Alicante · utilities
€129.94
May 2026 reference for basic monthly utilities in an 85 m² apartment.
Cost of living · Costa Blanca · Updated 29 July 2026
Living in Spain after buying a house: what does everyday life really cost?
Buying the property is only the beginning of the budget. This guide looks at the costs that continue afterwards: IBI, community fees, electricity, water, groceries, restaurants, healthcare, cars, sports clubs, golf, pool maintenance and the less obvious expenses that determine what life on the Costa Blanca actually costs.
Current references
Restaurant, utility and leisure references use current 2026 Alicante data where available.
Local examples
Golf and pool examples use published Costa Blanca prices rather than generic national assumptions.
Planning, not promises
Property-specific charges, insurance and maintenance are shown as planning items because no responsible guide can quote them without seeing the actual home.
The mistake to avoid
A mortgage-free home is not a cost-free home.
Once the purchase is complete, the financial picture changes. Purchase tax and notary bills disappear, but a new set of recurring costs begins: local property tax, utilities, community fees, insurance, maintenance, transport and the cost of actually enjoying your life in Spain.
The lifestyle element is often underestimated. A couple who walks to the beach, cooks at home and lives in a simple apartment has a very different monthly budget from a couple with a villa, pool, two cars, regular restaurant meals and golf several times per month.
That is why this article separates property costs, everyday living costs and optional lifestyle costs. The distinction makes a relocation budget far more useful.
Alicante · casual restaurant
€15
Current reference for one meal at an inexpensive restaurant.
Alicante · gym
€36.13
Current average monthly fitness-club reference in Alicante.
La Sella · golf
€130
Published 2026 visitor green fee for 18 holes before extras.
1 · Costs attached to the property
These continue whether you go out for dinner or stay home all month.
Property ownership and fixed running costs
Do not estimate these from the purchase price alone. Ask for the actual IBI bill, community budget, insurance quote and recent utility history for the property.
| Cost | Planning figure | What to know |
|---|---|---|
Local property tax IBI | Property-specific | IBI is charged by the municipality and calculated from the cadastral value, not simply the market price. Spanish law sets a general urban-property rate framework, while each municipality applies its own rate and local rules. |
Municipal charges Waste / rubbish charge | Varies by municipality | Local waste charges differ by town and can change. Check the latest municipal bill for the actual property rather than using a generic Costa Blanca estimate. |
Apartment / urbanisation Community fees | Property-specific | The comunidad de propietarios can cover lifts, gardens, pools, security, cleaning and shared repairs. Review the latest budget, meeting minutes and any special assessments before buying. |
Protection Home insurance | Obtain an individual quote | Premiums depend on rebuild value, contents, occupancy, claims history, location, pool and whether the property is left empty for long periods. |
Maintenance reserve Repairs and replacements | Build a separate annual reserve | Air-conditioning, appliances, awnings, pumps, exterior paint, waterproofing and terraces do not fail on a monthly schedule. A reserve is more realistic than pretending maintenance is zero until something breaks. |
About IBI
The cadastral value matters more than the estate-agent asking price.
Spain's Local Treasury Law sets the general urban IBI rate framework at 0.4% to 1.10%, with municipalities setting the applicable local rate and certain adjustments. The percentage is applied to the cadastral tax base, not simply to what you paid for the house. That is why two properties with similar market values can have different IBI bills.
2 · Everyday living
Utilities and groceries form the base of the monthly budget.
Alicante's current utility references are useful for an apartment, but villas require more caution. Pool pumps, irrigation, larger air-conditioning systems and outdoor lighting can turn an apparently low Spanish utility budget into a much larger summer bill.
Utilities, communications, food and transport
Current Alicante references are useful for orientation. Your property type and lifestyle remain more important than the regional average.
| Cost | Planning figure | What to know |
|---|---|---|
Utilities Electricity, heating/cooling, water and waste | Alicante reference: about €130/month | Numbeo's May 2026 Alicante dataset reports €129.94 per month for basic utilities for an 85 m² apartment, with a reported range of roughly €90–€160. Villas, pools and heavy summer air-conditioning can be materially higher. |
Internet Home broadband | Alicante reference: about €26/month | Numbeo reported an average of €26.02 per month for broadband in Alicante in May 2026, with many offers in the €20–€30 range. |
Mobile Phone plan | Alicante reference: about €16/month | Numbeo's Alicante reference for a mobile plan with calls and 10GB+ data was €16.15 per month in May 2026. |
Groceries Two adults | Roughly €410–€500/month | A useful planning range for two adults who cook most meals at home. Brand choice, imported products, alcohol and premium fish or meat can move this substantially. |
Fuel Petrol | Alicante reference: about €1.52/litre | Numbeo's May 2026 Alicante dataset reported approximately €1.52 per litre. Your real transport budget depends much more on annual kilometres, car type, insurance and parking. |
3 · Restaurants, sport and social life
The cost of living in Spain is also the cost of enjoying Spain.
