We know our cost of living in Spain will be less.
During our house hunting visit to Spain last week, we stopped in to a couple of the largest grocery stores in the northern Costa Blanca, Mas y Mas and Mercadona. The other large grocers in the area that we’ll check out on our next visit are Consum, Carrefour, Lidl and Aldi.
It was the perfect time to check out prices on a few items and compare them to prices on the same items back home. Multiple sources and Numbeo-based cost of living studies consistently show groceries in Spain average roughly 25–35% cheaper than in the US. In the items we tracked, 30% is probably on the low end.
How We Kept the Price Comparison Fair
To keep things as fair and accurate as possible, we compared items using the same unit of measurement whenever sizes were different — usually breaking prices down to cost per ounce or per pound instead of just comparing package prices. When exact brands weren’t available in both countries, we chose products that were similar in quality and representative of what an average shopper would normally buy. We also shopped at comparable supermarkets in both the US and Spain, focusing on typical mid-range grocery stores rather than discount chains or high-end specialty markets, so the results reflect a realistic everyday shopping experience.
The Results
To keep it simple, we’re showing the percentage or price difference between the Jávea area and here in Portland, OR. On a few items, we’ll give actual price differences, too. Remember that in Spain, the prices on the shelf already include taxes of between 4% and 10% based upon the classification of the item. Oregon has no sales tax, so prices here are the actual price that would be paid. However, if you live in a state that does have sales tax on food, you savings would be even more.
For each item below, we’ll show the % difference from US prices. Swipe left.
Mandarin Oranges
82% Less
Spain at $.54 lb vs US at $2.99 lb.
Lemons
55% Less
Gala Apples
43% Less
Romaine Lettuce
83% Less
Spain at $.42 ea vs US at $2.50 ea
Broccoli Crowns
56% Less
Fresh Salmon
2% More
Chicken Breast
10% More
Spain at $3.30 lb vs US at $2.99 lb
Fresh Eggs (Dozen)
50% More
Whole Milk
16% Less
Activa Yogurt 4 Pack
46% Less
Deli Ham
1% Less
Cheese Hot Dogs 10pk
65% Less
Spain at $1.89 pkg vs US at $5.49 pkg
Fresh Loaf Sourdough Bread
70% Less
Fresh Hamburger Buns
56% Less
Kellogg’s Cocoa Crispies
38% Less
Spain at $4.31 pkg vs US at $5.99 pkg
Heinz Ketchup
9% Less
12″ Frozen Pizza
17% Less
Biscoff Cookies
49% Less
Bagged Fresh Spinach
30% Less
Organic Avocados
32% Less
Spain at $1.36 ea vs US at $2.00 ea
When we return to Spain in September, we’ll do this exercise again with different items and report back on differences in prices.
We believe that we will save around 50% of our current grocery bill when we’re in Spain permanently. It’s just one more category that shows the cost of living in Spain is much less.
Find out more about the Cost of Living in Spain by clicking here.