Real monthly budgets for singles, couples and families — based on actual costs, not tourist estimates.
| Expense | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed / 2-bed, mid-range) | €600–850 | €750–1,100 |
| Utilities (electricity, water, internet) | €100–150 | €130–200 |
| Food (supermarket) | €200–300 | €350–500 |
| Eating out (2–3x/week) | €150–250 | €250–400 |
| Health insurance | €70–120 | €130–220 |
| Transport (car running + fuel) | €150–250 | €150–250 |
| Leisure & miscellaneous | €100–200 | €200–350 |
| Total (mid-range estimate) | €1,370–2,120 | €1,960–3,020 |
A 1-bedroom apartment in Torrevieja city centre runs €550–900/month; 2-bedroom €750–1,200. La Mata and Los Balcones are similar. Los Altos and Torreta tend to be 10–20% cheaper. Summer (June–August) rents spike sharply — avoid month-to-month in summer if you can.
Electricity in Spain is more expensive per kWh than the UK. Budget €60–120/month depending on air conditioning use. Internet fibre (Movistar, Orange or local ISPs) is excellent quality and costs €30–50/month including landline. Water is cheap — typically €20–40/month.
Mercadona is the go-to supermarket — very cheap and good quality. A couple spending carefully can feed themselves well on €350–400/month. Eating out is affordable: a menu del día (3-course lunch with drink) costs €10–15.
Petrol costs approximately €1.50–1.65/litre. Car insurance for a standard vehicle: €400–800/year. Annual ITV (MOT equivalent) costs €35–50. If you drive a UK-registered car, you must re-register it within 6 months of becoming resident.