Cost of Living in Spain for Expats

After The Move

Cost Of Living

One of the biggest questions we had when planning our move is what the cost of living in Spain would actually be once we live there. In general, what we’ve researched and found on visits is that the cost of living in Spain is much lower than in many parts of the US. That’s true especially when it comes to daily living expenses and healthcare. Some things, such as gasoline and cars, can be more expensive than in the US.

Where you choose to live in Spain also makes a big difference. Major cities like Madrid and Barcelona are more expensive. Smaller cities and coastal areas like Valencia and the Costa Blanca are more affordable. Overall, many expats find that their total monthly expenses in Spain are significantly lower than in the United States while maintaining a great quality of life.

We’re sharing our cost of living analysis that we did living in Portland, Oregon. Portland is approximately the 13th most expensive city of size in the US. On top of that, the combined marginal income tax rate in Portland is 2nd highest in the US, with only New York City being higher. Even with what appears to be higher taxes in Spain, we’ve estimated our overall tax burden will be roughly the same or lower.

Spain’s Lower Cost Of Living Vs US

Average overall daily cost of living in Spain is 37.2% lower
Average cost of living including rent in Spain is 37.0% lower
Rent standalone in Spain is 36.4% lower
Restaurant prices in Spain are 26.1% lower
Grocery prices in Spain are 49.7% lower

Average Cost Of Living Differences By Category

When we researched the cost of living in Spain we turned to Numbeo. You can go to the site and do your own analysis based upon where you live and where you are moving to in Spain. The data below was gathered on July 8, 2026.

Note that where the change is in green, that is how much cheaper it is in Spain. Where the change is red, that is how much more expensive it is in Spain compared to the US.

Restaurants

Restaurants in Spain are generally much cheaper than in the US, especially for coffee, wine, beer, and everyday meals. Eating out is a regular part of life in Spain and prices are typically lower than comparable restaurants in most US cities.

Item	Portland Oregon	Valencia Spain	Change
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	23.00 $ (20.14 €)	17.13 $ (15.00 €)	25.5 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	87.50 $ (76.63 €)	68.51 $ (60.00 €)	-21.7 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	12.00 $ (10.51 €)	12.56 $ (11.00 €)	4.7 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	8.00 $ (7.01 €)	3.43 $ (3.00 €)	-57.2 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	8.00 $ (7.01 €)	4.57 $ (4.00 €)	-42.9 %
Cappuccino (regular)	6.09 $ (5.33 €)	2.77 $ (2.43 €)	-54.4 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.56 $ (2.24 €)	2.53 $ (2.22 €)	-.9%
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.00 $ (1.75 €)	2.07 $ (1.82 €)	3.60%

Groceries

Groceries in Spain are significantly cheaper, particularly fresh produce, bread, wine and locally sourced foods. Imported and specialty items can sometimes cost more but overall costs are still lower than in the US.

Apples are one example of the lower cost of living in Spain for expats.

Item	Portland Oregon	Valencia Spain	Change
Gallon Regular Milk	4.45 $ (3.91 €)	4.64 $ (4.07 €)	3.9 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread	4.36 $ (3.82 €)	1.22 $ (1.07 €)	-72.0 %
Pound Rice (white)	2.15 $ (1.88 €)	0.79 $ (0.69 €)	-63.3 %
Dozen Eggs (regular)	5.34 $ (4.67 €)	3.54 $ (3.10 €)	-33.7 %
Pound Local Cheese	8.21 $ (7.19 €)	5.02 $ (4.40 €)	-38.9 %
Pound Chicken Fillets	7.44 $ (6.51 €)	3.57 $ (3.13 €)	-52.0 %
Pound Beef Round	10.76 $ (9.42 €)	7.29 $ (6.38 €)	-32.2 %
Apples (1 lb)	2.89 $ (2.53 €)	1.13 $ (0.99 €)	-60.8 %
Banana (1 lb)	0.91 $ (0.70 €)	0.85 $ (0.77 €)	–6.8%
Oranges (1 lb)	2.50 $ (2.19 €)	0.88 $ (0.71 €)	-64.8 %
Tomato (1 lb)	4.08 $ (3.57 €)	1.17 $ (1.03 €)	-71.3 %
Potato (1 lb)	1.34 $ (1.17 €)	0.77 $ (0.68 €)	-42.2 %
Onion (1 lb)	1.06 $ (0.93 €)	0.84 $ (0.73 €)	-21.4 %
Lettuce (1 head)	3.05 $ (2.68€)	1.18 $ (1.04 €)	-61.3 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.45 $ (2.15 €)	0.80 $ (0.70 €)	-67.5 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	15.00 $ (13.14 €)	5.71 $ (5.00 €)	-61.9 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	3.43 $ (3.00 €)	1.34 $ (1.17 €)	-61.0 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	4.95 $ (4.33 €)	1.65 $ (1.44 €)	-66.7 %

Transportation

Some transportation costs in Spain are higher — fuel prices for example — but public transportation is much cheaper. Note that vehicle prices in Spain include 21% IVA.

