The cost of living in Spain varies enormously from one city to another, and the biggest item is housing. Food, restaurants and transport are generally cheaper than in northern Europe, while rents in the big cities have risen sharply. The figures below are indicative and refer to 2026; prices change fast.
Rents
| City | Studio or one-bedroom flat, central area, per month | Room in a shared flat |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 1,100-1,600 euros | 500-750 euros |
| Barcelona | 1,100-1,600 euros | 500-750 euros |
| Palma, Ibiza, San Sebastián | 1,100-1,800 euros and more | 550-900 euros |
| Valencia, Málaga, Alicante, Bilbao | 850-1,200 euros | 400-550 euros |
| Seville, Granada, Zaragoza, Valladolid | 650-900 euros | 300-450 euros |
| Small towns and inland | 450-700 euros | 250-350 euros |
One month's deposit is standard and extra guarantees are increasingly requested. Community fees are often included in the rent (see the property market).
Other expenses
- Utilities (electricity, gas, water) for an average flat: 90-150 euros a month; fibre internet and phone: 30-50 euros.
- Groceries for one person: 250-350 euros a month, at supermarkets such as Mercadona, Lidl, Carrefour, Dia, Eroski and Consum, and at municipal markets.
- Transport: monthly public transport passes usually cost between 20 and 55 euros, with big discounts for young people, and the government has introduced discounted rail passes; in Madrid the youth pass up to age 26 costs 20 euros (see getting around Spain).
- Petrol: generally cheaper than in many EU countries.
- Eating out: coffee 1.30-2 euros, small beer 2-3.50 euros, menú del día 12-18 euros, a tapas dinner 20-35 euros per person (see eating in Spain).
- Gym: 25-50 euros a month; cinema: 7-10 euros.
- Healthcare: public healthcare is free for those working and contributing; private insurance costs 50-100 euros a month per person (see healthcare).
A sample budget
A single person in a city such as Valencia or Málaga, with a room in a shared flat or a small flat on the outskirts, needs roughly 1,200-1,600 euros a month; in Madrid and Barcelona, with their own flat, the budget rises to 1,800-2,300 euros. An Erasmus student in a shared room can often manage on 800-1,100 euros a month, depending on the city (see Erasmus in Spain).
Salaries and purchasing power
The minimum wage in 2026 is 1,221 euros gross a month over 14 payments; average salaries are lower than in central Europe and vary greatly by region (see working in Spain). For remote workers on a foreign salary, a medium-sized Spanish city offers excellent value for quality of life. See also Italy and Spain compared and shopping.