Cost of Living in Spain
Consumer prices in Spain were 8.9% below the EU average in 2025, with a price level index of 91.1, according to Eurostat. Rent varies by region: the median apartment rent is €800 a month in the Madrid region and €425 in Extremadura. Inflation was 4.9% in October 2026.
What does it cost to live in Spain? This page sets out official figures on rent by region, prices against the EU average, inflation, household spending and transport, from INE, the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Transport and Eurostat. Rent varies widely across the country, so it comes first.
Median monthly rent for an apartment by region in Spain
Price levels in Spain against the EU average
Rent in Spain
Rent varies a lot from region to region in Spain. The Ministry of Housing's rent reference system, built from the rental contracts that landlords declare for tax, puts the median rent for an apartment at €800 a month in the Madrid region and €425 in Extremadura. Madrid's median is about 1.9 times Extremadura's. In Catalonia the median is €700, in the Balearic Islands €750 and in Andalusia €550. In Madrid the middle half of rents runs from €650 to €1,048. The system covers more than 2.5 million rental contracts; the table above shows apartments, which are most of them.
Rents keep rising. INE's rental housing price index rose 3.5% in 2024, after 2.6% in 2023. New contracts rose 8.8%, while rents on existing contracts rose 2.8%. Among provincial capitals, Valencia saw the largest rise in 2024, 5.9%, and 36.4% since 2015. Madrid rose 3.6% and Barcelona 3.3%. In 2025, 7.2% of people in Spain lived in a household that spent more than 40% of its disposable income on housing, against 7.6% in the EU, according to Eurostat.
Consumer prices and inflation
Prices for household consumption in Spain were 8.9% below the EU average in 2025, with a price level index of 91.1 (EU 27 = 100). Housing and utilities are close to the EU level at 98.1, while restaurants and accommodation, at 85.4, are the furthest below it of the categories in the table above. Annual inflation was 4.9% in October 2026, according to INE's flash estimate, the same as in September. Core inflation, without unprocessed food and energy, was 3.1%. Energy and transport prices rose fastest: in September 2026 electricity, gas and other fuels cost 13.7% more than a year earlier, while rents rose 2.5%.
| Annual inflation, September 2026 | Spain | Euro area |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 5.0% | 3.8% |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 2.7% | 1.0% |
| Actual rents for housing | 2.5% | 2.6% |
| Electricity, gas and other fuels | 13.7% | 9.4% |
| Transport | 11.3% | 9.8% |
What households spend
Households in Spain spent an average of €35,101 in 2025, or about €2,925 a month, up 3.1%, according to INE's household budget survey. Spending per person was €14,066. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels took 33.2% of the budget, €11,665 a year or about €972 a month. Food came second at 16.0% and transport third at 11.5%. Spending per person was highest in the Basque Country, €16,642, and lowest in Andalusia, €12,197.
| Spending group, 2025 | Per household a year | Share | Change from 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | €35,101 | 100% | +3.1% |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | €11,665 | 33.2% | +5.8% |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | €5,626 | 16.0% | +4.4% |
| Transport | €4,020 | 11.5% | +3.7% |
| Restaurants and accommodation services | €3,282 | 9.3% | -2.7% |
| Recreation, sport and culture | €1,772 | 5.0% | +4.7% |
| Clothing and footwear | €1,416 | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| Health | €1,413 | 4.0% | +2.6% |
| Personal care, social protection and other goods and services | €1,293 | 3.7% | +5.2% |
| Insurance and financial services | €1,286 | 3.7% | +1.3% |
| Furnishings and household maintenance | €1,248 | 3.6% | -2.1% |
| Information and communication | €1,079 | 3.1% | -2.0% |
| Education services | €570 | 1.6% | +3.1% |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | €432 | 1.2% | -3.4% |
Transport and utilities
In 2026 the national Abono Único costs €60 for 30 days of unlimited travel on state-owned interregional buses and on Renfe Cercanías, Rodalies, Media Distancia and some Avant trains. People born on or after 1 January 2000 pay €30. City metro and bus passes are set locally: see our cost of living in Barcelona page for Barcelona fares. Electricity, gas and other fuels have a price level of 93.0 against the EU average, but their prices were rising fast in late 2026, as the inflation table shows.
What it means for pay and hiring
The average gross salary in Spain was €29,540 a year in 2024, about €2,462 a month over 12 months, according to INE. The minimum wage is €1,221 a month in 2026, paid 14 times. At the Madrid median, a year of apartment rent comes to €9,600, about 32% of the national average salary, so candidates in Madrid, the Balearic Islands and Catalonia weigh rent heavily when they compare offers. See our average salary in Spain and Spain minimum wage pages, the guide to hiring in Spain for employer costs, and our Barcelona guide for one city in detail.
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This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and collective agreements can set different terms. Confirm with a local accountant or lawyer before you hire.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spain cheap compared with the rest of the EU?
Prices for household consumption in Spain were 8.9% below the EU average in 2025, according to Eurostat. Restaurants and accommodation were about 15% cheaper, while housing and utilities were close to the EU level.
How much is rent in Spain?
It depends on the region. The Ministry of Housing puts the median rent for an apartment at €800 a month in the Madrid region, €700 in Catalonia, €550 in Andalusia and €425 in Extremadura.
How fast are rents rising in Spain?
INE's rental housing price index rose 3.5% in 2024. Rents on new contracts rose 8.8%, and Valencia had the largest rise among provincial capitals, 5.9%.
What is the inflation rate in Spain?
4.9% in October 2026, according to INE's flash estimate, the same as in September. Core inflation was 3.1%.
How much does a household spend in Spain?
€35,101 a year on average in 2025, about €2,925 a month, according to INE. A third of it went on housing, water, electricity and gas.
Sources
- Eurostat, Price level indices, prc_ppp_ind_1. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Ministerio de Vivienda y Agenda Urbana, SERPAVI, rents by autonomous community. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Ministerio de Vivienda y Agenda Urbana, SERPAVI update, 27 Mar 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- INE, Rental Housing Price Index 2024. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- INE, CPI and HICP flash estimate, October 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, HICP annual rates, prc_hicp_minr. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- INE, Household Budget Survey 2025. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Housing cost overburden rate, ilc_lvho07a. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible, Abono Único. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- INE, Annual Wage Structure Survey 2024. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
