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The Daily Insight

Are houses in Spain expensive?

Author

Abigail Rogers

Updated on March 03, 2026

In July 2020, a new house in Spain would cost around 2.472 thousand euros per square meter built. According to the European Mortgage Federation (EMF), real estate prices in Spain initiated a solid recovery in 2015, reaching 78.7 house price index points in 2018 from a lowest point of 70.8 index points recorded in 2014.

Regarding this, what is the average house price in Spain?

According to the European Mortgage Federation (EMF), real estate prices in Spain initiated a solid recovery in 2015, reaching 78.7 house price index points in 2018 from a lowest point of 70.8 index points recorded in 2014.

Price in euros per square meter built
2016 2,080
2017 2,156
2018 2,284
2019 2,400

Furthermore, can a foreigner buy a house in Spain? Of course! There are no restrictions on buying property in Spain, whether it's commercial, residential or land. In fact, Spain encourages investment by foreigners, both resident and non-resident.

Furthermore, is housing expensive in Spain?

Cost of living in Spain is one of the lowest in Western Europe, even in the cities. (And the famous Spanish sunshine you get for free.) Leaving aside rent or mortgage payments—and depending on your lifestyle—a couple could easily live on $20,000 to $22,000 a year and still eat out regularly.

What are the costs of buying a property in Spain?

Costs of buying a property in Spain

Buyers must pay the majority of the costs, which are generally as follows: Property transfer tax: 6–10% (existing properties) / VAT (or IVA) at 10% (new properties) Notary costs, title deed tax, and land registration fee: 1–2.5% Legal fees: 1–2% (including VAT)

Related Question Answers

How much do you need to live comfortably in Spain?

It's possible to retire comfortably in Spain on about $25,000 a year. That breaks down to roughly $2,083 per month. Of course, it is possible to live in Spain on less — $20,000, for instance.

Can you just move to Spain?

While the UK and Spain are both members of the EU, you have the right to live in Spain. Register at the local Oficina de Extranjeros for a residence certificate. After five years you'll need to apply for a certificate of permanent residency.

Are house prices going down in Spain?

According to their figures, the fall in property prices in Spain this year will be 1.4 percent, the second steepest decline after Ireland's forecasted 1.6 percent drop. 5 and 6 percent.

Will house prices fall in Spain?

In April most Spanish analysts predicted that house prices would decline by 10-15% in 2020. There has been a drop-off in prices, as the cost of housing fell by 2.8% across the country in the third quarter compared to the same period the year before, the Gesvalt housing report shows.

Is it a good time to buy property in Spain 2020?

Looking at types of assets, real estate experts add that residential, commercial premises in good locations and hotels will continue to be safe havens for investment in Spain. Therefore, if you do have the capital and owning a property in Spain is part of your plan, then 2020 could be a good year to do it.

What is required to move to Spain?

As a citizen of a non-EU country, the process is more complicated. To enter Spain, you will need a short-term Schengen visa that is valid for 90 days in a 180-day period. If you plan to stay longer, you will need to apply simultaneously for a long-term visa.

Where can I buy property in Spain 2020?

Best Places to buy a home in Spain in 2020/21
  1. Property in Mallorca.
  2. Property in Murcia.
  3. Property in Málaga.
  4. Property in Madrid. Madrid is a particularly expensive community when it comes to renting homes in Spain.
  5. Valencia. Property sales, foreign demand and rental prices are all soaring in Valencia.

Where is the cheapest property to buy in Spain?

Statistics and prices of cheap properties in Spain
  • Cheapest areas: Estremadura, Rioja, Castile and Leon.
  • Most expensive areas: Melilla, Balearic Islands, Andalusia.
  • Prices are going down in the areas: Madrid, Galicia, Murcia.

What is the cheapest city to live in Spain?

Seville/Sevilla

Is Spain a good country to live?

Spain ranks fourth as the best place to work and live, according to people who participated in the latest HSBC Expat Explorer Survey, published on Thursday. This is the best position since the survey began 12 years ago. Last year, Spain ranked 13th.

Where is the cheapest rent in Spain?

