Cost of Living in Spain
The cost of living in Spain is highly variable. Rural Spain can be very inexpensive which makes holidaying a lot more fun. Barcelona is considered the most expensive city in the country, with Madrid a close second and Seville and Valencia following after. When renting with an agency, one will have to pay a month rent in fees, so finding accommodation can be an expensive task. One can expect to pay between EUR200-700, or on another scale, EUR 11 per square meter in Madrid, while on the coast a Seville one will find a place at EUR 6-8 per square meter. Furnished apartments are available in many places, but the Spanish have a habit of leaving furniture out on the street for other to take, so keep a watch out. Long term rentals are always cheaper than short term. After the first year in a property you have the right to extend for another 5 years, unless and only in the case that the landlord needs to move into the apartment. After those five years the landlord is no longer obligated to retain his tenants.
Electricity is expensive in Spain, especially as most apartments do not have central heating and cooling. The electric company has a monopoly and the service is poor. One should budget for about EUR 40 per month, rising if you use air conditioning and heaters. This is likely as Spain get very hot during summer, and there are some very cold days during winter. The houses are not designed to resist the cold, so a winter in a cold part of Spain can feel colder than a winter up in northern Europe.
For some price comparisons, the average food bill is EUR 350 p/m, average meal out is EUR 12-30 for a dinner, and one can get away with much less for a bistro lunch. Average transport costs are about EUR 8 per day. Cinema tickets run at about EUR 6, cigarettes at EUR 3.30, a good bottle of wine EUR 5 and EUR 1 for a beer. Many expats eat products from home which are exported to Spain. If one shops for local products, one can halve the price of some items. The various supermarket chains are aimed at different clientele and it can make a big difference where you shop.
If you want to buy property in Spain it’s highly advisable that you use an agent. The law in Spain can be highly complex and it often requires an expert to sort out transfer issues. Prices are extremely variable. If one wants to renovate, one can find lots of old coastal cottages for under EUR 50 000 Euros. Town houses can cost as little as EUR 100 000 or as much as three or four times that. Of course property prices in the city are much higher than in the country. EUR 200 000 is not an excessive amount for an small apartment in Barcelona, while something fancy will set you back as much as EUR 600 000 to a few million. The 2008/9 financial crisis has changed things, and if one has any money to invest, it might be just the right time to buy. See Word Travels for currency exchange rates.
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Accommodation (monthly rent in good area)
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Furnished 2 bedroom house
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€1,350.00
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Furnished 2 bedroom apartment
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€787.00
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Room in shared apartment
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€325.00
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Food and Drink
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1 litre milk
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€0.90
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500g cheese
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€3.90
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Bread (white)
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€1.70
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12 eggs
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€1.70
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1kg sugar
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€1.00
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500g ground coffee
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€2.70
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Tea bags (25)
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€1.00
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1 litre Coca-Cola
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€1.20
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1 litre mineral water
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€0.50
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1kg minced beef
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€5.50
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1kg chicken (whole)
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€3.50
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Beer per can
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€0.90
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Bottle of wine
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€2.30
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Cigarettes (20)
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€3.30
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Household
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2.5kg laundry detergent
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€4.00
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500ml dishwashing liquid
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€1.60
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Bath soap
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€1.50
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Toothpaste
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€1.70
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200ml shampoo
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€2.90
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Deodorant
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€3.70
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Utilities
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Telephone line (monthly rental)
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€28.80
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Mobile/cell phone
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€25.00
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Electricity costs - apartment (100sq.m)
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€37.50
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Eating out and entertainment
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Three-course restaurant meal
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€27.00
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Fast-food meal
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€7.00
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Coffee in café
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€1.40
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Beer in bar
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€1.90
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City bus
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€1.20
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Internet café (30min)
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€2.80
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Health
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Aspirin (100 tablets)
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€12.30
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Antibiotics (12)
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€10.70
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