Housing Costs in Spain
Housing is one expense that significantly affects the cost of living.
What You'll Actually Pay:
- 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre: €800 to €1,500 (₹89,732 - ₹1,68,247.50 approx.) per month
- 1 Bedroom Apartment in Medium City: €500 to €800 (₹56,082.50 - ₹89,732 approx.)
per month
- 1 Small Apartment in Small City: €350 to €600 (₹39,257.75 - ₹67,299 approx.) per month.
The Extras Nobody Warns You About:
- One month's rent is paid as a security deposit (fianza).
- Up to two months' rent can be charged as additional guarantee.
- If you have a temporary rental contract, you may pay an agency fee.
- Depending on your building, you may pay parking fees.
Utility Bills
Sharing your expenses with a roommate can significantly reduce your bills.
- Electricity: €80 (₹8,973.20 approx.) per month.
- Water: €25 (₹2,804.13 approx.) per month.
- Gas: €30 (₹3,364.95 approx.) per month.
- Telephone, Internet, and TV: €20 to €50 (₹2,243.30 - ₹5,608.25 approx.) per month
Transportation Expenses
Owning a private car is not really necessary in Spain, as there is a vast public transportation system in many cities.
Car Ownership Reality:
- New Compact Car: €20,780 (₹23,30,788.70 approx.)
- Fuel: €1.3/l (₹145.81 approx.)
- Registration: 4% of the cost of the car.
- Insurance: €200 to €300 (₹22,433 - ₹33,649.50 approx.) per year.
- Registration tax: 15% of the cost of the car.
- Transport tax: €100 to €150 (₹11,216.50 - ₹16,824.75 approx.) per year.
Public Transport Option:
- Bus Ticket: €1.50 to €2.50 (₹168.25 - ₹280.41 approx.)
- Monthly Passes: €40 to €80 (₹4,486.60 - ₹8,973.20 approx.)
- AVE Trains: €30 to over €100 (₹3,364.95 - ₹11,216.50 approx.)
- Regional Train Ticket: €10 to €30 (₹1,121.65 - ₹3,364.95 approx.)
- Interurban Bus Ticket: €20 to €50 (₹2,243.30 - ₹5,608.25 approx.)
Food and Groceries to Survive in Spain
Spending on food will lessen if you cook more than eat out.
Monthly Grocery Run:
- One Person: €200 to €300 (₹22,433 - ₹33,649.50 approx.))
- Couple: €300 to €520 (₹33,649.50 - ₹58,325.80 approx.)
- Family of Four: €370 to €500 (₹41,501.05 - ₹56,082.50 approx.) plus.
Restaurant Prices:
- Fast Food: €10 (₹1,121.65 approx.)
- One Person Meal: €15 (₹1,682.48 approx.)
- Two People Meal: €50 (₹5,608.25 approx.).
What Things Cost:
- Chicken Per Kilo: €7.42 (₹832.26 approx.)
- White Bread: €1.34 (₹150.30 approx.) per 500 grams
- Milk Per Litre: €1.05 (₹117.77 approx.)
- White Rice Per Kilo: €1.43 (₹160.40 approx.)
Education Costs
You can either go for a public or a private institution. For international education, Spain's public education is affordable.
Annual Cost:
Bachelor: €2,100 to €4,629 (₹2,35,578 - ₹5,19,281.22 approx.)
Master: €604 to €2,565 (₹67,756.72 - ₹2,87,741.70 approx.)
Bachelor: €2,400 to €30,000 (₹2,69,232 - ₹33,65,400 approx.)
Master: €1,388 to €105,000 (₹1,55,705.84 - ₹1,17,78,900 approx.)
Other Educational Expenses:
- Health Insurance: €35 to €120 (₹3,926.30 - ₹13,461.60 approx.) per month.
- Uniform: €176 (₹19,743.68 approx.)
- Textbooks: € 184 (₹20,641.12 approx.)
Healthcare Expenses
It is mandatory to have health insurance to get a visa.
Insurance Costs:
- Public: Paid through tax.
- Private: €50 to €150 (₹5,609 - ₹16,827 approx.) per month.
Medical Costs Without Insurance:
- Emergency: €150 (₹16,827 approx.) plus
- Doctor Visit: €50 to €100 (₹5,609 - ₹11,218 approx.)
- Specialist: €80 to €150 (₹8,974.40 - ₹16,827 approx.)
- Hospital Stay: €300 to €600 (₹33,654 - ₹67,308 approx.) per night
Entertainment and Leisure
You can enjoy simple activities at an affordable price range.
Activities:
- Cinema Ticket: €7 to €12(₹785.26 - ₹1,346.16 approx.)
