How Much Does It Cost To Live in Spain for a Month in 2023?

I thought I spent a lot, but I was way under the average for digital nomads!

I judge the affordability of a place by the cost of either parking my RV or renting an Airbnb. Using housing as my main marker, some places in Mexico are more expensive than Spain.

Once I realized that, I started to ask myself why I should remain in the Americas when it wouldn’t cost me much more to move to Europe? And so my journey across the pond began.

Now that I’ve completed my test trip, how much did it cost?

It cost me $2,233.04 (€2,031.84) to live in Spain for the month. Keep the following things in mind:

• I stayed in Malaga, a coastal city that is more expensive than some other locations.

• I went out more often than usual because I wanted to see and experience as much as possible.

• My grocery bill was high because I had to start from scratch. Monthly costs are much lower when you already have a few items at home.

• I rented an entire apartment for myself, so I had no shared expenses.

• I dislike buses and only took Uber and Bolt while there.

What should you budget to spend for a comfortable month in Spain?

I think $2,500 (€2,274.75) per month is a reasonable budget for a solo person in Spain, but some estimates are much higher. The Nomad List estimates living expenses at $2,999 (€2,728.79) for ex-pats and $4,187 (€3,809.75) for nomads.

Note that these figures are much higher than many locals spend there. You can get by on much less if you take the bus, get a roommate, and choose accommodations within walking distance of the things that matter most to you.

Curious to know what I spent my money on?

I’ll share my full breakdown of expenses next week with paid subscribers. I’ll also tell you the storage prices for keeping my RV and truck in North America. This will give you a better idea of the total costs if you would also like to visit for a month or more.

See you then!