Real Cost of Living in Spain (2025 Breakdown)
Cost of Living in Spain for Digital Nomads: 2025 Complete Breakdown
From €1,200/month budget travel to €3,500/month luxury lifestyle—here's exactly what digital nomad life costs in 6 Spanish cities with real numbers.
Introduction
"Is Spain expensive?" is the wrong question.
The right question is: "Which Spanish city fits my budget?" Because the cost of living varies dramatically.
I've lived in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville as a digital nomad. I've tracked every expense for 18 months. Here's the complete breakdown—no sugarcoating, no "you can live on €500/month" clickbait.
Quick Answer: Monthly Costs by City
| City | Budget | Comfortable | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | €1,800 | €2,800 | €4,500+ |
| Madrid | €1,600 | €2,500 | €4,000+ |
| Valencia | €1,400 | €2,200 | €3,500+ |
| Seville | €1,300 | €2,000 | €3,200+ |
| Málaga | €1,500 | €2,300 | €3,800+ |
| Bilbao | €1,600 | €2,400 | €3,800+ |
Now let's break down exactly where that money goes.
Category 1: Accommodation (€600-1,500/month)
Barcelona
Private studio apartment:
- Budget: €700-900/month (Gràcia, Poble Sec, outer L'Hospitalet)
- Comfortable: €1,000-1,400/month (Eixample, Born, Gòtic)
- Luxury: €1,500-2,500+/month (Sarrià, Diagonal Mar)
Shared apartment (private room):
- €400-700/month
Coliving:
- €800-1,200/month (includes coworking, utilities, events)
Booking platforms:
- Idealista (local rentals)
- Spotahome (verified listings)
- Uniplaces (student/young professional housing)
Madrid
Private studio apartment:
- Budget: €600-800/month (Carabanchel, Tetuán, Vallecas)
- Comfortable: €900-1,200/month (Malasaña, Chueca, Lavapiés)
- Luxury: €1,300-2,000+/month (Salamanca, Chamberí)
Shared apartment:
- €350-600/month
Madrid is 10-15% cheaper than Barcelona for equivalent neighborhoods.
Valencia
Private studio apartment:
- Budget: €500-700/month (Benimaclet, Campanar, Patraix)
- Comfortable: €750-1,000/month (Ruzafa, El Carmen, Benicalap)
- Luxury: €1,100-1,800+/month (Eixample, beachfront Malvarrosa)
Shared apartment:
- €300-500/month
Valencia is the best value among major Spanish cities.
Seville
Private studio apartment:
- Budget: €450-650/month (Nervión, Los Remedios, Macarena)
- Comfortable: €700-900/month (Triana, Santa Cruz, Alameda)
- Luxury: €1,000-1,500/month (historic center, penthouse)
Shared apartment:
- €250-450/month
Cheapest major city but intense summer heat (May-September).
Málaga
Private studio apartment:
- Budget: €600-800/month (Carretera de Cádiz, Cruz de Humilladero)
- Comfortable: €850-1,200/month (Centro Histórico, Soho, La Malagueta)
- Luxury: €1,300-2,200/month (beachfront, penthouse)
Rising fast: Málaga prices jumped 20% in 2023-2024 due to remote worker influx.
Bilbao
Private studio apartment:
- Budget: €550-750/month (Rekalde, Basurto, Otxarkoaga)
- Comfortable: €800-1,100/month (Abando, Casco Viejo, Indautxu)
- Luxury: €1,200-1,800+/month (Ensanche, riverfront)
Pro tip: Utilities are higher in winter (heating costs).
Category 2: Food (€300-700/month)
Groceries (€200-400/month)
Budget approach (€200/month):
- Shop at Mercadona, Día, Lidl
- Cook 90% of meals
- €50/week
Comfortable approach (€300-400/month):
- Mix of Mercadona + specialty shops
- Occasional prepared meals
- €75-100/week
What things actually cost:
- Loaf of bread: €1-2
- Milk (1L): €1
- Eggs (12): €2-3
- Chicken breast (1kg): €6-8
- Pasta (500g): €1
- Fresh vegetables: €1-3/kg
- Wine (decent bottle): €4-8
- Beer (6-pack): €3-5
Spanish grocery shopping is shockingly cheap compared to northern Europe and US.
