What groceries cost in Spain and how to save

Key rules

• Own brands: Supermarket own-brand products are usually the biggest single saving on your shop.
• Basic foods: Bread, milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables carry the lowest 4% IVA rate.
• Islands: The Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla use different taxes from the mainland.
• Unit price: Compare the price per kilo or litre on the shelf label, not the pack price.

What to expect to spend

Food is relatively cheap in Spain compared with many countries. A couple typically spends a few hundred euros a month on groceries. The total rises with household size, the city you live in and how much you buy by brand.

Cities and chains differ. Valencia, Alicante and Murcia have often been among the cheaper cities. Discount supermarkets are usually cheaper than department-store food halls or small neighbourhood shops. Consumer groups and the national statistics office publish price comparisons every year, so check the current figures there before you fix a budget.

Why basic foods cost less: IVA

The tax on food, called IVA, is lower for basics.

• 4%: bread, flour, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, vegetables, legumes, tubers and cereals.
• 10%: most other foods, including pasta and rice, and water.
• 21%: soft drinks with added sugar, alcohol and similar items.

Temporary tax cuts on some foods ended after 2024. Olive oil is back at 10%, and pasta and rice are back at their normal rates. Governments can bring temporary cuts back, so check the current rates with the tax agency.

This applies to the mainland and the Balearic Islands. The Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla have different taxes, so shelf prices and rates there differ.

Ways to save

1. Buy own-brand products. Supermarket own labels, called marca blanca, are usually much cheaper than big brands and are often good quality.
2. Shop at discount chains. Mercadona-style discount supermarkets cost less than most alternatives. Compare two or three near you.
3. Buy seasonal fruit and vegetables. Municipal markets and the weekly mercadillo are often the cheapest places.
4. Read the unit price. Shelf labels show the price per kilo or litre. Use it to compare sizes and brands.
5. Buy bigger packs of staples such as rice, pasta and cleaning products.
6. Check weekly leaflets and app coupons before you shop.
7. Look for reduced items near closing time, when fresh products are marked down.
8. Cook simple. Legumes and rice are cheap and filling. Plan your meals so less food is thrown away.

Apps and loyalty cards

Most large chains have a free loyalty card or app with personal coupons, points or cashback. Sign up at the chain you use most. One big discount chain has no loyalty card, but it has an app and an online shop.

Surplus-food apps sell surprise bags from shops and bakeries at a reduced price. You pay in the app and collect in a set time window. Food-sharing apps and second-hand marketplaces also help you swap or give away food.

Which cards exist depends on your region, as some chains are only regional. Ask at the checkout which card the shop offers.

The questions below cover VAT in the Canary Islands, cheap cities and surplus-food apps.

Frequently asked questions

Which foods have the lowest VAT in Spain?

Bread, flour, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, vegetables, legumes, tubers and cereals have the lowest VAT (IVA), at 4%. Most other foods, including pasta, rice and water, are at 10%. Soft drinks with added sugar and alcohol pay the general 21%.

Does the VAT on groceries differ in the Canary Islands?

Yes, the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla use different taxes from mainland IVA, so the rates above do not apply there. The Canaries charge IGIC, and Ceuta and Melilla charge IPSI. Ask a local shop or the tax office for the rate on your food.

Does Mercadona have a loyalty card or app?

Mercadona has no loyalty card, but it has an app and an online shop. For coupons, Lidl Plus, Club Dia and Carrefour Club offer app discounts. Which chains are near you depends on your region.

How does Too Good To Go save money on food?

Too Good To Go sells surprise bags of surplus food from shops and bakeries at a reduced price. You pay in the app and collect the bag in a set time window. You do not choose the contents.

Which Spanish cities have the cheapest groceries?

Valencia, Alicante and Murcia have often been among the cheaper cities for a supermarket basket. Mercadona, Dia and Lidl have often been among the cheaper chains. Prices still vary by chain and brand choice.