A budget that only includes electricity and groceries is not a lifestyle budget. Coffee on the paseo, lunch with friends, a gym membership, padel, cinema and golf can easily become regular monthly spending.
| Lifestyle | Current reference | Budget implication |
|---|---|---|
Eating out Inexpensive restaurant meal | Alicante reference: about €15/person | Numbeo reported €15 for an inexpensive restaurant meal in Alicante in May 2026, with a reported range of €9–€25. |
Eating out Mid-range dinner for two | Alicante reference: about €55 | The May 2026 Alicante reference was €55 for a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant, excluding drinks. |
Coffee & drinks Cappuccino / draft beer | About €1.89 / €3 | Numbeo's Alicante reference in May 2026 was €1.89 for a cappuccino and €3 for a 0.5-litre domestic draft beer. |
Gym Standard fitness membership | About €25–€50/month | Numbeo's Alicante average was €36.13 per month. Basic-Fit currently advertises its Comfort plan from €24.99 per four weeks after the introductory period. |
Racket sports Tennis / padel-style court budget | Around €15–€20/hour as a useful reference | Numbeo reported €15.57 for one hour of weekend tennis court rental in Alicante. Padel pricing varies by club, time and whether the price is per court or per player. |
Cinema International release ticket | Alicante reference: about €8.25 | Numbeo's May 2026 Alicante dataset reported €8.25 per cinema ticket, with a range of roughly €6.90–€12. |
Golf 18-hole visitor green fee | La Sella 2026 reference: €130 | La Sella Golf's published 2026 tariff lists €130 for an 18-hole visitor green fee. Web offers can be lower and other Costa Blanca courses have different rates. |
Golf 10-round pack | La Sella 2026 reference: €800 | La Sella's 2026 published tariff lists a ten-green-fee 18-hole pack at €800, valid for six months. Frequent golfers should compare packs and annual membership rather than paying visitor rates every round. |
Golf Buggy / practice | €44 buggy · €2 practice token | La Sella's current visitor pricing lists €44 for an 18-hole buggy and €2 for a driving-range token. Club rental and lessons are extra. |
Golf budget
Occasional golf and a golf lifestyle are two different budgets.
La Sella Golf near Dénia provides a useful current Costa Blanca reference. Its published 2026 rate is €130 for an 18-hole visitor green fee, while a ten-round 18-hole pack is €800. An 18-hole visitor buggy is €44.
That means two people playing twice per month at the standard visitor green fee would spend €520 per month on green fees alone. Add buggies twice each and the same month's golf spend can rise by another €176. Frequent players should therefore compare annual membership, resident offers and multi-round packages before using pay-as-you-play prices as their long-term budget.
Practical rule
If golf is part of your weekly routine, choose the area and club before you choose the house.
A cheaper house 35 minutes from the course can be less useful than a slightly more expensive home close to the club you will actually use.
4 · Villa, pool and garden
Outdoor space creates value — and a maintenance schedule.
Services that are easy to overlook when buying a villa
A private pool and Mediterranean garden can be manageable, but they should have their own annual operating budget.
| Cost | Planning figure | What to know |
|---|---|---|
Villa Professional pool maintenance | Local examples from about €70–€95/month | One Costa Blanca provider currently advertises annual maintenance contracts from €69.95 to €93.95 per month depending on summer visit frequency, including chemicals and IVA. Other providers and larger pools can cost more. |
Villa Garden maintenance | Quote by garden size and frequency | A Mediterranean garden can be inexpensive if simple and drought-tolerant, but lawns, palms, hedges, irrigation and frequent visits change the budget quickly. Ask for an annual service plan, not only an hourly rate. |
Home help Cleaning / keyholding | Optional and property-specific | Permanent residents may only need occasional cleaning; second-home owners often add keyholding, inspections, storm checks or pre-arrival preparation. Treat this as a separate lifestyle service. |
Pool-service pricing above is a local market example, not a Costa Blanca tariff. Larger pools, salt systems, heating, repairs, water top-ups and replacement equipment are separate. Always ask exactly what a monthly maintenance contract includes.
