Living Costs

The cost of living in Spain s generally a bit lower than in most major European cities. Barcelona is still an affordable town to live in. But it obviously depends on the area where you choose to live. The best locations in Barcelona, Marbella, Santa Ponça (and others) are really expensive!

Some figures about the rents on a low level quality give you an idea about your flexibility:

• Single room: rent from 250 to 450€ per month plus Gas, water, electricity: around 50€.
• Double room: rent from 350 to 500€ per month plus Gas, water, electricity: around 65€.
• Studio: rent from 400 to 700€ per month plus Gas, water, electricity: around 80€.
• Flat: (living, 1-2 bedrooms, bath, kitchen): rent from 650-900€ plus gas, water, electricity: around 90-100€

Rent on a medium level quality are 30-50% higher. Rent on a high level quality are 100% higher. Rent on super luxurious quality starts from 2000-3000€.

For food, beverage, and toiletry the minimum costs are around 500€ per person; for a couple around 750€, if you cook yourself and buy most of your food at the local markets; Moet Champagne not included!

To the living costs you have to add depending on your living culture and demands: Books, Cinema, Metro tickets, telephone ills, Internet connection, going to bars (clubs, discos, concerts, attractions, etc.), clothes, shoes, etc. You must also calculate the health insurance, regularly consulting a dentist, and probably other insurances. A car is obviously not included, but a cheap little car will cost a minimum of 250-300€ per month (including amortization, insurance, petrol, service, and repairs) plus for a parking place another 60-120€ per month depending on where you live; in cities it can go up to 180€.

The average salary goes around 1100€. With this money you can live a very modest life if you rent a room. If you want to live on your own calculate with monthly costs of around 1500€. If you dispose of 2000€ per month you can live on an excellent standard.

In big cities metro, train, tram, bus, and taxis are cheap (within the town); buying a scooter is the perfect alternative to a car for example in Barcelona and Madrid. It’s the best way to be anywhere within 10-15 minutes. You are independent and rapid in your movements. But be careful: if you don’t lock it carefully on a place with a lot of public traffic, somebody might steal it.

In most other places such as on the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol you need a car or you have the public bus services which is not available everywhere, anything but comfortable and last but not least very very time consuming.

Barcelona: Bicing with the public bicycle renting service is the cheapest way to move around: you have several “stations” across the city. You decide to take the bike at one station and give it back to another one. Fees: free for the first 30 minutes, and then 30 cents each half an hour more. To be entitled to rent these bikes you need to subscribe (and pay a year fee) to the service. If you speak Spanish, see here: www.bicing.com

If you are looking for a room, apartment or house to rent in Spain check out our Spain Classified Ads. Have a question about living costs in Spain, ask anything you want on our Living in Spain Forums.