Spain postal prices jump again: What it now costs to send a letter or parcel in 2026

If you’ve sent anything through Correos recently and thought, “that feels more expensive” – you’re right. From January 2026, Spain’s postal service has increased its prices again, with the biggest change hitting the most common service of all: the standard letter.

A basic domestic letter now costs €0.96 instead of €0.89, and while that might not sound like much, it’s part of a steady rise that’s been building for years. For residents, expats, small businesses and anyone regularly sending post, the impact is already being felt.

Here’s what’s actually changed – and why it matters more than it seems.

Stamp prices in Spain: small increase, big trend

The headline change this year is the one most people will notice straight away.

Sending a standard letter (under 20g) in Spain now costs €0.96, up by 7 cents compared to 2025. It follows another increase last year, continuing a pattern that hasn’t really stopped.

And when you zoom out, the change feels a lot less “small”. Back in 2015, a stamp cost just €0.42. That means the price has more than doubled in just over a decade.

Other letter categories have also gone up:

• Letters between 20g and 50g now cost €1.15
• Between 50g and 100g, you’re looking at €1.75

If you’re sending post abroad, the increases are there too. A basic international letter now starts at around €2, depending on the destination, and goes higher for countries further afield.

Even registered letters – the ones you use for official paperwork – have crept up, now sitting at around €5.74 within Spain.

Parcels are getting pricier too – and that’s where it really hurts

Letters are one thing. Parcels are another story.

If you regularly send packages – whether it’s returns, online sales or gifts to family abroad – you’ll probably notice the difference more here.

A small parcel under 1kg within Spain now costs around €17.09, while heavier packages can reach €48 or more.

International shipping is even tougher. Sending a parcel of under 5kg within Europe can now cost over €50, depending on the destination.

For small businesses – especially expats running Etsy shops, Vinted sales or online stores from places like Alicante, Malaga or Marbella – this is where the pressure really shows.

Margins are already tight, and when shipping goes up, there’s not much room to absorb it.

Why prices keep going up (even if letters are disappearing)

At first glance, it feels a bit contradictory.

Fewer people are sending letters these days – so why is it getting more expensive?

Correos says it comes down to a bigger shift happening behind the scenes.

Traditional mail is declining fast, while parcel deliveries are booming thanks to online shopping. That changes the whole business model. Maintaining the postal network costs money, even if fewer letters are being sent.

At the same time, operational costs are rising – and those increases are being passed on.

There’s another detail worth noting: postal prices have been rising faster than inflation

While inflation in Spain is hovering around 3 per cent, postal price increases have often been closer to 5 per cent to 9 per cent per year in recent years.

So in real terms, sending mail is becoming noticeably more expensive.

What this means for expats living in Spain

For many expats, especially those living on the Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol, postal services are still part of everyday life.

Think about it:

• sending documents back home
• posting paperwork
• receiving or sending parcels to family
• running a small side business

These price changes don’t hit all at once – but over time, they add up.

Some expats are already adapting. A few are switching to private couriers, others are batching shipments or simply sending fewer things.

But for certain situations – especially official paperwork – Correos is still unavoidable.

Spain is still cheaper than much of Europe (for now)

There is one bit of context that often gets overlooked.

Even with the increases, Spain remains one of the cheaper countries in Europe for postal services.

In countries like Denmark, Belgium or Finland, sending a standard letter can cost anywhere between €2 and €4 – far higher than Spain’s €0.96.

The same applies internationally. Sending a letter from Spain to another European country is still relatively affordable compared to places like Ireland.

That doesn’t make the increases feel any better – but it does explain why Correos continues to justify them.

The bigger picture: the end of the “cheap stamp” era

What’s happening here isn’t just a price update – it’s a shift.

The classic image of cheap, everyday post is slowly fading. Letters are becoming less common, while parcels are taking over.

And as that happens, the cost structure is changing too.

The bottom line

Yes, prices have gone up again in 2026 – and yes, it’s likely they’ll keep rising.

A few cents here and there might not seem like much, but over time, it’s clear where things are heading.

For anyone living in Spain – especially expats who rely on sending documents or parcels – the message is simple:
sending post is no longer as cheap as it used to be

And it’s probably not going back.