If you’re considering a move to Spain this year, you’ll want to know how much your monthly living costs will be, especially if you’re thinking of relocating to a big city like Barcelona or Madrid. Here’s what the data says.
The cost of living has become a concern for many across Spain in recent years. Prices are going up, like they are in many countries, and some in Spain feel the country isn’t the affordable place it used to be.
So, how much does it cost to live in Spain in 2026? The true answer, obviously, is that it depends.
There’s no one number you can put on the price of Spanish living when there are endless variables at play: where you live, your income, your tastes, whether you buy or rent, whether you live alone or share… the list goes on.
Advertisement
But where you live in Spain is the biggest variable here. The difference in rental costs between Madrid and say, Mérida in Extremadura, would be huge. Renting an apartment in Barcelona might take up your entire budget versus living in a small town in Burgos.
Nonetheless, we can still use some rough estimates to get a rough idea, however.
READ ALSO: LISTED – What will get more expensive in Spain in 2026?
Housing
The price of housing in Spain has soared in recent years, prompting widespread protests back in 2024. This will be by far your main expense.
According to National Statistics Institute figures, in Spain rent for a one-bedroom flat in the city centre can range between €850 – €1,300 depending on where you are. In rural Spain, you’ll be able to find apartments for far less.
Rent for a room in a shared flat might cost you anything from €400 – €700 in bigger cities, and perhaps as little as €200 in smaller towns.
Remember that in Spain often properties are advertised in terms of cost per m2. At the end of 2025, the average rent was around €14.21/m2, according to Fotocasa, or €14.7/m2 on Idealista, with market forecasts suggesting prices will continue rising in 2026.
Utilities
Electricity, water, gas bills and rubbish tax (if you own your property) might cost you anywhere between €120 – €200, depending on your consumption.
Other considerations, like buying bottled gas, or having solar panels, could further reduce your energy spending.
INE estimates that Wi-Fi and mobile phone packages can be bought for between €35 – €55 in Spain.
Advertisement
Groceries
Again, this varies massively on where you shop and your level of consumption. Shopping at local stalls and markets will help you save compared to eating out or shopping at more expensive supermarkets.
International price comparison site Precios Mundi has a list of average prices of essential items in Spanish supermarkets for 2026 to give you an idea:
- Litre of milk – €1.05
- 12 eggs – €2.61
- Chicken (1kg): €7.31
- Rice (1kg): €1.42
- Tomatoes (1kg): €2.22
- Bottle of wine: €5.03
- 0.5 litre of beer – €1.11
Overall
We can take these average prices and come up with some rough estimates. Remember, rent varies wildly depending on where you are, whether you live alone or in a flat share, and whether you live in the town centre or on the outskirts.
According to the most recent figures from the National Statistics Institute, the average monthly expenses in Spain are around €1,135 per person or €2,837 per household (2024).
That’s a huge range, but living frugally and sharing a rented property, it seems most price breakdowns online put the individual average at somewhere in the range of €1,300-€1,800 per month.
Living in Spain in 2026 would require a basic budget of roughly €1,300-€1,700 per month for one person in a medium-high city, covering housing, food, and services. Don’t include Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or Palma in this range unless you’re sharing a flat.
Dineo puts the figure at between €1,200 and €1,800 per month to live “modestly but comfortably in Spain.”
Price comparison website Expatistan puts the estimated monthly costs for a single person in Spain to be €1,865.
However, remember that in cities like Barcelona and Madrid renting a property could cost almost that, depending on the neighbourhood.
So, it’s safe to say there’s no concrete answer to how much it costs on average to live in Spain in 2026.
Your monthly spend will depend on several factors but most estimates put this number at somewhere in the €1,300-1,800 range.
Advertisement
IPREM
A note for foreigners thinking of moving to Spain. If you’re non-EU, you’ll not only need to have an idea of how much life costs in Spain but you’ll have to prove you can pay your way.
For immigration procedures such as Non-Lucrative Residence or Family Reunification visas, it is not enough to know how much it costs to live; it is mandatory to prove that you have the money required by law.
In Spain, this is calculated using the IPREM indicator and certain entry routes will have certain financial thresholds that must be met.
The Non-Lucrative visa, for example, generally requires 400 percent of the IPREM for the holder.
Students must have 100 percent of the IPREM per month and for those on family reunification, 150 percent of the IPREM is required for family units of two people.
The IPREM rate for 2026 is €600 per month.
READ ALSO: Visas and money – 10 things you should know about Spain’s IPREM index
