Cost of living in Spain compared to the rest of the world

Compare the cost of rent, utilities, transportation, groceries, and leisure to the USA, UK, Canada, India, Ireland, Portugal, and South Africa.

Shreya

11 minute read

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Updated on 18 Dec 2024

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Moving

Of the several reasons to move to Spain, one of the most irresistible reasons is the cheap cost of living. You can enjoy a high quality of life in Spain with a relatively cheap cost of living compared to the rest of Europe. But how does Spain’s cost of living compare to your country?

In this article, we’ll explore how much rent, utilities, public transportation, groceries, and leisure cost in Spain compared to the USA, UK, Canada, India, Ireland, Portugal, and South Africa. After reading this, you’ll have a good idea if moving to Spain makes financial sense for you or not.

You can’t truly assess the cost of living without knowing the average salary. After all, the average salary that people receive is usually a good estimate of the cost of living.

The average salary in Spain in 2024 is €2,250. And depending on which city you plan to live in, the average salary can range from €3,130 in Barcelona to €2,690 in Bilbao.

To put it in global standards, the adjusted disposable income in Spain is $23,999 per year compared to the OECD average of $33,604 per year. But as you’ll see below, even though Spain’s average salary is lower than the global average, it’s still enough for living comfortably in Spain.

With an average salary of €2,250 per month, you’ll find that Spain is really as affordable as everyone says.

If you’re by yourself, you can live on €1,200 per month in Spain. This includes room rent, groceries, health insurance, rare use of public transport, eating out a few times a month and shopping moderately.

If want to eat out regularly, shop frequently, and travel in or around the country, then a budget of €1,700 is enough to live comfortably.

Families with children should budget €2,200 to €2,881 per month. This includes the cost of groceries, rent and utilities, public transport, shopping, education/pre-school, and insurances.

The average cost of living also depends on which Spanish city you decide to live in.

• Madrid and Barcelona’s cost of living is one of the highest in the country.
• Malaga’s cost of living is one of the lowest in the country.
• Valencia’s cost of living is on the affordable side, making it the perfect city for those who want a mix of city and nature.

Below you can find the average cost of living for common expenses in Spain.

Now that you know the average cost of living in Spain per month, it’s time to see how it compares to the rest of the world.

US citizens moving to Spain, either for work, study or retirement, are going to love the lower living expenses in Spain.

Even if you move from an expensive city such as New York or San Francisco to one of Spain’s more expensive cities such as Barcelona, you’ll have to pay a lot less for the same things. This's especially true if you’re planning to work remotely and earn in USD.

On average, the cost of living in Spain is 123% cheaper than in the USA. The biggest differences in cost are in rent, utilities, groceries, daycare, and health insurance.

Spain has been and continues to be a relatively popular destination for the British. More and more Brits are planning to move to Spain after Brexit to enjoy the warmer temperatures, beautiful beaches and cheap cost of life.

On average, the cost of living in Spain is 114% cheaper than in the UK. The biggest differences in cost are in cost in rent, utilities, and daycare.

There’re a few similarities between Canada and Spain, such as beautiful nature, friendly people, and great healthcare. But perhaps what gives Spain an edge is its cheaper cost of living, access to healthier food, and warmer climate for those looking to get away from Canada’s winters.

On average, the cost of living in Spain is 59% cheaper than in Canada. Although gym memberships and utility bills can be slightly more expensive in Spain, you’ll find the biggest differences in cost in rent, groceries, alcoholic drinks, and daycare.

Moving to Spain from India will initially feel heavy on your pocket. After all, the Euro is stronger than the Rupee. But as you’ve figured by now, Spain's one of the most cost-friendly European destinations to relocate to. And once you’re earning in Euros with your new job in Spain, you’ll stop converting Rupees to Euros every time you make a purchase.

On average, the cost of living in Spain is 285% more expensive than in India. Both the average rental and utilities costs are approximately 275% more expensive in Spain than in India. Costs that don’t differ too much include the cost of beer and groceries.

If you’re from the Republic of Ireland, you can compare the cost of living in Spain vs Ireland in Euros below. Luckily for you, living in Spain is going to be cheaper!

On average, the cost of living in Spain is 106% cheaper than in Ireland.

Spain and Portugal have very similar cost of living. While Portugal tends to be on the cheaper side for most things, it’s also possible to have a cheaper cost of living in some Spanish cities.

*Non-EU citizens residing temporarily in Portugal (e.g. non permanent resident visa holders) cannot get free coverage under the public health care system. If you belong to this category, the cost of health insurance is €30-€50 a month.

On average, the cost of living in Spain is 4.3% more expensive than in Portugal, with Spain being cheaper on average for public transport and grocery costs.

For those wishing to move to Spain from South Africa, you’ll find that the cost of living in Spain is higher. But this higher cost of living brings along a higher quality of life. You can expect to earn more, see lower unemployment, get better access to healthier food, have a longer life expectancy, have access to more coastlines, and much more.

On average, the cost of living in Spain is 32% more expensive than in South Africa; the cost of utilities, public transport, groceries, alcoholic drinks are relatively similar.

If you're coming from a country where the cost of living is more expensive, you'll certainly enjoy a cheaper cost of living in Spain. But keep in mind that if you're earning in Spain, your salary will (most likely) be lower than what you earned back home. But this shouldn't be a problem if you plan to spend most of your time and money in Spain. And for some people, quality of life matters more than how much they earn.

If you're coming from a country where the cost of living is cheaper than that of Spain's, it's normal to feel a bit overwhelmed initially. But once you start earning in Spain, you'll be able to enjoy life just like the locals. This includes access to some incredible services and places like Spain's worldclass free healthcare, a family and pet friendly country, a great variety of landscapes, and some of the best cities in the world.

And no matter which country you're from, you can take advantage of Spain's favourable tax laws for expats– Beckham Law and Dual taxation laws. By using these, you'll be able to save money on taxes and have a bit more spending power than the locals. What's not to love?

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