Cost of living in Spain vs France: Your 2026 guide

Is Spain cheap to live in compared with France? The cost of living has gone up significantly in both countries in the last few years, but Spain still enjoys a reputation as one of the most affordable destinations in western Europe for expatriates, tourists, and investors.

Of course, 'cost of living' can never be a simple comparison of prices in one country to those of another. Numerous other factors influence it, too: salary, working hours, lifestyle, culture, climate, and variations in expense categories are just a few of those. We've included some of them in our analysis here to help you set your budget before you move to Spain.

First, though, how does the cost of living in Spain and France compare with the rest of the world? Here's a summary of some of the figures:

Spanish and French living costs in a global context

Internationally, France and Spain are very close in terms of how expensive they are to live in – each falls within the upper quartile of official global rankings. This is unsurprising, given that both are within the top 20 largest economies on earth (seventh and 15^th respectively) and are the second- and fourth-richest countries in the European Union. This is how they fare alongside the rest of the world:

• France ranks 20^th most expensive out of 143 countries or regions in the world to reside in, according to living-costs comparison website Numbeo and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); Spain ranks 46^th most expensive.
• The World Bank's International Comparison Programme (ICP) says living in France cost 128.5% of the global average in 2021, placing it 29^th out of 189 countries and regions. Spain ranked 38^th, with living costs at 110% of the global average.
• According to data on LivingCost, life in France costs 1.52 times the global average, putting it 26^th out of the 197 countries analysed. Spain is 33^rd, and costs 1.4 times the global average.

Taking ICP data, Spanish living costs are 86% of those of France. Using LivingCost.org figures, the price of life in Spain is about 92% of that of France.

Housing costs in Spain vs France

Generally, the cost of buying a home, and the monthly expenses for an average household, are slightly lower in Spain than in France. But differences by area are huge in Spain – even more so than in France.

Currently, as in January 2026, the average price per square metre in France is €3,141, while in Spain it is €2,153.

Mortgages in Spain are almost always cheaper than rent, especially in major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. A tenant pays approximately 30-60% more per month for their home than they would if they owned it.

Property prices have risen consistently in France and Spain over the past five years, although much more sharply in France. In Spain, price growth has been steadier, but rental prices have increased drastically in that time.

Mortgages: Spain vs France

The average mortgage between March and July 2025, according to different sources, ranged from €132,500 to €170,000 with rates between 2.4% and 2.78%. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the average home loan contracted in June was €168,400 with an interest rate of 2.99% and a term of 25 years.

When you budget for a Spanish mortgage, you should add on 10% to the price for taxes and fees. Also, bear in mind that you need a deposit of at least 20%. For more information, see Expenses and taxes on the purchase of a property in Spain.

In France, the average mortgage term is 20 years with an interest rate of 3.46%, which would rise to 4.15% for a 25-year term. Rates range from 2.94% to 3.84% for 20 years, and 3.06% to 4.15% for 25 years. Buyers borrow an average of €222,510, and typically have a annual household income of 20% of the loan.

Mortgage interest rates differences

Mortgage interest rates vary by bank, but in practice, they are much the same in France and Spain, since both countries use the Euribor as an indicator. Other factors affecting home credit interest include competition, attitude to risk, and special rates for new customers. At the moment, Spanish banks are relaxing their lending criteria and willing to offer more credit; that means more favourable terms and lower interest.

Property rental costs between Spain and France in 2026

Rent prices in Spain are around €11 to €14.50 per square metre per month for 2025. Madrid, Catalunya, the Basque Country and the islands are the most expensive, ranging from €15 to €20 per square metre, whilst the cheapest areas are mostly in central Spain, inland southern Spain, and on the north-western coast, with regional average prices of €7.30 to €9.50 per square metre.

The cost of public utilities (such as electricity, water and internet) are almost never included in your rent in Spain. Bear in mind that you'll need to budget for these in addition. By contrast, most rental property comes complete with furniture.

The price of renting in France is similar to that of Spain, or even slightly cheaper at times.

Rental prices in France range from an average of €32 per square metre in Paris down to €9.10 per square metre in La Creuse; between €12.20 and €14.30 on the coast (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Charente-Maritime and Gironde), and €9.70 to €10.20 in Deux-Sèvres, Charente, and Corrèze.

The national average for a furnished apartment is €709 per month, or for an unfurnished apartment, €671.

In the following table, we've calculated rent and mortgage payments based upon an 80-square-metre apartment, which is a standard size for two to three bedrooms in most of Spain.

Key expenses comparison: Prices in Spain vs France

To help you establish your budget, take a look at our Cost of living in Spain guide. This shows average prices in the main expense categories, and we've centred our figures on these for the following comparison:

Grocery costs between Spain and France

Although groceries are cheaper in Spain, average Spanish households spend more on food. Eating on the go, or sur le pouce – as many do in France on working days – is less common in Spain. Lunch is the mean meal of the day for most people in Spain.

A copious Sunday lunch with the whole extended family is traditional, and a snack mid-morning and late afternoon are common practice. Plus, about 70% of food spending in Spain is on fresh produce, as supermarkets offer fewer packaged and processed food items than those in France.

All this means food consumption per household is generally higher in Spain than in France.