Eating Out (€100-300/month)
Lunch menú del día (set menu):
- €10-15 (3 courses + drink + bread)
- Available 1pm-4pm, Monday-Friday
- Best deal in Spain
Casual dinner:
- €15-25/person
- Includes drink, 1-2 tapas or entrée
Nice restaurant:
- €30-50/person
- Full meal with wine
Coffee & pastry:
- €3-5
Tapas crawl (3-4 bars):
- €20-30/person including drinks
Pro tip: Eat your main meal at lunch. The menú del día is Spain's secret to affordable eating out.
Category 3: Transportation (€40-100/month)
Public Transport
Barcelona:
- Monthly pass: €54 (unlimited metro/bus)
- Single ticket: €2.55
Madrid:
- Monthly pass: €54.60 (zones A)
- Single ticket: €1.50-2
Valencia:
- Monthly pass: €42.70 (unlimited metro/bus)
- Single ticket: €1.50
Seville:
- Monthly pass: €40 (bus/metro)
- Single ticket: €1.40
Málaga:
- Monthly pass: €45 (bus/metro)
- Single ticket: €1.35
Bike Share
Barcelona (Bicing): €50/year Madrid (BiciMAD): €25/year Valencia (Valenbisi): €34/year
Most digital nomads use: Bike share + occasional public transport = €15-30/month
Taxis & Ride-shares
Taxi (10-minute ride): €8-12 Cabify/Uber: €6-15 (depends on city—Barcelona and Madrid have Uber, smaller cities don't)
Category 4: Coworking & Internet (€0-200/month)
Home Internet
Fiber internet (300-1000 Mbps):
- €30-50/month
- Usually includes mobile plan
Popular providers:
- Movistar
- Vodafone
- Orange
- Yoigo (budget option)
Spanish internet is fast and cheap. You can work from home easily.
Coworking Spaces
Budget options:
- €80-120/month (smaller spaces, farther from center)
Mid-range:
- €150-200/month (Vortex, Wayco, Impact Hub)
Premium:
- €250-400/month (exclusive spaces with all amenities)
Day pass: €10-20
Many digital nomads skip coworking and work from home or cafes.
Category 5: Healthcare (€50-150/month)
Private Health Insurance
Basic plan (Asisa, Sanitas, DKV):
- €50-80/month (young, healthy person)
- Covers doctor visits, specialists, emergencies
Comprehensive plan:
- €100-150/month
- Includes dental, vision, alternative medicine
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Doctor visit (without insurance): €60-100 Prescription medication: €5-30 (much cheaper than US) Dental cleaning: €40-60
Reality check: Spain's public healthcare is excellent, but digital nomad visa holders need private insurance.
Category 6: Entertainment & Lifestyle (€150-500/month)
Gym Membership
Budget chains (Basic Fit, Anytime Fitness): €25-35/month Mid-range (DIR, Holmes Place): €40-60/month Premium (Equinox, boutique studios): €80-150/month
Social Activities
Drinks with friends: €30-50/night (beer/wine €3-6 each) Club entry + drinks: €20-50 Movie ticket: €8-10 Museum entry: €10-15 (many have free days) Beach day: Free!
Weekend Trips
Budget weekend (hostel + train): €100-150 Comfortable weekend (hotel + rental car): €250-400
Spain's central location: Cheap flights to all of Europe (€20-80 round-trip on Ryanair/Vueling).
Category 7: Miscellaneous (€100-200/month)
- Haircut: €15-40
- Phone plan: €10-25/month (data + calls)
- Laundry: €5-8/load (if no washer in apartment)
- Toiletries/household: €30-50/month
- Clothing: €50-100/month (varies)
3 Budget Examples: Real Digital Nomad Life
Budget Lifestyle (€1,400/month - Valencia)
- Apartment: €600 (shared 2BR in Benimaclet, private room)
- Groceries: €200 (cook all meals)
- Eating out: €100 (3-4 menú del día lunches/month)
- Transport: €40 (bike share + occasional metro)
- Coworking: €0 (work from home/cafes)
- Health insurance: €70
- Gym: €30
- Entertainment: €150 (drinks, social events)
- Miscellaneous: €100
- Phone plan: €15
- Internet (split): €20
Total: €1,325/month
Lifestyle: Modest but comfortable. Cook at home, social on weekends, skip coworking.