The cheapest areas to rent in Spain are Aragorn, Navarre, Estremadura, and Castile-La Mancha. The cheapest cities to live are Palencia, Melilla, Lugo, Logrono, and Teruel.

Is it cheaper to live in Spain or UK?

Overall, the cost of living in Spain in 2020 is still much cheaper than in the UK. Rents, for example, are around 30% less, groceries 15% less and the Consumer Price Index over 21% lower than the UK. However, despite the lower cost of living in Spain, the average salary is far less than that of the UK.

Can I live in Spain for a year?

It's possible to spend move abroad for a year in Spain on as little as $1,000 a month, according to Wealthsimple. The first essential step in making the move is to save — three to four months of your annual salary should suffice. Unless you are a European citizen, you will need a visa to move to Spain.

What is the average rent in Spain?

about 600 euros

What bills do you pay in Spain?

As with electricity, you're billed every two months and bills include VAT (IVA) at 16 percent. Like all utility bills, gas bills can be paid by direct debit (transferencia) from a Spanish bank account. In rural areas, bottled gas is used and costs less than half that of mains gas in most northern European countries.

Why is Spain so cheap?

Spain has a huge area which makes land prices very low. Spain produces a huge amount of its own food and wines. Spain is warm most of the year. That makes housing and food cheap, fuel costs low and that enables lower wages to be offered.

Is it hard to move to Spain?

As an American, moving to Spain was difficult.

From finding a long-term apartment lease to adjusting to everyday life in Spain, there were some challenges that were more difficult than we had expected. But, there were also plenty of pleasant surprises… things that were much easier than we anticipated.

How long can you live in Spain without residency?

183 days

Is buying property in Spain a good idea?

According to recent research, Spain came out as second of 33 countries as best for first-time buyers. The reasons given were a combination of reasonable property prices combined with a favourable cost of living as well as good average salary growth levels – all good reasons for buying in Spain.

What are the pitfalls of buying property in Spain?

5 common pitfalls when buying a property in Spain
  • Not having your registrations in place before the buying process.
  • Insufficient property research.
  • Not accounting for all of the costs involved in buying a house.
  • Not understanding your contract(s)
  • No preparation for future fees.

Where is the best area to live in Spain?

The Best Places to Live in Spain 2019
  • Madrid. Naturally, where else would we begin but Spain's capital, Madrid.
  • Alicante. One of the most popular areas for Brits to move to, is the city and surrounding area of Alicante in the south of Spain.
  • San Sebastian.
  • Malaga.
  • Seville.
  • Compare My Move in Spain.

Do you need a Spanish bank account to buy property?

You will need a bank account in Spain to pay the utilities invoices and the fees of the Community of Property Owners. In the case that you obtain finance to buy the property, you will also need a bank account for the mortgage monthly repayments.

How long does it take to buy a house in Spain?

In general, timescales are as follows: 3 to 4 weeks: for straightforward purchases, i.e. properties with no debts, all paperwork in order and financing already in place. 4 to 8 weeks: for slightly more complex purchases where, for example, an architect's certificate is required or the buyer needs to obtain a mortgage.

How do I become a citizen of Spain?

The easiest way of getting the Spanish nationality. After 2,5 or 10 years of living in Spain with your residency permit, you can easily get Citizenship by residency. If your parents were Spanish nationals, you can also get citizenship for yourself, as long as you meet the requirements.

What are the hidden costs of buying a property in Spain?

On top of the taxes of the property purchase itself, you should also consider potential estate agency fees, valuation costs, notary costs and the Spanish Land Registry fees. Valuation, notary and Land Registry fees are typically around 1% of purchase price each.

Do you pay stamp duty in Spain?

New properties

Stamp duty (legal documentation tax/ AJD in Spanish) at 1.5% of the purchase price.

Are taxes high in Spain?

As we can see in Figure 1, personal income tax rates in Spain will be among the highest for any income bracket in the countries considered. Now, there will be three different rates: 21 percent for the first 6,000 euros, 25 percent from 6,000 to 24,000 euros, and 27 percent for capital gains above 24,000 euros.