By Letara Draghia • Updated: 20 Aug 2024 • 15:06 • 2 minutes read
Euro notes. Credit: Pixabay
With the cost-of-living crisis continuing across the globe, expatriates in Spain may be curious about how their living expenses stack up against the rest of the EU.
According to Eurostat, Spain continues to provide a more affordable lifestyle despite rising costs throughout Europe, particularly when compared to the UK and other popular destinations.
According to the figures for 2022, housing, food and transportation accounted for the majority of household expenses across the EU. These necessities were generally less expensive in Spain than in several other European countries. The average Spanish household devoted approximately 22.3 per cent of its budget to housing, including utilities. This was slightly lower than in the UK, where housing expenses took 25.7 per cent. The figures for France and Germany were 26.2 per cent and 24.6 per cent.
Groceries (food and non-alcoholic drinks) were also significant expenses. In Spain, households spent approximately 13 per cent of their budget on these, which was fractionally less than the EU average of 13.6 per cent. In comparison, the UK had larger spending with 16.7 per cent. These results reflect Spain’s comparatively inexpensive grocery costs, making it easier for expatriates to balance their budgets.
Transportation costs are an important factor – particularly for those who commute and/or live in remote areas. According to the figures, Spanish households spent approximately 11.9 per cent of their budget on transport, compared to 13.1 per cent in the UK and 13.5 percent in Germany. This, along with a continually developed public transport system, add to Spain’s low-cost living appeal.
While healthcare costs are typically low throughout the EU, Spain stands out for its affordability. In Spain, healthcare accounted for only 3.2 per cent of household spending, compared to 4.6 per cent in France and 4.9 per cent in Germany. For those who rely on public healthcare, Spain provides high-quality services at a lower cost compared to several other European countries.
Looking at Spain in comparison to other popular expatriate destinations such as Italy, the data highlights Spain’s cost advantage. Italy’s household spending on food was slightly lower (14.7 per cent), but its housing costs were higher (24.9 per cent).
To summarise, despite the rising cost-of-living expenses throughout Europe, Spain continues to provide a lower-priced lifestyle, particularly when compared to the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Spain remains as one of the most appealing destinations within Europe for expatriates seeking a good standard of living without blowing their budgets.
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Part-time writer, wife, and mother from the UK. Living an enjoyable life in southern Spain.
Yes health, groceries, travel, are much cheaper. However the tax is extremely high. Nearly three times the amount I paid in my country of origin.
Hello Mary, thanks for commenting. The tax in Spain is more expensive compared to my country of origin too! However, I think the good weather, relaxed way of living, and cheaper expenses make up for it. 🙂
Wonder if this will change when their protests stop tourists coming to all areas of Spain? Here in Mallorca, there’s not much else in the way of employment!
Having a good health service is for me the best indicator of quality of life! Especially, when this also includes the public health service. In addition to the burden a health condition poses, the stress of waiting for ever even to obtain a result(!!!) of a health check is soul destroying!!! People who have been through this know what I mean!!
Really does depend on which hospital you have to use! Ours swings wildly from totally incompetant to amazingly good!
If you are self employed in Spain with no work contract you have to pay autonimo as well as tax each month…very unfair
Hi Alison. Autonomo fees can be high, but there has been development in the rules since last year. You can read more about them here: https://euroweeklynews.com/2022/07/21/explainer-spains-new-rules-for-self-employed-workers-commence-in-2023/
Depends what you do for income if you have a nice remote work job in Scandinavia or the UK then you’ll noice a big difference however if you work for a Spanish company not so much as Average rents in my area ( Fuengirola/Mijas ) are getting close to the €1000 mark plus bills salary’s seem to max out at €1250 – €1400 hard to find work offering much more – if your self employed over €300 per month on fees in a saturated markets
Not exactly laudable data as each household spend differing amounts on different sectors, this is a data set by consumption. I could spend eighty percent on clothing or alcohol, where my neighbour ten percent. An item by item cost comparison of same or similar goods would a better indicator, milk, bread etc.
Thank you for commenting, David. I’ll look into covering something along those lines.
We are currently in Madrid the prices for basic commodities like drinking water for 1.5 ltr is €1 which in UK is comparatively low . The quantity and quality of food is non comparable to UK, e.g couple of weeks back we were in Wales and had a 2 course menu with alcoholic drinks priced £95 and the main course for 3 with drinks coated us €150 in Madrid. Spain is far more expensive than UK.
Keep away from Madrid I say! Last month had “Meal of the Day” in a bar 10 minutes out of Malaga. 3 courses, bread and 1 drink, a beer, 11 €uros…..great value, even after a one €uro tip!!!! As for water, in our village the tap water is fine to drink, so for me the cost of living in Spain is low enough for me to live well on my UK pension.
I lived in Madrid for 22 years. It’s out of control now. There’s a bar opposite the rear entrance to Atocha station I often had breakfast at for about €2,50. I stopped by last year for a caña and a (tiny) pincho de tortilla while waiting for my train. – €14
Ouch!
Does anyone reading this blog have any knowledge of what it’s like to live in northern Spain? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. Many thanks!
Hi Philippa! I’ve lived in San Sebastian for around 14 years and it’s a completely different kettle of fish. The worst thing by far is the house prices. Houses cost nearly 6,000 euros per square metre in SS, compared to just over 3000 in Málaga and around 4100 in Barcelona. It’s crazy. Young people rent *rooms* in shared houses for 500-600 euros per month. Food in the supermarket has also gone through the roof. Add to that the fact that bars and restaurants charge more thanks to tourism and you have a city that’s increasingly difficult to live in, especially for single people or low-mid earners.
I used to live in the Basque Country. It was far from cheap.
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