Cost of Living in Spain
What a month actually costs, with rent and salary context
Spain is one of the best value-for-money countries in western Europe, provided you do not need to earn a Spanish salary. Madrid and Barcelona have become expensive to rent in; the rest of the country has not.
| Average net salary | Roughly EUR 1,500–1,800 per month source |
| 1-bed rent, Madrid or Barcelona | Commonly EUR 1,100–1,600 |
| 1-bed rent, Valencia or Seville | Commonly EUR 700–950 |
| 1-bed rent, Granada or Murcia | Commonly EUR 500–700 |
| VAT | 21% standard rate |
Monthly budget, one person
| Item | Barcelona (EUR) | Valencia (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bedroom | 1,300 | 850 |
| Utilities and internet | 150 | 135 |
| Groceries | 300 | 270 |
| Transport pass | 40 | 35 |
| Phone | 15 | 15 |
| Total before discretionary spending | 1,805 | 1,305 |
Taxes worth knowing before you arrive
- Income tax is progressive and shared between the state and the region, so your effective rate depends on where you live.
- Spain levies a wealth tax on worldwide assets above regional thresholds, with a national solidarity levy on large fortunes. Madrid has historically applied a full regional rebate; other regions have not.
- Residents must declare foreign assets above a threshold on the Modelo 720 return. Penalties for non-declaration were struck down by the EU Court of Justice and reduced, but the obligation remains.
- Becoming Spanish tax resident — over 183 days, or your centre of economic interests — is not optional, and it brings worldwide income into scope.
Where the value is
Valencia offers a coastal city at roughly two thirds of Barcelona's rent. Granada, Murcia, Alicante, and most of Andalusia and Galicia are cheaper still. The interior of Castile is cheaper again and colder than the postcard suggests.
Free: the Spain visa checklist
A one-page PDF listing every document each route asks for, so you can see what you are missing before you spend anything. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.
The list is not open yet, so nothing was sent and your address was not stored. The guides on this site are free and need no sign-up.
We email a short course on how the Spain routes work, then the report offer. Your address is never sold.
Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.