School costs by region
You will know how much region matters, where to look up the rule that applies to you and what to expect in your region.
School in Spain is run by each autonomous community, not by the country as a whole. That means prices, aid schemes and calendars can change a lot depending on where you live. This topic helps you see how much your region matters, find the rule that applies to you and know what to expect in the…
Pick the article that fits your situation
How much school costs and aid differ between regions
Region decides most school costs in Spain: books, canteen, concertada extras and aid vary a lot, while teaching itself is free everywhere. Read this if you are choosing where to live and want to compare regions before you commit.
How to find your local school cost rules and aid calls
A step-by-step method for finding the school costs and aid calls that apply where you live. It points you to your region's education portal, your town hall, the school itself and, where relevant, the national ministry. It is for families choosing or already using a school in Spain.
School costs and aid in the Comunidad de Madrid
A budgeting guide to school costs in the Comunidad de Madrid for families with children in public, concertada or international schools. It covers book loans, canteen prices and aid, when to apply, and what concertada and international schools charge on top.
School costs and aid in Cataluña
How to budget for schooling in Barcelona and the rest of Cataluña: what concertada schools can ask you to pay, where to get help with school lunches and books, and what to expect from international schools.
School costs and aid in the Comunitat Valenciana
A budgeting guide to schooling costs in Valencia and Alicante: free textbooks through the Xarxa de Llibres scheme, school canteen prices and aid, and what to expect from concertada and international schools. For families moving to the Comunitat Valenciana.
School costs and aid in Andalucía
How to budget for schooling in Málaga, Sevilla and the Costa del Sol: free textbooks, subsidised school lunch, early-morning care and afternoon activities in public schools, and what international schools add. For families choosing a school in Andalucía.
School costs and aid in the País Vasco and Navarra
The País Vasco and Navarra run their own school aid and school models, outside the national grant call. This page helps families moving to either region budget for school costs and know where to ask about aid.
School costs and aid in the Canary Islands
What the Canary Islands offer to cut schooling costs: free school meals, free textbooks and school transport. Written for families planning a budget for a child in a public or partly state-funded school in the islands.
School costs and aid in the Balearic Islands
How to budget for schooling in Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca: what drives costs on the islands, which regional aid exists, how school canteen prices work and when transport is covered. For families moving to the Balearic Islands.
School costs and aid in Galicia and the other regions
Shows how school aid works in Galicia, in Ceuta and Melilla, and in Spain's other regions. It is for families moving to a region outside the best-known ones who want to know who runs school aid and where to apply.
About this topic
It is for anyone thinking about, planning or carrying out a move to Spain, especially families who need to budget for schooling.
Start with "How much school costs and aid differ between regions" to compare regions before you choose where to live. Then read "How to find your local school cost rules and aid calls" to track down the source that applies to your town. After that, pick the page for your region: Madrid, Cataluña, the Comunitat Valenciana, Andalucía, the País Vasco and Navarra, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, or Galicia and the other regions.
Key rules
- Free tuition: Teaching in primaria and ESO is free in public and concertada schools in every region, but canteen, transport, extended hours, activities and sometimes books can still cost money.
- Moving region: Regional school aid does not carry over when you move to another region, so you apply again under the new region's rules and deadlines.
- Tuition: Teaching is free in public and concertada schools in every region; the extras are where regions differ.
- Books: Free books or loans depend on your region's scheme, its levels and its income limits.
- Binding source: The call text on your region's portal or official gazette is the rule that counts, not summaries elsewhere.
- Town hall: Local grants exist only in some municipalities, so ask your ayuntamiento directly.
School costs by region: the whole process, step by step
-
Find your region's current aid calls and local cost rules (How to find your local school cost rules and aid calls): Before the admission window opens, from about January
-
Apply for a school place in your region's admission window: Admission opens between about February and May and runs for a few weeks. Madrid and Catalonia usually open in March to April, Andalucía from 1 to 31 March, and Valencia in April to May
-
Check admission results and enrol: Results come in May to June and enrolment in June to July
-
Apply for comedor and book aid in the regional call (see the article for your region): Most calls are published between June and October. Madrid usually runs its call for about a month in spring to early summer, with comedor aid often open again in September. Catalonia's comedor aid (ajut individual de menjador) usually opens in spring or early summer
-
Apply for the state study grant (beca): The call is usually published in spring or summer, and applications often run to October
-
Ask for comedor aid later in the course if your income falls (Catalonia): After the first call, if your household income drops during the course
School costs by region: questions that cross several articles
Can a concertada school make me pay a voluntary fee?
No, a concertada school cannot require a fee for teaching in compulsory education, and a so-called voluntary quota that you must pay to enrol or attend is treated as illegal. Schools may charge for canteen, transport, extended hours and activities. If you are pressed to pay, complain to the school council, then the education inspectorate.
Are textbooks free in every region?
No, free textbook and book-loan schemes are run region by region, so what you get depends on where you live. Madrid has a loan system, Andalucía has free textbooks in compulsory education, and Valencia has a loan scheme. See How much school costs and aid differ between regions.
How much does a public-school comedor cost per day?
Each region sets its own public-school comedor price, so there is no single daily figure, and low-income families get lower or free rates. Some regions set one price and others leave it to school councils or towns. Read the article for your region, such as "School costs and aid in the Comunidad de Madrid" or "School costs and aid in Cataluña".
Is school transport free if we live far from school?
Often yes, school transport is generally free or subsidised in compulsory education if you live beyond a set distance from the nearest school with a place, typically about 3 km for primary. Island regions add their own criteria for pupils who must travel.
What do international private schools cost?
International private schools set their own fees, which rise with age and are highest in Madrid and Barcelona. Enrolment, deposit and uniform charges come on top of tuition. Compare cities in "How much school costs and aid differ between regions", then ask each school for its current fee list.
Prices, dates and conditions change every year, so check the current figures with your regional education department.
Explore places
Where you live changes the details. See how Spanish regions and cities compare on rent, jobs, weather, safety and healthcare.
What to read next
More in School costs, meals, transport and financial support
Costs by school type
You will see the true yearly bill for each school type and stage, and the contract points that decide what you pay.
School meals (comedor)
You will understand the comedor, what it costs, how to enrol, how to get diet needs met and how to get it free or cheaper.
Grants and financial aid
You will know which aid exists, who runs it and which could apply to your family.
Also in Family, children, and education
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.