Utility costs between Spain and France

In Spain, electricity is typically more expensive. The table shows that the monthly energy bill is lower in Spain than in France, but this may be due to the climate. Except in northern parts, there is less need to pay for heating in winter. You'll need to budget for air-conditioning in a Spanish summer; you might already be used to that if you come from southern France, but summer in Spain lasts longer and is very humid on the Mediterranean and in Andalucia.

Healthcare in Spain vs France

Some costs are not included in our comparison, because they are far less significant in Spain than in France. For example, medical expenses are not usually necessary in Spain. Legal residents of any nationality who are employed, registered as self-employed, or receive a State income are automatically entitled to public healthcare treatment, which is free of charge at the point of use.

Unlike in France, if you are entitled to use the public system, you will never have to pay for treatment and apply for reimbursement.

You will nearly always have to pay for prescription medication, at a percentage of its laboratory price – typically 50%, except for certain common medications used long term, normally at 10% - but medication dispensed in hospital is free of charge.

Tax differences between Spain and France

Both Spain and France apply progressive income tax systems, but the structure differs.

In Spain, income tax (IRPF) is made up of national and regional components, meaning your total tax rate can vary significantly depending on where you live. Combined rates can range from 19% to 47% or 54% in some regions.

In France, tax is applied nationally using a progressive scale, with a top rate of 45%, and household income is divided by “parts”, a system that reduces tax for families. However, France also imposes higher social security contributions, which can reduce net income more sharply than in Spain.

While both countries have similar top marginal rates on paper, French residents generally pay more in deductions overall, especially single earners. In contrast, Spain’s regional variation can offer tax advantages depending on where you live.

In Spain, homeowners pay IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles), which varies by town and property size but averages around €700 per year. In France, equivalent tax include the Taxe foncière, which averages around €1,082 per year. Overall, property-related taxes tend to be lower in Spain, making homeownership more affordable in many areas.

Income and spending power in France and Spain

Although Spain's cost of living is more affordable than that of France, wages are higher and working hours are shorter in France.

Spending power is markedly greater for those who live and work in France. According to Eurostat data, Spain ranks 15^th out of the EU-27. France, at number nine.

None of this is important, though, if your income is from France, Luxembourg or Belgium. But if you need to work when you move to Spain, you'll have to allocate a higher percentage of your household budget to basic goods and fixed costs.

But is it really the case that you benefit from greater financial freedom in France than in Spain? Let's analyse the figures in detail.

Earnings and working hours in Spain vs France

Working hours in Spain are longer than in France. A full-time job is 40 hours a week, whilst in France, the standard week is 35 hours. This means your net wages would be lower still in Spain if you worked 'French hours'.

According to the National Statistics Institute, the mean average net monthly income in France is €2,735 in the private sector and €2,530 in the public sector. A better indicator of 'real life' earnings is the median salary. The most recent figures show a net monthly median salary of €2,183 in the private sector and €2,260 in the public sector.

By contrast, the minimum wage in France for 2025 is a net monthly €1,426.30 (being €1,801.80 gross).

According to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Spain's mean average net monthly income is €1,781. Altough, Spain's median average net income is €1,558 per month.

Spain's minimum wage is currently €1,200 net per month (being €16,576 gross annually).

A single person living alone, whose mortgage or rent does not exceed 25-30%, can just about manage on this salary, especially thanks to Spain’s low-cost hospitality culture. Couples with modest housing costs and both earning SMI can live in relative comfort – though without much financial leeway.

For tenants in high-cost areas like Madrid, Barcelona or the Balearics, living on under €2,000/month is increasingly difficult.

That said, living outside Spain’s priciest cities and working full time makes it possible to survive on the minimum wage – something much harder in France. Even though in both countries minimum wage is not enough to live comfortably unless you share costs, Spain offers a better quality of life for less.

How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in France and Spain?

Different studies in recent years seem to indicate that earnings in excess of housing and commuting costs offering a minimally-decent living standard in France are much the same as you would need for a similar lifestyle in Spain.

The French government-linked National Observatory for Poverty and Social Exclusion (ONPES) regularly evaluates the cost of essential goods and services needed for a 'minimally-decent standard of living', such as housing, food, transport, clothing, health and personal care, leisure, and communication. Using these figures a base, recent research includes:

• The Consumer and Society Observatory (ObSoCo) found that a single person in France needed an average of €897 per month in addition to fixed costs (housing, insurance, local taxes) to 'live well'.
• Figures from the Institute of Economic and Social Research (IRES), found a single person in France needed at least €1,814 net per month in total, or a couple with two children, €4,156.

According to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), the average monthly spending per person in Spain is €1,135, and €2,837 per household, covering housing, food, transport, healthcare, education, and leisure.

To live comfortably, a single person would ideally need €1,500 per month. A couple would need around €2,000, and a couple with children at least €3,000.

If you’re earning French wages or have passive income, your spending power will stretch further in Spain. While both countries offer high-quality healthcare, infrastructure and lifestyle, Spain continues to be more budget-friendly.

If you plan to buy a home in Spain, once you have an idea of how much your mortgage will be and the typical price of public utilities and supermarket shopping, you might also find it helpful to delve into our guide to Fixed costs that you will pay as a property owner.