- Gym Membership: €25 to €50 (₹2,804.50 - ₹5609 approx.)
- Streaming Service: €13 to €18 (₹1,458.34 - ₹2,019.24 approx.) per month
- Beer at Bar: €2 to €5 (₹224.36 - ₹560.90 approx.)
- A Glass of Wine: €2.50 to €5 (₹280.45 - ₹560.90 approx.)
Clothing and Personal Care
Personal care is one section where you can adjust your expenses according to your personal preference.
Clothing:
- Jeans: €76.76 (₹8,610.94 approx.)
- Summer Dress: €32.54 (₹3650.34 approx.)
- Formal Shoes: €79.28 (₹8,893.63 approx.)
- Running Shoes: €92.97 (₹10,429.37 approx.)
Personal Care:
- Shampoo: €0.15 to €1.95 (₹16.83 - ₹218.75 approx.)
- Soap: €2.00 to €5.80 (₹224.36 - ₹650.64 approx.)
- Toilet Paper: €0.37 to €1.05 (₹41.51 - ₹117.79 approx.)
- Toothpaste: €1.10 to €6.90 (₹123.40 - ₹774.04 approx.)
Childcare Services
You can choose a public or private childcare service. However, public ones are hard to get admitted to due to limited seats.
Nursery Fee:
- Private Nursery: €450 to €900 (₹50,481 - ₹1,00,962 approx.) a month.
- Public Nursery: €100 to €300 (₹11,218 - ₹33,654 approx.) a month.
- Public Pre-School: Mostly free.
- Private Pre-School: €400 to €1,100 (₹44,872 - ₹1,23,398 approx.) a month.
- Childminders: €300 to €600 (₹33,654 - ₹67,308 approx.) per day
Domestic Help:
- Nannies: €11 (₹1,233.98 approx.) per hour.
- Au-Pair: €70 (₹7,852.60 approx.) a week plus accommodation.
Other Regular Expenses
These are some minute expenses that are important but often get left out during budgeting.
Monthly Bits and Pieces:
- Maintenance: €10 to €160 (₹1,121.80 - ₹17,948.80 approx.)
- Waste Handling: €21 (₹2,355.78 approx.) twice a year.
- Visa Fee: Varies with visa type.
One-Time Costs:
- Furniture Set-up: €1,000 to €5,000 (₹1,12,180.00 - ₹5,60,900 approx.)
- NIE(Foreigner Identification Number) Application: €11(₹1,233.98 approx.)
- Shipping Belongings: €2,000 to €8,000 (₹2,24,360 - ₹8,97,440 approx.)
Comparison with Other Cities
There are distinct advantages and disadvantages to living in Spain compared to other places.
Advantages:
- The cost of living in Spain is comparatively lower than in other European countries.
- In Spain, local foods are affordable.
- Utility bills are cheaper as the climate is mild in many places.
- Public transportation is available in most parts of the country.
Higher Costs Compared to Other Cities:
- Private healthcare costs can be a burden for many.
- Private education fees are expensive.
- Prices is tourist heavy places are extremely expensive.
Money-Saving Strategies for Living in Spain
These small steps can help you stay within your budget and avoid overspending.
- You can live with someone to share rent and other expenses.
- Living in smaller towns can help lower housing expenses.
- Opt out of places with many visitors, as everything is more expensive there.
- Using public transport is budget-friendly.
- Try out various markets to know where prices are lower.
- Cooking at home instead of eating out regularly.
- Try thrift stores to find affordable products.
- Create a budget according to your income and follow it.
Salary Expectations in Spain
You may expect the following approximate compensation when living in Australia:
Average Yearly Salaries:
- Information Technology (IT): €32,000 – €45,000 (₹35,88,416 - ₹50,46,210 approx.)
- Engineering: €30,000 – €40,000 (₹33,64,140 - ₹44,85,520 approx.)
- Education: €20,000 – €30,000 (₹22,42,760 - ₹33,64,140 approx.)
- Financial Services: €35,000 – €50,000 (₹39,24,830 - ₹56,06,900 approx.)
- Sales and Marketing: €25,000 – €40,000 (₹28,03,450 - ₹44,85,520 approx.)
- Hospitality and Tourism: €18,000 – €25,000 (₹20,18,484 - ₹28,03,450 approx.)
Typical Benefits:
- Yearly bonuses
- Transport permit
- Health insurance cover
- Paid annual leave
- Pension amount
Conclusion
Spain is considered an affordable country, especially compared to other Western countries; however, it is still expensive compared to India. The cost of living in Spain for one person is around ₹79,954.8 per month, while a family of four spends around ₹2,89,204.5 per month, excluding rent. Although it is still expensive, it can be manageable for Indians as well.
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