Cost of Living
It is quite
hard to give anything more than a rough guide to the cost of living
in Spain.
Prices vary greatly by area, with the cost of living much higher in
the urban centers such as Madrid and Barcelona than in the rural Spanish
villages and towns.
In the Spanish
urban centers, the price of housing is high relative to the other costs
of
living. Spaniards who did not buy housing when prices were lower now
find it necessary to pay more than half the average income to get average
housing, which is a very high percentage. On the
other
hand,
a good
cup of
café con leche can be had in many cafes in Spain for an Euro
or less, and the cost of fruit and vegetables can be a bargain. As
a consequence, many Spaniards in the big Spanish cities live packed
into quite small apartments and observe a social life centered in cafes
and restaurants
rather than their homes.
Since the introduction
of the Euro, there has been a perceived inflation in prices in Spain.
With the conversion, some prices were rounded up to the nearest Euro
equivalent, with more increases coming in time.
With all those caveats,
here are some very rough costs for you that can be used for gauging
the cost of living.
Electricity: For two
people bills are around 30 to 35 euros per month.
Telephone: Flat-fee
of about 20 euros per month with the calls that you make on top of
that.
Food: For two people
bills are generally 300 Euros a month. An average restaurant bill is
eight to fifteen Euros (much cheaper at lunch), with a glass of beer
or wine one to two Euros.
Cinema: Around five
to six Euros to see a movie.
Nursery: To look after
a child it is about eighty Euros per month for 5hrs a day, but the
price will vary depending on the qualifications of the caretaker.
Schooling: Public schools
in Spain are often Catholic parochial schools supported by the state.
Charges are nominal.
For more in depth
information on this topic, we highly recommend:
Living
and Working in Spain: A Survival Guide
Click the link above
to check the price at Amazon UK.
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