Moving from the UK to Spain is exciting, but one of the biggest concerns is how much your everyday living expenses will change.
Overall, Spain’s cost of living is significantly lower. In fact, living costs in Spain are about 19% lower on average than in the UK.
Of course, exact spending depends on where you live and your lifestyle, but in general you’ll find Spain much more affordable.
Below I will be covering all the main categories – housing, groceries, utilities, transport, healthcare, dining, taxes and education – weaving in real figures so you can plan with confidence.
In my opinion, the exact difference depends on location and lifestyle, but on average Spain offers a more affordable daily life.
Housing is often the single biggest monthly cost, and this is where Spain really shines.
Rental prices in Spain are roughly 25-30% lower than in the UK, and property purchase prices about 40% cheaper per square metre.
For example, a typical one-bedroom flat costs about £766/month in Spain versus £1,092 in the UK (that’s around 30% less), and a three-bedroom home about £937 vs £1,426 (–34%).
If you look at popular expat regions, the gap can be even bigger.
For instance, Málaga (Costa del Sol) is about 42% cheaper than London overall and rents there are ~65%.
In rural or smaller towns inland, you’ll pay even less: some inland Andalusian towns offer city-sized homes for a fraction of city-center London
Buying follows the same pattern.
Nationwide, property prices per square metre are roughly 40% cheaper than in the UK.
For example, outside city centres the average is €1,940/m² (£1,670) in Spain vs £3,740/m² in the UKmovehappy.es (–48%).
Even in major cities: Madrid or Barcelona city-centre might be around €3,000–5,000/m², whereas central London is over £10,000/m².
| Housing Type | Spain (Avg.) | UK (Avg.) | % Difference |
| 1-bed rent (city centre) | £800 | £1,050 | –24% |
| 1-bed rent (outside city) | £600 | £900 | –33% |
| 3-bed rent (city centre) | £1,300 | £1,800 | –28% |
| Property price per m² (city centre) | £2,900 | £5,100 | –43% |
"You can generally get 30–50% more space or nicer amenities in Spain for the same budget as in the UK."
Groceries and everyday food are generally cheaper in Spain. Local markets and supermarkets often offer staples at lower prices.
One analysis found that a typical weekly grocery shop is about 21% cheaper in Spain than the UK.
Basic staples like: milk, bread and eggs are significantly less expensive.
Numbeo data shows:
Many fruits and vegetables are also cheaper (e.g. apples £1.78/kg vs £2.19/kg).
These savings accumulate every week.
Not everything is uniformly cheaper – imported or specialty items can cost more.
For example, locally-produced cheese or beef can be pricier: beef is about €11.48/kg in Spain vs €10.44/kg in the UK.
Some items like bananas or onions may occasionally run higher, but for most everyday foods (milk, eggs, rice, seasonal produce, etc.) you will spend significantly less in Spanish supermarkets.
Item | Spain | UK |
Milk (1L) | £0.90 | £1.20 |
Bread (500g) | £1.10 | £1.20 |
Eggs (12) | £2.10 | £3.00 |
Apples (1kg) | £1.70 | £2.10 |
Cheese (1kg, local) | £10.00 | £7.00 |
Beef (1kg) | £12.00 | £10.50 |
Utility bills (electricity, heating, water, waste, etc.) are generally lower in Spain.
Thanks to milder weather and different energy policies, a typical energy bill for an 85 m² flat runs around €100–150 per month.
By contrast, a similar UK home might see combined electricity/heating/water bills around £250 or more.
In fact, Spanish households spend roughly half on energy what UK homes do. Part of this is climate (little heating needed in warm winters) and part is subsidised rates for electricity and fuel.
Broadband internet costs about €30–50 per month, similar in currency to the UK (£25–30), but Spain generally offers faster average speeds.
So in sum, expect substantially lower utility bills – especially for heating – in Spain.
Utility Type | Spain (Avg.) | UK (Avg.) |
Electricity, Water etc. | £100 | £250 |
Internet (fibre) | £30 | £30 |
"In southern Spain, winters are very mild, so heating costs are minimal. Summers can require air conditioning, but overall the yearly energy use is still far below what a UK household uses for winter heating."
Getting around is cheaper in Spain on most fronts.
Public transit fares are low: a single metro/bus ride usually costs about €1.40–1.50 (roughly £1.20–£1.30 at current exchange), whereas in UK cities you often pay £2–£2.50 per journey. Monthly public transport passes in Spain are typically around £25 (varies by city), compared to ~£70 in the UK for a similar urban area – over 60% savings on unlimited travel.
Taxis are roughly the same or slightly cheaper: expect a flag-fall around €2–3 and about €1–2 per km.
