Cost of living in Spain
The cost of living in Spain runs at about 69% of US prices, and INE's poverty line for a person living alone is €12,220.40 a year, about €1,018 a month.
Official prices, where your money goes further, and a budget built from your own rent and insurance. Checked against official sources on Oct 8, 2026.
- Price level
- ~69% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Poverty line, Spain
- €1,018/mo (about $1,140) Official, household of 1, 2025 survey. INE. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- 19% to 47% Foreign pensions are taxed. PwC Tax Summaries; Income Tax Act. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Build your Spain budget
No official source tracks what expats pay in rent, and rent is the biggest line in any budget. So this starts from what is measured, the government's poverty line, and adds your own numbers.
Get rent from current listings in the area you like and a written quote for health insurance at your age; the total then shows how far it sits above the $2,682 Non-Lucrative minimum.
Your monthly budget
$0
The official poverty line
INE, Spain's statistics office, publishes an at-risk-of-poverty threshold every year from its Living Conditions Survey: the yearly income below which a household counts as at risk of poverty. For a person living alone it was €12,220.40 a year in the 2025 survey, shown here as a month. It is one national figure, not set by city.
| Area | 2025 survey |
|---|---|
| Spain (national threshold) | €1,018 (about $1,140) |
INE. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Cost of living questions
How much do I need a month to live in Spain?
It depends mostly on rent, which no official source tracks for expats. Add your rent and insurance quotes in the calculator above, and keep the $2,682 Non-Lucrative minimum in mind as a floor, not a budget.
Is Spain cheaper than the US?
On average, yes: the World Bank puts household prices in Spain at about 69% of US levels (2025). Imported goods, cars and electronics can cost as much as at home or more.
Is it affordable for Americans to retire in Spain?
Prices in Spain run at about 69% of US prices. INE's at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a person living alone was €12,220.40 a year in the 2025 survey, about €1,018 a month; that is a floor, not a comfortable budget.
How much money do I need to retire in Spain?
For the non-lucrative visa, €2,400 a month or €28,800 for the first year for one person, plus €600 a month for each family member.
