Two separate posts this week claimed Spain is 30-40% cheaper than the U.S. Here's what that number is measuring and what it leaves out for anyone moving with a family.
I agree that it is cheaper when you have US source income but the quality of life factoring in that math is what makes it worth it in my experience this past year.
We spend roughly the same that we did in the States, but we do have a nicer lifestyle here. We’d have less there than we do here, so in that respect, it is less. But we don’t actually end up spending less.
We’ve been in Spain about six months and the food costs and quality have been the hugest factor. In DC we were spending 300 a week at least, trying to get good quality food. Here for even more food and better quality and local too, we can get out of the store for a weekly shop at 70 euros. It’s the biggest change and the one we are most grateful for.
The food prices are out of control in the US and I don’t know how people are doing it. I went back to the US this summer for a week and the grocery prices made me feel sick to my stomach. Not to mention the lower quality of food.
I agree that it is cheaper when you have US source income but the quality of life factoring in that math is what makes it worth it in my experience this past year.
Agreed. We don’t necessarily spend less, but we do have a much better quality of life.
Spain is much cheaper than the States. Here are the figures for this year for Valencia compared as we do every year. https://valencia-property.com/new/2026/01/26/the-cost-of-living-in-valencia-2026/
Ballpark 30-40% is correct but the truth is it's might even be less than that.
We spend roughly the same that we did in the States, but we do have a nicer lifestyle here. We’d have less there than we do here, so in that respect, it is less. But we don’t actually end up spending less.
Direct comparisons in this article too about the big ticket items which you don't notice day to day but make a huge difference, healthcare, insurance etc https://www.valencia-property.com/new/2025/12/08/spain-and-affordability/
We’ve been in Spain about six months and the food costs and quality have been the hugest factor. In DC we were spending 300 a week at least, trying to get good quality food. Here for even more food and better quality and local too, we can get out of the store for a weekly shop at 70 euros. It’s the biggest change and the one we are most grateful for.
The food prices are out of control in the US and I don’t know how people are doing it. I went back to the US this summer for a week and the grocery prices made me feel sick to my stomach. Not to mention the lower quality of food.