The cost of living in Spain is one of the lowest in Europe, especially when considering the quality of life that comes along with it. It’s this great reputation that brings hundreds of thousands of international students, expats as well as millions of tourists to Spain each year! If you’re thinking of moving to Spain to work or study then you’ll definitely need make a realistic budget. And the first place to start is being aware of all your potential expenses.
In this article we will cover some of the most important information regarding living expenses in Spain for internationals. Topics like housing expenses, food & leisure expenses, transportation costs and more. We will also cover the cost of living in several of Spain’s major cities like Madrid and Barcelona! Take a look at our content overview to find the specific information you need or continue reading for everything we have to share!
As a start, it’s important to note that the cost of living in Spain can and will be different for everyone. In addition to the concrete numbers, it’s always important to remember that lifestyle plays a huge role in a person’s budget. In this article we will mainly be covering expenses of an average student or young expat who is moving to Spain for a period of 6 to 12 months. But do not worry, the numbers we discuss will be applicable to many others who don’t fit that exact description.
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1. The Cost of Living in Spain – An Overview
People flock to Spain for its good weather, its amazing food, its rich culture and of course, it’s low cost of living! Generally speaking Spain is not a very expensive country to live in. This is especially the case for those coming from areas with higher salaries (Northern Europe, North America, Australia etc).
Things like eating at a restaurant, going for drinks and other forms of leisure are usually quite affordable. With meals ranging between 10€-30€ per person (not including michelin star locations). In fact, in some regions of Spain you can even enjoy and entire plate of tapas when you order a drink – and you only pay for the drink, which would usually cost around 3 to 4€.
Spain’s healthcare system is also very accessible and affordable for internationals. However keep in mind that it’s always important to have a good private health insurance plan for your time in Spain (especially if you are not from the EU). Public transportation costs usually run between 40€-50€ per month – but this will vary from city to city.
Most of your budget will be spent on your housing and accommodation. Meaning that how much you pay will depend completely on the location and the living situation you choose. For example, living on your own in the city center of Madrid will be much more costly than sharing a flat outside of the center or in a rural region. For average sized Spanish cities you can expect to pay between 600€-1200€ for your monthly rent.
1.1 Living Expenses in Spain’s Largest Cities
As with any country, the largest, most metropolitan cities can be quite expensive. In this case both Madrid and Barcelona are the most expensive cities to live in for many reasons. Additionally you’ll find that prices in the North of Spain are much higher than those in the South. Much of these costs come down to housing and other essentials. However, it’s also not impossible to live a rather affordable lifestyle in these cities. For a more in depth look at the cost of living in Madrid and the cost of living in Barcelona you can skip ahead to the next sections of this article.
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1.2 Living in Spain as a Student
In addition to average living costs, living in Spain as a student will also include the cost of your tuition and any additional costs that come with your program (study abroad, text books, extra curricular activities etc). Tuition costs for universities in Spain will vary depending on the programs, location, potential scholarships like Erasmus and whether the school is private or public. But it will also depend simply on the school itself.
Tuition fees at public universities usually range between 200€-4000€. While tuition fees at private universities can cost up to 60,000€. But as we mentioned above, these costs completely depend on various factors and you’ll have to consider them carefully. Additionally, citizens coming to Spain from outside the European Union will need to apply for a student visa, which comes with its own costs. These visas can range from 60€-400€ depending on each nationality.
If you are planning to come to Madrid to study and would like to learn more, check out our page called Study in Madrid. Here you’ll find information on Madrid’s top universities, scholarships, student life guides and more!
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2. The Cost of Living in Madrid
The cost of living in Madrid is one of the highest of all cities in Spain. That said, it’s still fairly affordable compared to other European capitals like Paris, London and Copenhagen. This is especially true when you consider just how amazing Madrid is as a city.
In addition to being a cultural and historic hub, Madrid is an incredibly vibrant and lively city. It’s home to a seemingly endless amount of bars and restaurants, world renowned museums and amazing shopping. It’s position in the very center of Iberia makes travel around Spain, Portugal and Europe incredibly easy as well.
Madrid has been ranked as one of the top cities in the world for expats and internationals in general. And it’s also praised as one of the most inclusive and open cities when it comes to LGBT rights and freedoms. Of course, it’s also the capital of Spain!
All in all, Madrid is a top tier location to live in. Which helps to give context to its higher expenses.
If you’re looking for a quick glance at the cost of living in Madrid, then we estimate that an average student or expat could spend between 800€-1750€ per month. This budget includes rent and occasional outings closer to Madrid’s city center. Living outside of the center and preparing food at home can reduce these costs significantly.
Continue reading if you’re looking for more information regarding the cost of living in Madrid. Below we will break down our estimates to help give you a further idea of where your costs will come from. Skip ahead to read about the cost of living in Barcelona and other Spanish cities.