Fuel is also lower: petrol is around €1.60/L (~£1.30/L) in Spain versus about £1.50/L in the UK, thanks to lower fuel taxes.
Overall, whether you bike, bus or drive, day-to-day travel costs will usually be lighter on your wallet in Spain.
Transport Option | Spain | UK |
One-way metro/bus | £1.10 | £2.40 |
Monthly public pass | £25 | £70 |
Petrol (per litre) | £1.30 | £1.50 |
Taxi (1 km) | £1.00–£1.20 | £1.20–£1.50 |
Spain’s healthcare system is universal and generally very affordable.
Residents who pay into Seguridad Social (through work or an S1 form for UK pensioners) get access to public doctors and hospitals free at point of service (apart from small prescription copays).
Long wait times can exist, but the care itself costs much less.
Spain spends about 10–11% of GDP on health, compared to ~11–12% in the UK, reflecting somewhat lower per-capita costs.
In practice, most routine GP visits, specialist appointments and emergency care are essentially free after registration.
Many expats also supplement public coverage with private insurance for convenience.
Even this is relatively cheap: basic private plans start around €30–60 per month (often less than UK equivalents).
For example, a simple plan from a provider like Sanitas or Adeslas might be ~€50/month for an adult. UK private insurance (or comprehensive NHS alternatives) can run £45–100+.
In short, Spanish healthcare is very accessible to expats (with residency) and usually costs them less overall than similar coverage in the UK.
Healthcare Cost Type | Spain | UK |
Public GP Visit | Free (after registration) | Free (NHS) |
Monthly Private Insurance | From £25–£50 | £45–£100 |
Dental Check-up | £30–£50 | £50–£80 |
Emergency Room Visit | Free or low copay | Free (NHS) |
Eating out is one of the joys of Spain – and it’s gentler on the wallet too.
Restaurant and café prices run about 20–25% lower than in the UK.
For example, a mid-range three-course meal for two (including drinks) might cost ~€40 (≈£34) in Spain vs ~£60 in the UK.
Coffee culture is strong: a coffee or cappuccino often costs only €1.50–2.00 (about £1.30–£1.75), roughly half the UK price in a café.
Beers and wines are inexpensive too: a half-litre draught beer is typically ~€2–2.50movehappy.es (£2.20–£2.70), versus £4–5 in a UK pub.
Lunch deals (“menú del día”) are another Spanish bargain: many restaurants offer 2–3 courses plus drink for €10–12 (about £8–£10), a value unmatched in most of the UK.
Even fast-food chains are comparable or cheaper: a McDonald’s meal is roughly £7–8 in Spain, similar to the UK.
Tax Category | Spain | UK |
Income Tax Rate Range | 19%–47% | 20%–45% |
Personal Allowance | ~€6,000 | ~£12,570 |
Social Security (total) | ~36% (employer + employee) | ~25% (combined) |
VAT / Sales Tax | 21% (general) | 20% (standard rate) |
Property Tax (annual) | Lower (IBI varies) | Higher (Council Tax) |
Wealth/Inheritance Tax | Exists | Not applicable (IHT instead) |
"All told, eating and socialising out in Spain regularly saves a tidy sum – and you get tapas on the side when you order a drink!"
Taxes are more complex to compare, but here are the basics.
Spain’s income tax rates are slightly higher at the top end. Typical rates run from 19% up to ~45–54% (depending on your region), whereas the UK’s rates top out at 45%. Importantly, the UK’s large tax-free allowance (~£12,570) means many moderate incomes pay no tax on the first chunk, whereas Spain’s allowance is only about €6,000. The net effect is that lower earners still benefit from cheap daily costs, but higher earners often pay more income tax in Spain.
Social security charges (for pension/health contributions) also tend to be higher in Spain (combined employee+employer ~37% of salary vs ~26% in the UK). On the upside, Spain’s VAT is 21% (20% standard in UK), but many essentials (like groceries) are zero- or reduced-rated.
Property tax (IBI) in Spain is generally lower than UK council tax on equivalent value homes, but Spain does have a wealth tax: a progressive levy (0.2–3.5% on high net worth), which the UK abolished decades ago.
Inheritance and gift taxes in Spain are often higher (though some regions now offer big allowances).
Bottom line: the overall tax burden can be heavier in Spain, especially for high earners or wealth.
However, most expats find that the savings on everyday living costs (rent, food, utilities, etc.) more than compensate.
Careful financial planning (and taking advantage of regional tax breaks) can further improve your situation, but it’s wise to budget a bit higher for taxes than you would in the UK.
