How much does it cost to move to Spain?

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Spanish flag with passport and toy plane. Move to the Spanish concept. Credits: Gagodesign, ShutterStock

So you dream of drinking a cold beer of ice on a sun-drenched terrace, and say goodbye to your 9-5 in a drizzle. But how much money do you actually need in the bank to make your Mediterranean Sea into reality? From your visa to your veterinarian bill, you need something before you scream “Vamos!”.

We calculated numbers from start to finish, from visa fees to flights to deposits from dog wooden boxes. Really We’ll be covering starting a new life in Spain.

Step 1: Legally going to Spain is not cheap

Non-EU citizens, such as the UK and the US, usually apply for Spanish ones. Non-visual visa (NLV), suitable for retirees or people with passive income. The applicant must demonstrate that he has at least 36,000 euros of savings or passive income to support himself without working in Spain. When renewing after the first year, they must show sufficient funds to cover Two years – Effectively double the amount you need.

Visa application fee: Approximately £516 (600 euros) per person
Document processing (e.g. Acro Police Certificate, Apostille, Certified translation): Approx. €400-€500
Private health insurance (paid entirely without a co-payment): Approximately 250 euros or 3,000 euros per year for couples in their 50s

Flight and delivery

Flights depend on where you are flying from, where you are flying, and when. Semi-year, Easter and summer tend to be more expensive.
Personal property shipping: As long as you want to start fresh, you can estimate about 2,000 euros for the average person just I’ll pack my suitcases. Many people do it.

Temporary accommodation

Whether renting during apartment hunting or staying for three weeks at a hotel, short-term “landing pads” can range from around 1,000 to 2,000 euros depending on the size, time of year and of course location. Just like you, it’s a wise investment Intention Often, you will need to scout the area before you decide to move. Choose the area that has what you’re looking for.

Rental in Spain: Drama and dangerous demands

Renting in popular cities like Malaga, Madrid and Barcelona can become a fast-paced, competitive issue. Spanish laws limit landlords ask As an additional guarantee, it is not uncommon to bend or ignore these rules completely for a month’s rent deposit and up to two months.

We investigated available rentals on April 18, 2025.

monthly Rent for a two-bed furnished apartment near Benalmadena Beach On average it was 1,550 euros.
Advance fee: 4,650 euros (first month rent and two month deposit)

Some landlords and agents may even try to request it a few months in advance, even if they tackle an illegal “service fee.” Technically illegal these practices are still common in hot markets, and many tenants feel compelled to follow just To secure a place.

Difficult Cost of Moving: Raise it all

Let’s tally all the essentials:

Visa and Document Fee: 780 Euro
Health Insurance: 3,000 Euros
flight😕
Shipping: 2,000 Euro (optional)
Temporary accommodation: 1,000-2,000 euros (may vary by region)
Rental Move In Cost: Approximately 4,650 Euros

Quickly summed optional extras

These are not required, but not many foreigner You’ll end up spending on them:

Immigration lawyer: Up to 2,000 euros
Tax advice before travel: 500 euros
Relocation Agent (supporting housing protection): Approximately 2,000 euros
Temporary accommodation Go home After selling your property: Variety.
Large-scale delivery operations: Moving through a whole household can exceed 10,000 euros.
Pet relocation: Up to 350 euros for health documents. Air transport ranges from 100 euros to 200 euros (cabins), and even up to 6,000 euros for freight US and Canadian flyers.

Living in Spain: What is your new lifespan?

Once you settle down, the next major factor is your daily life. Spain’s National Statistics Bureau The average annual cost of living per consumer in Andalusia is reported to be around 14,745 euros. For couples, this number is adjusted by multiplying by 1.5 to estimate the estimated value to 22,118 euros per year.

Return your rent to the equation – use previous numbers of 1,550 euros per month – And that’s true 18,600 euros per year.

The annual living cost for couples is approximately 40,000 euros.

Want more comfort, travel and margins? Double the unrented portion and the estimate will be close to 62,000 euros per year, giving you plenty of headroom for holidays, flights to return home and unexpected expenses.

This can be slightly higher in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia or Mallorca. That may be the case too Row In more remote areas and locations. Think of it as “España Vacía.”

Don’t forget Taxman

About six months later in Spain You could do so Being a tax resident means you will be taxed on your global income and assets. There are tax treaties to prevent double taxation, but your overall budget should occupy this new financial obligation. This is one of the most overlooked parts of planning a move.

So is Spain still worth it?

Absolutely yes – but only if you have wide open eyes (and wallet). At a minimum, expect to cut from 8,000 euros to 15,000 euros for setup, and at least 40,000 euros to 60,000 euros a year. Costs vary according to lifestyle and location as usual – small towns are cheap, City Houses, like Malaga and Madrid, are more expensive, especially for homes.

Conclusion? Spain can improve the quality of life, but only if the budget is realistic, the documents are appropriate and ready to deal with some Spanish quirks in the middle.

Planning wisely will allow you to quickly exchange the stress of sangria and siesta.

If you like this article, check out the biggest mistakes people make when Buy a house in Spain.