Item	Portland Oregon	Valencia Spain	Change
Monthly Transport Pass (Regular Price)	100.00 $ (85.68 €)	39.96 $ (35.00 €)	-60.0 %
Gallon Gas	4.71 $ (4.10 €)	6.50 $ (5.70 €)	38.3 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	33,555.00 $ (29,387.07 €)	35,967.61 $ (31,500.00 €)	7.2%
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	25,573,22 $ (22,396.72 €)	29,659,00 $ (25,975.00 €)	16.0%

Monthly Utilities

Monthly utility costs in Spain are lower than in the United States, especially water, trash, internet and cell phone service. Electricity costs can vary depending on usage and pricing plans. Solar power in homes is very popular in Spain to cut electrical costs, so if your residence has them, your electrical costs will be even lower.

Item	Portland Oregon	Valencia Spain	Change
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	293.87$ (257.37 €)	157.41 $ (137.86 €)	-46.4 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls 10GB+ Data	63.75 $ (55.83 €)	16.63 $ (14.56 €)	-73.9 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable)	73.50 $ (64.37 €)	35.47 $ (31.07 €)	–51.7 %

Sports And Leisure

Sports and leisure activities are often less expensive, including gym memberships, tennis courts, and movie tickets. Many other recreational activities are more affordable, making it easier to maintain an active lifestyle.

Item	Portland Oregon	Valencia Spain	Change
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	54.08 $ (47.36 €)	43.13 $ (37.77 €)	-20.3 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	31.89 $ (27.93 €)	9.49 $ (8.31 €)	-70.3 %
Theatre Movie, 1 Ticket	14.00 $ (12.26 €)	10.28 $ (9.00 €)	-26.6 %

Childcare

Private childcare and education costs are much lower, especially preschool and schooling. Public education options are also widely available and reduce overall childcare costs even further for many families.

Item	Portland Oregon	Valencia Spain	Change
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	1,701.33 $ (1,490.01 €)	564.57 $ (494.44 €)	-66.8 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	24,005.00 $ (21,023,09 €)	10,277.39 $ (9000.82 €)	-57.2 %

Rent

Rent in many parts of Spain is significantly lower than in comparable US cities. Prices vary depending on location and proximity to city centers or the coast. Housing is often one of the biggest areas where expats see cost savings compared to the US.

Item	Portland Oregon	Valencia Spain	Change
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center	2,118.31 $ (1,855.19 €)	1,427.36 $ (1,250.06 €)	-32.6 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center	1,642.86 $ (1,419.33 €)	1,050.48 $ (864.42 €)	-36.1 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center	3,524.17 $ (3,185.53 €)	2,280.94$ (1,997.62 €)	-35.3 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Center	2,710.77 $ (2,374.06 €)	1,598.56 $ (1,400.00 €)	-41.0 %

If you want to run these numbers against your own current expenses, the US vs Spain Monthly Budget Workbook lets you compare your costs side by side in both dollars and euros.

Mortgage Rates

Mortgage interest rates are dramatically lower in Spain. Mortgage rates are based on different economic data in Europe than in the US, which is one of the reasons rates are lower.

Item	Portland Oregon	Valencia Spain	Change
Average Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 25 Years Fixed-Rate	6.15%	3.47%	-43.5 %

Those lower rates translate into meaningfully lower monthly payments — often by several hundred dollars depending on the loan amount and term.

To see what current Spanish mortgage rates would mean for your specific situation, use our Spanish Mortgage Payment Calculator, where you can enter any rate and see monthly payments in both euros and dollars across 10, 15 and 20 year terms.

FAQs

Where is the cheapest place to live in Spain?

Some of the more affordable areas of Spain include the Valencia region, Murcia, parts of Andalusia and smaller inland towns. Madrid, Barcelona and some coastal resort areas tend to be more expensive, especially for housing.

How much money do you need per month to live in Spain?

The amount of money needed to live in Spain depends on location and lifestyle. Many expats find that a couple can live comfortably on €2,500 to €3,500 per month in smaller cities or coastal areas. Larger cities like Madrid and Barcelona will be more expensive.

What is the biggest expense when living in Spain?

Housing is usually the largest expense in Spain whether renting or owning property. After housing, the next largest expenses are typically groceries, transportation, and healthcare. Utilities, internet and cell phone service are usually relatively inexpensive compared to the US.

Is the cost of living in Spain going up?

Spain has seen housing costs rise in recent years, particularly in coastal areas popular with expats and in major cities. Day-to-day living costs like groceries, restaurants and utilities have also increased with inflation, though they remain well below comparable US costs. The Valencia region and Costa Blanca have seen notable property price increases as demand from foreign buyers has grown.

Is Spain cheaper if you own your home instead of renting?

In many parts of Spain owning a home can be less expensive per month than renting. Mortgage rates are often lower than in the US and property taxes are relatively low. However, buyers in Spain usually need larger down payments, must pay purchase taxes and fees when buying property. Terms are often a bit shorter than the 30-year standard in the US. Upfront costs of buying are higher even though monthly housing costs may be lower.