Country topic
Cost of living in Spain
Prices overall in Spain were about 0.65 of United States prices in 2025 at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 64.52 with the United States at 100). That is a whole-economy comparison, not a household budget, and rents differ a lot between cities. [Cost of living C1] Fotocasa’s rental index, updated 7 October 2026, puts average asking rents at €23.15 per m² a month in Barcelona city (about €1,852 for an 80 m² home), €22.40 in Madrid city (€1,792), €19.60 in Palma de Mallorca (€1,568), €18.96 in Valencia city (€1,517) and €18.78 in Marbella (€1,502). These are index averages across adverts, not quotes for any one home. [C2]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- Prices overall in Spain were about 0.65 of United States prices in 2025 at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 64.52 with the United States at 100). That is a whole-economy comparison, not a household budget, and rents differ a lot between cities. [Cost of living C1]
- Fotocasa’s rental index, updated 7 October 2026, puts average asking rents at €23.15 per m² a month in Barcelona city (about €1,852 for an 80 m² home), €22.40 in Madrid city (€1,792), €19.60 in Palma de Mallorca (€1,568), €18.96 in Valencia city (€1,517) and €18.78 in Marbella (€1,502). These are index averages across adverts, not quotes for any one home. [C2]
- In the same index, average asking rents were €16.61 per m² a month in Málaga city (about €1,329 for 80 m²), €14.94 in Alicante (€1,195), €14.24 in Seville (€1,139), €13.97 in Zaragoza (€1,118), €12.86 in Torrevieja (€1,029) and €10.73 in Granada (€858). The Spain-wide average was €14.10 per m² (about €1,128 for 80 m²). [C2]
- Four adverts seen on 4 October 2026 in Zaragoza asked €750 a month for a furnished 65 m² one-bedroom near the Plaza de Toros, €850 for a furnished two-bedroom top-floor flat in Universidad (no lift), and €900 each for an unfurnished 55 m² one-bedroom on Paseo Sagasta and a furnished two-bedroom in Delicias. These are single asking rents, not an average or a quote, and availability was unconfirmed. [C3] [C4] [C5] [C6]
- On the same day, one Granada advert asked €650 a month for a 40 m² furnished studio on Avenida de Barcelona, and one Alicante advert asked €900 for a furnished 35 m² one-bedroom with all bills included, whose landlord asks for a work contract, preferably from staff posted temporarily to Alicante. Both are single adverts with availability unconfirmed. [C7] [C8]
- In Zaragoza, the 2026 city fares are €29.05 for a 30-day bus and tram pass and €1.70 for a single ticket. We have not found a dated, sourced transport price for the other Spanish cities in our research. [C9]
- Spanish law (Ley 29/1994, article 36) requires a cash deposit of one month’s rent for a home and lets landlord and tenant agree an additional guarantee, which the consolidated text caps at two months on housing leases of up to five years. One Zaragoza advert asks for a one-month deposit plus two months of additional guarantee. The BOE page notes changes made and set aside in early October 2026, so confirm the current rule before signing. [C10] [C4]
- The telework visa requires health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, covering everything the public system covers, with no co-payment or limit, unless you prove Spanish public Social Security coverage. We have no dated, sourced price for it, nor for utilities or groceries, so those costs are unknown, not zero. One private provider advertises home fibre from €10 a month where its Fibra SMART coverage reaches; check the exact address. [C11] [C12]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades the cost of living.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
47 of 100Mixed
Price level 0.645 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Spain. Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
More on Spain.
Topics
More about Spain.
Questions about Cost of living in Spain.
How expensive is Spain compared with the United States?
The World Bank’s price level for Spain was about 0.65 of US prices in 2025, at market exchange rates. That is a whole-economy comparison, not a household budget: rents differ a lot between cities, and personal tax and health insurance are not included.
How much is rent in Madrid, Barcelona and the other big cities?
Fotocasa’s index, updated 7 October 2026, shows average asking rents per m² a month of €22.40 in Madrid, €23.15 in Barcelona, €18.96 in Valencia and €16.61 in Málaga. For an 80 m² home that is about €1,792, €1,852, €1,517 and €1,329. These are asking-rent averages, not quotes.
What does rent cost outside the biggest cities?
In the same Fotocasa index: Alicante €14.94 per m² a month (about €1,195 for 80 m²), Seville €14.24 (€1,139), Zaragoza €13.97 (€1,118) and Granada €10.73 (€858). On 4 October 2026 one Zaragoza one-bedroom was advertised at €750 and a Granada studio at €650. Single adverts are not averages.
How much deposit do landlords ask for in Spain?
Spanish law requires a cash deposit of one month’s rent for a home and lets the parties agree an extra guarantee, capped in the BOE text at two months on leases of up to five years. One Zaragoza advert asks for a month plus two. The BOE notes changes in October 2026, so check the current rule.
Do I need health insurance in Spain, and what does it cost?
The telework visa asks for health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, covering everything the public system covers with no co-payment or limit, unless you prove Spanish public Social Security coverage. We have no dated, sourced price for it, so the cost is unknown; get quotes before applying.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [ES C1] Price level index (GDP), Spain, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 64.52 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [Cost of living C1] Price level index (GDP), Spain, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 64.52 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [C2] How much does it cost to rent a house in Spain? (updated 7 October 2026), Fotocasa Life (private property portal, own index; not a government statistic). Checked 15 October 2026. Average asking rent per m² a month by city after the September 2026 readjustment; the monthly figure is for an 80 m² home (price per m² x 80). Index averages, not quotes.
- [C3] Furnished one-bedroom flat near Plaza de Toros (Casco Histórico), Fotocasa (private property portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent on one advert; availability unconfirmed.
- [C4] Two-bedroom top-floor flat, Calle Pamplona Escudero (Universidad), Fotocasa (private property portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent on one advert; availability unconfirmed.
- [C5] One-bedroom flat, Paseo Sagasta (Centro), Fotocasa (private property portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent on one advert; availability unconfirmed.
- [C6] Two-bedroom flat, Gómez Laguna (Delicias), Fotocasa (private property portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent on one advert; availability unconfirmed.
- [C7] Studio flat, Avenida de Barcelona (Zaidín), Fotocasa (private property portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent on one advert; availability unconfirmed.
- [C8] Top-floor one-bedroom flat, Calle Teniente Llorca (Campoamor), Fotocasa (private property portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent on one advert; availability unconfirmed.
- [C9] Bus and tram fares for 2026, Tranvías de Zaragoza (city tram operator). Checked 15 October 2026. 2026 fares: 30-day pass EUR 29.05, single ticket EUR 1.70.
- [C10] Ley 29/1994 de Arrendamientos Urbanos, article 36 (deposit), Boletín Oficial del Estado (consolidated text). Checked 15 October 2026. One month of rent as a cash deposit for housing; an additional guarantee may be agreed, capped in the consolidated text at two months on housing leases of up to five years. The BOE notes changes made and set aside in early October 2026.
- [C11] Telework (digital nomad) visa, Consular Section, Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C.. Checked 15 October 2026. Written for residents of D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina; shows 2026 figures. Other US states apply at their own consulate.
- [C12] Home fibre prices, DIGI Spain (private provider, not official). Checked 15 October 2026. Fibre from EUR 10 a month where the provider’s Fibra SMART coverage reaches; 300 Mb or 1 Gb elsewhere. Availability depends on the exact address.