Costs of Living in Spain

Attending a college or a university in Spain is a once-in-a-lifetime event that you are certain to appreciate for the rest of your life. The amazing country has excellent learning opportunities, surrounded by pristine living in the most immaculate of culture. Combined with an amazing climate and plenty to do, Spain is certainly the place to be.

If you are a student that is soon to be living in Spain and attending school, you are probably very excited but also nervous, unsure of what to expect. There are lots of things running through your mind –including how much it will cost to live in this beautiful country.

The costs of living in Spain are not the same for everyone. It really depends on where you live and the lifestyle that you want to lead. Living in Spain can be very affordable, or it can be very expensive, and you are the determining factor to which you will receive. As a student, you are probably wanting to live as affordable as possible, and this means conducting as much research as you possibly can concerning housing options, shopping, schools, and more.

It is safe to say that you should look outside of Madrid and Barcelona if you want the most affordable living options in Spain. These two cities rank among the top 50 most expensive places to live in the world. Country living, as it is called, is much more affordable, and brings to you a wonderful, comfortable place to call home as you attain your education. If you have your heart set on living near the beach, do not think that you cannot do this affordable. The key to beach housing is also location, and you must stay away from Mallorca.

Housing costs will be the biggest expense that you have while attending a university in Spain, as you can imagine, so make sure that you carefully consider the city in which you reside, as well as the housing option that is best suited for your needs. Even if you attend a school in Madrid or in Barcelona you can choose to live in a nearby city and live much more affordably. The three cheapest places to live in Spain are Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, and Granada.

Now for a look at the costs of living in Spain for some other very important things.

Entertainment

There is plenty of choices in entertainment available throughout the country, and most of that entertainment is affordable. There are certainly entertainment options to suit the needs and the tastes of all, with many museums, bars and pubs, zoos, markets, shopping centers, art galleries, and more scattered about. Most of these things are affordable for the budget.

Additionally, Spain is loaded with tons of free things that you can do to entertain your time. These things are certainly worth looking into, as they are also varied in nature and include something that every taste can appreciate.

Internet is available throughout Spain and can be obtained at a cost of about 10 Euros per month, quite affordable compared to other nearby areas and a true bargain for you.

Clothing

You can attend a college in Spain and do it in style, as clothing is very affordable in Spain. Furthermore, there are a number of choices in shopping for the clothing that you want to wear. Spain is filled with shopping malls, outlets, department stores, and more, with numerous brand names and all of the latest fashions from around the world ready for you to obtain. Barcelona is certainly the place to go when you want to shop for clothing.

Electronics

We all love electronics, and as a student, those items like laptops, tablets, and smartphones can greatly aid in learning, as well as getting around in the country, providing entertainment, and more. You may find yourself wanting to purchase any of the items above, or TVs, DVD players, and more. The cost of electronics is a bit more expensive than in other parts of Europe, although you can shop around and get a good deal.

Food

Everyone needs to eat, and you will be pleased to know that you can eat well for less in Spain. Many great restaurants are available for dining out, with the average meal costing between 6 and 20 Euros per person. This is more than affordable, easily feeding you and all of your college buddies.

If you plan to prepare your own meals (or, make your own sandwiches) the costs of buying foods at the supermarket is quite affordable as well. Spain is filled with many markets, and staying away from Hipercor will ensure that you get the best prices on all of your goods. Typical prices for some of the most commonly purchased food items can be found below.

  • 1 Liter Milk -1 Euro
  • Fresh Chicken – 4 Euros per kilogram
  • 1 Kilo Potatoes -70c
  • Frozen Pizza -3.50 Euros
  • Cheddar Cheese -6 Euros for 250grams of cheese

The average individual will spend an average of 125 Euros per month on food while in Spain. 

Transportation

If you use the public transportation system you can get around quite affordably. A bus is available, as is a taxi cab. Expect to spend about 2 Euros to utilize public transportation, per trip. Rental cars are also available.

Healthcare

Healthcare in Spain is among the best that you will find. You can always expect to find amazing hospitals and highly qualified doctors with state of the art equipment and using the latest technologies. Healthcare in Spain is sponsored by the government, making the costs of healthcare affordable for anyone. The average doctor visit will cost 50 Euros if you are without insurance.

Utilities

We’ve already talked about the average cost of the Internet, but what about other utilities? If you choose to rent your own apartment or flat, you can expect to spend an additional 300 Euros on utilities which include electricity, gas, telephone, and internet.

Tuition Fees in Spain

And now what you really need to know as a student in Spain! The costs of attending college in Spain are not the same, as you may have already expected. The tuition costs vary by institution, however, on average, you can expect the average tuition rate to be around 1000 Euros per semester.

Overall the costs of living in Spain are about 20% less than living in other European countries. Plan accordingly and you can ensure that you are living comfortably while you attend school in the country.