Budgets by household type

This Topic gives you budget profiles for single employees, couples with one or two incomes, families, retirees, remote workers, freelancers, students and job seekers. Each profile shows the main cost drivers and the risks to your runway, meaning how long your money lasts if income is late or lower than planned. It also points you to the pages that cover each cost in detail. It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain.

Start with "First-year budget for a single person with a Spanish job". It sets out the basic shape of a first-year budget, and it is the easiest way to see how the other profiles differ. Then pick the profile closest to your own situation.

Childcare costs, school fees, self-employed social security and conversations with your partner about money are covered on other pages, not here.

Key rules

• Fianza: The legal fianza for a long-term rental is one month's rent, and any extra guarantee is capped at two months' rent.
• Visa funds: The non-lucrative visa requires savings or passive income of 400% of IPREM per year for the main applicant and 100% of IPREM per year for each dependant.
• First salary wait: Expect to wait about 2 to 6 weeks for your first salary after starting a job.
• Public school: Public schools are free, but books, materials, uniforms, canteen and after-school care still cost money.
• Extra guarantee: Any extra guarantee a landlord asks for is capped at two months' rent.
• Non-lucrative visa: Your partner cannot work, so plan on one income only.

Budgets by household type: the whole process, step by step

From first plans to the first year

• Work out which funds count as available cash and which are locked, then size your runway (all household types): before you start planning

• Show the visa funds if your route needs them: the digital nomad visa uses a monthly income test, other non-working routes use a yearly test with an extra amount per dependant (retiree, family and remote worker budgets): before you apply for the visa

• Pay the pre-arrival costs: visa and consulate fees, apostilles, sworn translations, flights, shipping and initial insurance: before you travel

• If you are a retiree, ask your foreign pension payer about switching to a Spanish account and send the IBAN and any forms (retiree budget and late pension article): before you move

• Pay the deposit and first rent: the fianza of one month's rent, plus any extra guarantee of up to two months' rent, and any agency fee: at signing, in your first month

• Cover the other first-month costs: furniture, utilities, residence card fees, phone and internet. This is the most expensive month: in your first month

• Exchange students: expect a deposit of one month's rent for a room, and the first Erasmus grant instalment (about 70 to 80 percent) after you send the signed learning agreement and certificate of arrival (Erasmus article): on booking or arrival; the grant can take several weeks

• Bridge your first salary if you work for a Spanish employer (single person and couple budgets): expect to wait 2 to 6 weeks after starting

• Bridge a late first pension payment (late pension article): the first payment can arrive one to three months or more after arrival

• Register as an autónomo and pay the monthly cuota, which is 80 euros a month on the flat rate for new autónomos in the first 12 months (freelancer article): every month from registration

• File the quarterly VAT and income tax advance returns as an autónomo (freelancer article): 1 to 20 April, July and October, and 1 to 30 January for the last quarter

• Remote workers: check which tax and social security position applies to you, as you become tax resident after more than 183 days in a calendar year (remote worker article): in your first months in Spain

• Budget the recurring costs: rent, utilities, food, transport, health insurance, childcare or school (family budget), plus yearly renewals: monthly from the second month, with yearly costs spread out

Documents you may need

Income and work

• Proof of income
• Bank statements showing your savings — First-year budget for a retiree on pension income
• A work contract or service agreement showing you work remotely for a company — First-year budget for a remote worker paid from abroad
• A letter from your company or companies confirming the working relationship — First-year budget for a remote worker paid from abroad

Guarantees

• Private health insurance with full cover — First-year budget for a remote worker paid from abroad, How much money you need for a first year studying in Spain
• Private health insurance certificate from an insurer authorised in Spain — First-year budget for a retiree on pension income

Other documents

• A work authorisation for a partner who is not an EU citizen — First-year budget for a couple with two incomes
• Proof of your new Spanish bank details — What to do when your pension's first payment is late
• Proof of your university degree or professional qualification — First-year budget for a remote worker paid from abroad
• A clean criminal record certificate — First-year budget for a remote worker paid from abroad
• Proof of enough money for your whole stay — How much money you need for a first year studying in Spain
• Signed learning agreement — Budgeting an Erasmus or short exchange stay

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Budgets by household type: questions that cross several articles

How much cash do I need on arrival for a rental?

Plan for a fianza of one month's rent plus any extra guarantee of up to two months' rent at signing, on top of the first month's rent. Foreigners without a Spanish work history are often asked for the extra months. Read the single person and family budgets for how this fits the whole first month.

How long will I wait for my first income after I arrive?

Expect about 2 to 6 weeks for a first salary after starting a job. A foreign pension can take one to three months or more to reach a new Spanish account. Read the single person budget and the late pension article.

Do the funds I show for my visa count as my spending cushion?

No, funds blocked or held as visa proof should not be counted as available cash for your runway. Cash in current and savings accounts counts, and term deposits only partly. See the retiree budget and the freelancer runway article.

How much extra must I show for each family member?

On the non-lucrative visa you show 400% of IPREM for the main applicant and 100% of IPREM for each dependant. The digital nomad visa uses a share of the minimum wage instead. Read the retiree, remote worker and family budgets.

Is a student room cheaper than a shared flat?

Usually no: a shared flat room tends to be the cheapest, while residencias often cost more but include some meals, utilities and wifi. Madrid and Barcelona cost most. Read the student budget and the Erasmus article.