What to budget monthly for food, phone and everyday life

Key rules

• Phone and internet: Fibre costs 20 to 40 euros, mobile-only 8 to 25 euros and a bundle 30 to 70 euros a month.
• Promotional prices: Offers often rise after 6 to 12 months, so budget the price after the promotion.
• Household size: A couple spends roughly 1.6 to 1.8 times a single person on groceries, and a family about double.
• Electricity: Heating type, climate and season drive the bill, so budget a yearly average.

Grocery, eating-out and electricity figures are rough estimates and phone prices change often, so check current offers and tariffs before fixing your budget.

Phone and internet: the easiest line to pin down

Phone and internet is the line where you can use firm ranges. Prices are approximate for 2025.

• Fibre broadband (typically 300 Mb to 1 Gb): 20 to 40 euros a month.
• Mobile-only plan with generous data: 8 to 25 euros.
• Fibre plus mobile bundle: 30 to 70 euros.

Low-cost brands such as Digi are usually the cheapest. The big operators cost more but are widely available. Fibre may be limited in rural areas.

Two things push the real cost up. Promotional prices often rise after 6 to 12 months, and some contracts have a 12-month commitment. Budget for the price after the promotion, not the headline offer. The timeline below covers the steps for comparing and switching.

Groceries: depends on where, what and who

Groceries cost less in mid-sized cities than in Madrid or Barcelona. A single person usually spends a moderate monthly amount. A couple spends roughly 1.6 to 1.8 times that, and a family with children about double a single person's budget.

Two drivers matter most:

• Where you shop. Mercadona, Lidl and Dia are cheaper than Carrefour or El Corte Inglés.
• Your diet. Fresh fish, meat and imported products raise the bill.

For a first budget, track your spending for the first two months and then set the line.

Eating out: cheap, but it scales with habit

Eating out in Spain is relatively cheap. A weekday set lunch (menú del día) typically costs in the low teens of euros. Coffee at a café is cheap compared with northern Europe.

Your monthly total depends mostly on how often you go. A light user spends little. A regular user spends several times that. Madrid, Barcelona, the Balearics and tourist areas run higher than mid-sized cities. Households with children spend more overall.

Electricity (and gas): the line that swings with the seasons

Your electricity bill depends on:

• the size of the flat and the number of people in it;
• the tariff: regulated (PVPC) or a free-market fixed price;
• the contracted power;
• climate zone and season;
• heating type.

Electric heating or air conditioning raises bills sharply in winter or summer. Mild coastal areas stay lower. A small flat's monthly bill is generally modest. A large flat in a cold inland city such as Madrid or Burgos costs much more in winter. Bills include a fixed power charge, the energy you use, electricity tax and VAT.

Gas (natural gas or butane) is mainly for heating, hot water and cooking. With gas heating you pay more in winter and little in summer.

Because of these swings, budget the yearly total divided by twelve rather than your cheapest month. The official CNMC comparator lets you check current tariffs.

How to use these lines

Start with the phone and internet range, then pick a grocery and eating-out level that matches your city and household. Add a winter-weighted electricity figure. The questions below cover common doubts.

Timeline and deadlines

• Compare current fibre and mobile offers before you sign: before you sign any contract

• Check whether the contract has a 12-month commitment: before you sign

• Compare offers again and switch if the price rises: when the promotion ends, once any 12-month commitment is over

Frequently asked questions

How much more does a couple spend on groceries than a single person?

A couple usually spends roughly 1.6 to 1.8 times a single person's grocery budget, not double. A family with children is closer to twice the single-person figure. Shopping at Mercadona, Lidl or Dia instead of Carrefour or El Corte Inglés keeps the total lower.

Will my phone and internet price go up after the first months?

Yes, promotional prices often rise after 6 to 12 months, and some contracts tie you in for 12 months. Fibre alone usually costs about 20 to 40 euros a month, and a fibre plus mobile bundle about 30 to 70 euros. Before the offer ends, compare current deals from low-cost brands such as Digi.

Why does my electricity bill jump in winter or summer?

Your bill jumps when electric heating or air conditioning runs, especially in a large flat in a cold inland city such as Madrid or Burgos. Mild coastal areas stay lower. Compare tariffs on the CNMC comparator, the official energy price comparison tool, to check you are on a good one.

Is eating out cheaper in mid-sized cities than in Madrid or Barcelona?

Yes, eating out is usually cheaper in mid-sized cities than in Madrid, Barcelona, the Balearics and tourist areas.