.26 | ($2.44) | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | €7 | ($8) | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | €1.90 | ($2.05) | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | €1.34 | ($1.45) | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | €1.06 | ($1.15) | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | €7 | ($7) | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | €2.03 | ($2.19) | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | €1.02 | ($1.10) | |
| Housing | |||
| EUR | USD | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | €1,311 | ($1,412) | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | €890 | ($959) | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | €122 | ($132) | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | €846 | ($911) | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | €622 | ($670) | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | €81 | ($88) | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | €27 | ($29) | |
| 40” flat screen tv | €336 | ($362) | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | €103 | ($111) | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | €8 | ($8) | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | €11 | ($12) | |
| Clothes | |||
| EUR | USD | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | €78 | ($84) | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | €32 | ($34) | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | €84 | ($90) | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | €88 | ($95) | |
| Transportation | |||
| EUR | USD | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | €27,016 | ($29,105) | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | €1.63 | ($1.76) | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | €30 | ($32) | |
| Personal Care | |||
| EUR | USD | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | €7 | ($8) | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | €6 | ($7) | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | €61 | ($66) | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | €3.83 | ($4.13) | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | €2.66 | ($2.86) | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | €3.09 | ($3.33) | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | €2.07 | ($2.23) | |
| Tube of toothpaste | €1.84 | ($1.98) | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | €16 | ($17) | |
| Entertainment | |||
| EUR | USD | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | €33 | ($35) | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | €16 | ($17) | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | €61 | ($65) | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | €47 | ($51) | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | €10 | ($11) | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | €2.66 | ($2.87) | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | €4.55 | ($4.90) | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | €520 | ($561) | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | €0.15 | ($0.17) | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | €48 | ($52) | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | €5.27 | ($5.68) | |
Moving to Spain with your children?
International Schools in Spain
Map of Cost of Living in Spain
This map shows only the top cities in Spain. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Spain
(top cities by data quality)
| Ranking | City | Price Index * |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | San Sebastian | 110 |
| 2nd | Madrid | 107 |
| 3rd | Barcelona, Spain | 104 |
| 4th | Palma de Mallorca | 102 |
| 5th | Bilbao | 99 |
| 6th | Pamplona | 94 |
| 7th | Valencia, Spain | 94 |
| 8th | Marbella | 93 |
| 9th | Vigo | 93 |
| 10th | Alicante | 90 |
| 11th | Zaragoza | 88 |
| 12th | Tarragona | 87 |
| 13th | León, Spain | 86 |
| 14th | Santander | 86 |
| 15th | Seville | 86 |
| 16th | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 86 |
| 17th | Valladolid | 85 |
| 18th | Murcia | 85 |
| 19th | Gijón | 85 |
| 20th | Corunna | 84 |
| 21st | Oviedo | 84 |
| 22nd | Santiago de Compostela | 83 |
| 23rd | Granada, Spain | 82 |
| 24th | Cadiz | 81 |
| 25th | Cordova | 81 |
| 26th | Logroño | 80 |
| 27th | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria | 80 |
| 28th | Ourense | 80 |
| 29th | Almería | 77 |
| 30th | Salamanca | 77 |
| 31st | Jerez de la Frontera | 76 |
| 32nd | Cartagena, Spain | 75 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Spain? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Spain of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in Spain
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Barcelona, Spain is about the same as in Madrid
- Cost of living in Barcelona, Spain is 11% more expensive than in Valencia, Spain
- Cost of living in Madrid is 20% more expensive than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Madrid is 50% cheaper than in Zurich
- Cost of living in Madrid is 64% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Madrid is 45% more expensive than in Lima
- Cost of living in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is 24% cheaper than in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Valencia, Spain is 13% cheaper than in Nanaimo, British Columbia
- Cost of living in Alicante is 15% cheaper than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Valencia, Spain is 11% cheaper than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Barcelona, Spain is 48% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Madrid is 19% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Malaga is 8% cheaper than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Valencia, Spain is 27% more expensive than in Moscow
- Cost of living in Seville is 24% cheaper than in San Sebastian
- Cost of living in Madrid is about the same as in Lisbon
- Cost of living in Madrid is 25% more expensive than in Santiago, Chile
- Cost of living in Barcelona, Spain is 26% cheaper than in Oslo
- Cost of living in Alicante is 25% cheaper than in Montreal
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 1 liter of gasoline in Alicante costs €1.50 (about 22 hours ago)
- Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Alicante costs €750 (about 22 hours ago)
- 1 kg of tomatoes in Alicante costs €2.00 (about 22 hours ago)
- 6 eggs, large in Alicante costs €2.70 (about 22 hours ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Alicante costs €1.05 (about 22 hours ago)
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Alicante costs €10 (about 22 hours ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Alicante costs €18 (about 22 hours ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Seville costs €300 (1 day ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Seville costs €900 (1 day ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Madrid costs €16 (3 days ago)