Comfortable Lifestyle (€2,200/month - Madrid)
- Apartment: €1,000 (studio in Malasaña)
- Groceries: €250
- Eating out: €250 (2-3 dinners/week + lunches)
- Transport: €55 (metro pass)
- Coworking: €180 (Vortex or Wayco)
- Health insurance: €80
- Gym: €50
- Entertainment: €250 (concerts, travel, drinks)
- Miscellaneous: €150
- Phone plan: €20
- Internet: €40
Total: €2,325/month
Lifestyle: Live alone, eat out regularly, professional coworking space, active social life.
Luxury Lifestyle (€3,800/month - Barcelona)
- Apartment: €1,500 (1BR in Eixample, modern, AC)
- Groceries: €300
- Eating out: €500 (dinners out 4-5x/week, nice restaurants)
- Transport: €60 (metro pass + occasional taxis)
- Coworking: €250 (premium space)
- Health insurance: €120 (comprehensive plan)
- Gym: €100 (premium studio classes)
- Entertainment: €600 (weekend trips, concerts, clubs, activities)
- Miscellaneous: €200
- Phone plan: €25
- Internet: €50
- Cleaners: €100 (2x/month)
Total: €3,805/month
Lifestyle: High-end apartment, eat out frequently, weekend travel, boutique fitness, premium everything.
Hidden Costs People Forget
- Visa fees: €80-150 (digital nomad visa application)
- NIE appointment: €10-20
- Apartment deposit: 1-2 months rent upfront
- Utility deposits: €100-200
- Spanish bank account setup: Often free, but some banks charge €5-10/month
- Taxes: 24% on worldwide income if you become a tax resident (unless Beckham Law applies)
How Spain Compares to Other Nomad Hubs
| City | Monthly Cost (Comfortable) |
|---|---|
| Valencia, Spain | €2,200 |
| Lisbon, Portugal | €2,400 |
| Chiang Mai, Thailand | €1,400 |
| Medellín, Colombia | €1,600 |
| Bali, Indonesia | €1,800 |
| Prague, Czech Republic | €2,000 |
| Mexico City, Mexico | €1,700 |
| Berlin, Germany | €2,800 |
| London, UK | €4,500 |
| New York, USA | €6,000+ |
Spain sits in the "mid-tier" value zone: Cheaper than Northern Europe, more expensive than Southeast Asia and Latin America, but with EU-level infrastructure and healthcare.
Money-Saving Tips
- Shop at municipal markets: Fresh produce 20-40% cheaper than supermarkets
- Eat lunch as your main meal: Take advantage of menú del día
- Cook at home 70% of the time: Spanish groceries are cheap
- Use bike share instead of metro: Saves €30-50/month
- Skip coworking if you can: Work from home or cafes
- Take advantage of free museum days: First Sunday of the month in many cities
- Buy wine from supermarkets: €4-6 bottles are excellent quality
- Use Spanish phone carriers: Yoigo, Lowi, Pepephone (€10-15/month unlimited data)
- Book trains in advance: Renfe has early bird discounts (up to 70% off)
- Negotiate rent: Especially for 6+ month leases
Conclusion: What's the Right Budget for You?
Minimum viable budget: €1,200-1,400/month (Valencia, Seville) Comfortable lifestyle: €1,800-2,500/month (most cities) Luxury lifestyle: €3,000-4,500+/month (Barcelona, Madrid)
My recommendation: Budget €2,000-2,200/month for your first 3 months while you figure out your spending patterns.
Spain offers incredible value compared to Northern Europe and North America:
- Excellent food (cheap!)
- World-class healthcare (affordable!)
- Fast internet (everywhere!)
- Vibrant culture (priceless!)
If you're earning €3,000+/month remotely, you can live very comfortably in Spain while saving money.
Start planning: Check Idealista for apartments, research neighborhoods, and book a month-long Airbnb to test a city before committing.
Welcome to affordable European living!