5 · Healthcare
Do not use one online insurance price for a retirement budget.
Private medical insurance is highly age- and coverage-sensitive. Residency requirements may also require a particular level of cover. A promotional entry price is therefore useful only as a market reference, not as proof of what your own policy will cost.
Private healthcare planning
The ranges below are current market orientation. Get an individual written quote based on age, postcode, medical history, copay structure and residency requirements.
| Cost | Planning figure | What to know |
|---|---|---|
Private healthcare Younger adults | Indicative market range: €25–€45/month | ASISA's 2026 guidance gives an indicative range of roughly €25–€45 per month for younger adults. Actual premiums depend on age, province and level of cover. |
Private healthcare Age 40–60 | Indicative market range: €45–€80/month | ASISA's 2026 guidance gives €45–€80 per month as an indicative range for middle-aged policyholders, depending on cover and personal factors. |
Private healthcare Older residents | Often €90+/month | Premiums typically rise with age. Sanitas, for example, markets a product for older policyholders from €48.10 per month, but comprehensive no-copay or residency-compatible cover can be more expensive. Always quote for the individual. |
For British owners
Property ownership, residency, healthcare and tax are four separate questions.
Buying a house does not itself give a British citizen residency
If you are British and actually move to Spain, your immigration and residency route must be dealt with separately from the property purchase. GOV.UK's Living in Spain guidance was updated in July 2026 and explains visas, residency, healthcare and driving.
Healthcare depends on your status
Some British residents may access Spanish state healthcare through employment, social-security contributions or an S1 entitlement. Others may need private medical insurance, including for certain residence applications. Do not budget from a generic insurance advert alone.
Tax residence is separate from property ownership
Owning a Spanish home does not automatically make you Spanish tax resident. Equally, becoming resident can change which income and assets Spain taxes. If you remain non-resident, Spanish non-resident tax can still apply to the property even when it is kept for personal use.
Plan sterling-to-euro cash flow
A household paid from UK pensions, investments or salaries in sterling has a currency risk that a euro-paid household does not. A €2,500 monthly lifestyle costs more or less in pounds as the exchange rate moves.
A second home can still create Spanish tax even if it is not rented.
The Spanish Tax Agency confirms that an individual non-resident owner of Spanish urban property used personally or left empty can be subject to non-resident income tax on imputed income. If you become Spanish tax resident, the analysis changes. Treat tax residence as a professional cross-border question, not as a by-product of receiving the keys.
Read the UK second-home tax guide →Three realistic planning scenarios
What should you budget per month after the house is already paid for?
These examples are deliberately broad. They are designed to test whether a lifestyle is financially comfortable, not to promise what a particular household will spend.
No mortgage · moderate lifestyle · occasional restaurants
Couple in an apartment
€1,400–€2,400 / month
- •Community / IBI / insurance reserve
- •Utilities, internet and two mobile plans
- •Groceries for two
- •Restaurants and cafés a few times per month
- •Local transport or moderate car use
- •Gym or normal sports membership
- •Healthcare allowance where needed
- •General household and maintenance reserve
Excludes mortgage payments, major travel, expensive renovations and international-school fees.
No mortgage · car · more maintenance · active social life
Couple in a villa with pool
€2,000–€3,500 / month
- •Higher electricity and water use
- •Pool service and garden allowance
- •Home insurance and maintenance reserve
- •Groceries plus regular restaurants
- •One car and fuel
- •Private health insurance where required
- •Gym / sport / social activities
- •More frequent home repairs and replacements
A large garden, heated pool, luxury villa, frequent entertaining or multiple cars can push this higher.
No mortgage · frequent dining out · golf several times per month
Villa lifestyle with regular golf
€2,700–€4,500+ / month
- •All normal villa running costs
- •Restaurants and social spending
- •Golf green fees or membership
- •Buggy, lessons or equipment when used
- •Car and regional travel
- •Private healthcare allowance
- •Larger maintenance reserve
- •Entertainment and discretionary spending
At a €130 visitor green fee, two golfers playing twice per month would spend €520 on green fees alone before buggies, food or lessons. Membership can therefore materially change the economics.
The number that matters is not “Spain's average cost of living”.
It is the cost of your property + your location + your habits. A house that requires two cars, weekly pool and garden service and frequent golf can create a higher lifestyle budget than a centrally located apartment even when the apartment cost more to buy.
