Cost of Living in Spain 2026: Official Spending Data
Spain measures its own cost of living every year. The National Statistics Institute (INE) surveys about 24,000 households and publishes what they actually spend, by category, by type of household and by region. The latest release covers 2025. This guide turns it into a budget picture and sets it beside the income levels Spanish immigration rules use, read from the INE and Spain's consulates on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
The average household in Spain spent 35,101 euros in 2025, up 3.1% on the year before. Spending per person was 14,066 euros. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels took a third of the budget, 33.2%, food and non-alcoholic beverages 16.0% and transport 11.5%. A person under 65 living alone spent 23,784 euros. Spain's minimum wage in 2026 is 1,221€ a month, according to the Spanish consulate in Washington.
Where a Spanish household's money goes
Average expenditure per household in 2025, from the INE's Household Budget Survey. Figures are for the whole year.
| Group | Euros per year | Share in % |
|---|---|---|
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 11,665 | 33.2 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 5,626 | 16.0 |
| Transport | 4,020 | 11.5 |
| Restaurants and accommodation services | 3,282 | 9.3 |
| Recreation, sport and culture | 1,772 | 5.0 |
| Clothing and footwear | 1,416 | 4.0 |
| Health | 1,413 | 4.0 |
| Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services | 1,293 | 3.7 |
| Insurance and financial services | 1,286 | 3.7 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance | 1,248 | 3.6 |
| Information and communication | 1,079 | 3.1 |
| Education services | 570 | 1.6 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 432 | 1.2 |
| Total | 35,101 | 100.0 |
In the INE's words, almost 60% of spending is concentrated in three groups: housing and utilities, food, and transport. Within food, meat is the largest item at 3.6% of total expenditure, followed by bread and cereals and by milk, cheese and eggs at 2.1% each.
By type of household
| Household | Average spending in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Single person under 65 | 23,784 euros |
| Single person aged 65 or over | 23,024 euros |
| An adult with children | 31,173 euros |
| Couple without children | 36,334 euros |
| Couple with children | 44,438 euros |
| All households | 35,101 euros |
Spending by people living alone rose fastest. Single-person households under 65 recorded the largest increase of any type, 7.0%, which is 1,558 euros more than in 2024.
What is rising and what is falling
- Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels: up 5.8%, an increase of 636 euros on 2024. It was the fastest-growing group.
- Food and non-alcoholic beverages: up 4.4%, 236 euros more than in 2024.
- Recreation, sport and culture: up 4.7%.
- Restaurants and accommodation services: down 2.7%.
- Alcoholic beverages and tobacco: down 3.4%.
The INE notes that these averages are in current prices for each year, so the changes include the effect of price rises.
Where in Spain you live
Spending per person varies by region. The autonomous community with the highest expenditure per capita in 2025 was País Vasco, at 16,642 euros. Andalucía registered the lowest, at 12,197 euros.
The spread between households
| Households ranked by spending | Average spending in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Lowest fifth (quintile 1) | 17,985 euros |
| Quintile 2 | 25,775 euros |
| Quintile 3 | 31,841 euros |
| Quintile 4 | 39,820 euros |
| Highest fifth (quintile 5) | 60,083 euros |
The fifth of households that spend least put 61.5% of their budget into housing, utilities and food. The fifth that spend most put 41.2% there, and a third of their budget, 33.6%, into transport, restaurants and accommodation, and recreation.
Income benchmarks Spain uses
| Benchmark | 2026 amount | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage (SMI) | 1,221€ a month | The base for work and telework permits |
| 200% of the SMI | 2,442€ a month | Income required for the telework (digital nomad) visa |
| IPREM | 600€ a month | Funds a foreign student must show |
These are published by the Spanish consulate in Washington for 2026. Set against the survey, they show how the state's floors compare with real spending: a single person under 65 spends on average 23,784 euros a year.
How to use these numbers
- Start from your household type, not the national average.
- Budget a third for the home. That is the national share for housing and utilities.
- Adjust for region. Per-person spending in the highest region is well above the lowest.
- Remember what an average is. These figures cover all households in Spain together.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of living in Spain?
The INE recorded average household expenditure of 35,101 euros for the year 2025. Average spending per person was 14,066 euros. Divide by twelve for a monthly figure.
How much does a single person spend in Spain?
A person under 65 living alone spent 23,784 euros on average in 2025, according to the INE. A person aged 65 or over living alone spent 23,024 euros.
What share of spending goes on housing in Spain?
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels took 33.2% of the average household budget in 2025, a third of the total.
How much do Spanish households spend on food?
An average of 5,626 euros in 2025 on food and non-alcoholic beverages, 16.0% of the budget.
Which region of Spain has the highest cost of living?
By spending per person, País Vasco was highest in 2025 at 16,642 euros. Andalucía was lowest at 12,197 euros.
What is the minimum wage in Spain in 2026?
The Spanish consulate in Washington gives the 2026 minimum wage as 1,221€ a month.
Is the cost of living in Spain going up?
Average household spending rose 3.1% in 2025. Housing and utilities rose fastest, by 5.8%.
Official sources
- National Statistics Institute (INE) — Household Budget Survey, year 2025, final results
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consulate in Washington — Telework visa (2026 minimum wage)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consulate in Washington — Study visa (2026 IPREM)
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. The INE publishes annual figures. These are national averages, not quotes for a particular city. Information, not financial advice.