Tax Category | Spain | UK |
Income Tax Rate Range | 19%–47% | 20%–45% |
Personal Allowance | ~€6,000 | ~£12,570 |
Social Security (total) | ~36% (employer + employee) | ~25% (combined) |
VAT / Sales Tax | 21% (general) | 20% (standard rate) |
Property Tax (annual) | Lower (IBI varies) | Higher (Council Tax) |
Wealth/Inheritance Tax | Exists | Not applicable (IHT instead) |
If you have children, education costs are much lower in Spain for private schools or nurseries.
Both countries have free public schools, but many expat families use private or international schools.
In Spain, these are far cheaper.
For instance, full-time private daycare/preschool might run about €350–400/month for a young child – versus well over €1,200 (£1,000+) in much of the UK.
International primary/secondary schools in Spain (British or IB curricula) typically charge on the order of €9,000–€12,000 per year for elementary aged kids.
For example, The British School of Málaga lists ~€9,280/year for a 3‑year‑oldinternational-schools-database.com and ~€11,000–€12,650 for older gradesinternational-schools-database.com.
In the UK, comparable private school fees are often £14,000–£20,000 per year. So Spanish private education (and nurseries) usually cost a fraction of UK prices.
Education Type | Spain (Avg.) | UK (Avg.) |
Private Nursery (per month) | £350 | £1,240 |
International School (per year) | £6,850 | £14,600 |
Public School | Free | Free |
"These examples are for entry-age children; fees rise for teens, but the relative gap remains. Some famous schools or larger cities may charge more, but on average Spain is much kinder to parents’ wallets."
Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of everyday costs in Spain vs the UK.
This table sums up where you’ll likely save (or not) depending on your lifestyle and location.
Category | Spain Cheaper? | Notes |
Housing | ✅ Yes | Rent and property prices significantly lower |
Groceries | ✅ Yes | Around 20–30% cheaper |
Utilities | ✅ Yes | Electricity and heating much cheaper |
Transport | ✅ Yes | Public transit and petrol both cheaper |
Healthcare | ✅ Yes | Public system efficient, private affordable |
Dining Out | ✅ Yes | Restaurant prices 20–25% lower |
Taxes | ❌ Sometimes | Higher effective rates, esp. for higher earners |
Education | ✅ Yes | Private and intl. schools more affordable |
Is Spain really cheaper to live in than the UK?
Yes.
Most major expense categories (housing, food, utilities, transport, dining, childcare) are significantly lower in Spain.
Studies consistently show overall costs ~20–25% cheaper, meaning your euro or pound goes further in daily life.
How much cheaper is rent in Spain?
Roughly 25–30% on average, and even more in smaller cities or towns.
For example, Spain’s average one-bedroom rent in city centers is about £800 (compared to ~£1,100 in UK cities).
In popular expat spots (Costa del Sol, Valencia, etc.) rents can be 40–70% lower than London.
Are groceries cheaper in Spain?
Yes.
Most everyday groceries cost noticeably less.
A typical weekly shop runs about 20–25% cheapermovehappy.es.
For instance, €1 of milk in Spain goes further than €1 of milk in the UK, and staples like bread, rice, vegetables, eggs are all cheaper. (Only some imported items or luxury foods buck the trend.)
Do you pay more tax in Spain than in the UK?
It depends on your income.
Spain has higher top rates (up to ~45–54% versus 45% UK) and much smaller personal allowances.
Social security charges are higher too.
Many expats at middle incomes do end up paying more percentage tax in Spain.
However, that is often offset by lower living costs elsewhere.
Planning carefully (and choosing a region with good allowances) is important.
Is healthcare free in Spain for expats?
If you become a legal resident and either work in Spain or register with an S1 (if you’re a UK pensioner), you’re entitled to Spain’s public healthcare system.
In practice, medical consultations and hospital stays are free at point of use (with small co-pays for prescriptions).
Private insurance is optional (and generally quite affordable, from €30–60/month) if you want faster access or English-speaking doctors.
How do other expenses compare?
Almost everywhere you look, Spain saves you money: utility bills are roughly half those in the UK, public transport is 50–60% cheaper, and even leisure costs (cinema, gym, attractions) tend to be a bit lower.
Barcelona or Madrid public transit passes (~€54-60/month) cost far less than London’s (£100+).
Overall, your lifestyle can be more spacious and relaxed for the same spend.
In summary, Spain’s cost of living is generally much lower than in the UK, especially on day-to-day items and housings.
Many expats find that the savings on rent, food, transport and services more than make up for any higher taxes.
You’ll stretch each euro farther, enjoying a better quality of life (sunshine, outdoor culture, excellent food) on a moderate budget.
Whether you’re relocating for retirement, remote work or family reasons, this comparison shows your money buys more space, comfort and leisure in Spain.
If you’re considering the move, download our free Relocation Guide or reach out to our experts to see exactly how these savings could apply to your plans – we’re here to help you make the most of life under the Spanish sun!
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