Work out your move
Two important questions before your move, estimated for your own situation. Free and ready to use straight away.
What living there costs
€ 2,030 - € 2,800
per month
This is an indication based on averages, not a guarantee. Actual costs depend on your situation and choices.
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What life on the Costa Blanca costs depends less on the region than people assume and more on how you live. Groceries and eating out are noticeably cheaper than in the Netherlands or Belgium, but housing, energy and healthcare vary widely by town and by situation. The calculator above gives an indication based on your household and lifestyle; below is what really drives that figure.
What people consistently forget
Three items almost always come out too low in a first budget. The community fees of an urbanisation, which can run from tens to well over a hundred euros a month and pay for the pool and the gardens. The property tax IBI, which arrives once a year in one go. And private health insurance, because until you are inside the Spanish system that is a fixed monthly cost.
The north is more expensive than the south
The Costa Blanca is not one market. Around Denia, Javea, Moraira and Calpe, housing and services cost more; in the south around Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Guardamar they are noticeably lower. The same gap shows up in rent, in restaurants and in what a handyman charges. Anyone budgeting on a figure they read somewhere is almost always budgeting for the wrong stretch of coast.
Energy is the biggest seasonal effect
Many people budget their energy bill on an average month and get a shock in July and August when the air conditioning runs, or in January, when a poorly insulated house is surprisingly cold. Budget for a peak rather than an average, especially if you are moving into a home without good insulation.
What this calculator does not include
One-off moving costs, the purchase costs of a property, a car and the administrative steps to settle in Spain are not in it. This is an estimate of your monthly spending once you live there, not of what it costs to get there.
Frequently asked questions
Is life in Spain cheaper than in the Netherlands or Belgium?
For groceries, eating out and many services, yes. For energy, a car and private healthcare the difference is small or absent. The overall picture therefore depends mainly on how you live and whether you arrange healthcare privately or through the Spanish system.
How much do I need per month as a minimum?
We cannot say without knowing your situation, and anyone who does is guessing. Fill in the calculator with your own household and add the items listed above, because those fall outside the estimate.
Does this change once I register in Spain?
Yes. Once you are a tax resident your position changes for tax and sometimes for healthcare. That is a question for a tax adviser rather than a calculator; we are glad to refer you.
Can you help arrange the utilities?
Yes. Water, electricity, internet and registration with the town hall are part of our packages, and we can arrange them separately too.
What the move costs
€ 1,600 - € 2,600
This is a rough indication, not a quote. The real price depends on exact distance, volume and access.
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The move itself is rarely the largest cost of relocating to Spain. A container from Western Europe quickly runs into a few thousand euros, but what surrounds it is often bigger: the paperwork, the first months of double costs and the things you end up buying again anyway. The calculator above estimates the move; below is what comes on top.
Bring it or buy again here
For a small household a full container is often more expensive than furnishing again here, particularly because many Costa Blanca homes are rented or sold furnished. For anyone attached to their own things, or moving a whole house, that calculation tips the other way. Compare category by category rather than all at once.
What sets the transport price
Volume counts for more than weight, distance matters less than people think, and the season does more than either: the summer months are dearer. A shared container is cheaper but slower, and that difference in waiting time is exactly what people end up unhappy about.
The costs around it
Expect a period of double costs, because your old home is rarely empty on the day the new one is ready. On top of that come the administrative costs of settling in Spain, and if you buy a property, in practice a further twelve to fourteen per cent of the purchase price in taxes, notary and registration.
What this calculator does not include
Buying or renting a home, a car, the purchase costs and the administrative guidance are not in it. This is an estimate of the move itself.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a move to Spain take?
A dedicated container is usually faster than a shared one, but we do not quote a timeline we do not control. Ask your remover for a delivery time in writing rather than an estimate.
Do I need an NIE before I move?
Not to move, but you do to arrange almost everything afterwards: a home in your name, a bank account, utilities and a car. In practice it is the first step, and we can arrange it remotely.
Can I bring my car?
You can, but converting it to Spanish plates costs time and money and is not always worth it for an older car. Work out both options before deciding.
Do you handle the move yourselves?
No, we are not a removal company. We handle the paperwork and the settling in, and we refer you to removers who work on the Costa Blanca.
Also useful
More to help you choose and plan.
Rather talk to someone?
A calculator gives an indication. For your own situation we will work it through with you free of charge, thirty minutes, phone or video.
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