Families
Schooling can dwarf several other living-cost categories.
Numbeo's May 2026 Alicante dataset reported an average annual international-primary-school tuition figure of approximately €8,394 per child, with a very wide reported range. School choice, registration fees, meals, transport, uniforms and activities need to be checked directly with the school.
Pets and home life
Small recurring costs become meaningful over a full year.
Veterinary care, pet insurance, grooming, cleaning, alarm monitoring, subscriptions, occasional tradespeople and home security are easy to omit from a spreadsheet. Add a general household contingency instead of assuming every month will be predictable.
Read the pets-in-Spain guide →Sources and methodology
Current prices where possible, planning ranges where necessary.
Market prices move. Property-specific costs move even more. The useful approach is to use current public references for everyday spending and obtain actual bills or quotes for the house itself.
Alicante · current market prices
Numbeo — Cost of Living in Alicante, updated May 2026 ↗
Fitness · official pricing
Basic-Fit Spain — current membership prices ↗
Golf · 2026 official tariff
La Sella Golf — 2026 green fees and visitor rates ↗
Golf · current services
La Sella Golf — buggies, club rental and practice facilities ↗
Pool · local market example
The Pool People — Costa Blanca pool-maintenance contracts ↗
Healthcare · 2026 pricing guidance
ASISA — 2026 health-insurance pricing guidance ↗
Healthcare · current market example
Sanitas — current private health insurance pricing ↗
Property tax · legislation
BOE — Spanish Local Treasury Law, IBI urban-property rate framework ↗
Non-resident property tax
Agencia Tributaria — imputed income on Spanish urban property for own use ↗
British residents · official guidance
GOV.UK — Living in Spain, updated July 2026 ↗
Editorial note: Numbeo is a contributor-based market dataset rather than an official tariff. It is used here as a current Alicante price reference and is clearly separated from official tax and government sources. Lifestyle budgets are Nordic Move Spain planning scenarios, not statistical household averages.
Frequently asked questions
Living costs after buying in Spain.
How much does it cost to live in Spain after buying a house?
For a couple with no mortgage, a practical planning range can be around €1,400–€2,400 per month in an apartment and around €2,000–€3,500 in a villa with a pool and car. A more leisure-heavy villa lifestyle with frequent restaurants and golf can exceed €4,000 per month. These are planning scenarios, not official averages.
What property costs continue after completion in Spain?
Typical ongoing items include IBI, municipal waste charges, community fees where applicable, home insurance, utilities, internet, maintenance and repairs. Villas can add pool, garden, irrigation, exterior and equipment-maintenance costs.
How much does eating out cost on the Costa Blanca?
Numbeo's May 2026 Alicante dataset reports about €15 for an inexpensive restaurant meal and about €55 for a mid-range three-course meal for two excluding drinks. Tourist seafront locations and higher-end restaurants can be substantially more.
How much is a gym membership in Spain?
Numbeo's Alicante average was €36.13 per month in May 2026, with a reported range of €25–€50. Basic-Fit currently advertises its Comfort plan from €24.99 per four weeks after the introductory period.
How much does golf cost on the Costa Blanca?
It varies greatly by course and membership. La Sella Golf's published 2026 tariff lists a visitor 18-hole green fee of €130, a ten-round 18-hole pack at €800 and an 18-hole visitor buggy at €44. Frequent golfers should compare annual membership and resident packages with visitor green fees.
How much should I budget for a private pool in Spain?
As a current local example, one Costa Blanca provider advertises all-year maintenance from €69.95 to €93.95 per month depending on summer visit frequency, including chemicals and IVA. Electricity, water and equipment replacement remain additional owner costs.
Do British owners have to pay Spanish tax if they do not rent the house?
A British owner who remains non-resident in Spain can still be subject to Spanish non-resident income tax on imputed income from an urban property kept for personal use or left empty. The exact calculation depends on the cadastral value and current tax rules.
Does buying a house in Spain give a British citizen residency?
No. Property ownership and immigration status are separate. British citizens moving to Spain need to follow the applicable visa and residency rules. GOV.UK maintains current guidance for British citizens living in Spain.
Related guides
Build the full picture before you choose the property.
A softer landing after the purchase
Choose a home that fits the life you want — and the monthly budget that comes with it.
Nordic Move Spain supports international buyers from area and property selection through independent purchase checks, purchase, renovation and moving. After arrival, we can also support practical setup around administration, insurance and local services for a smoother start in Spain.