Cost of Living in Alicante, Spain

Most articles about the cost of living in Spain are written by people who have never actually lived there. This one isn't. Below are real figures from a real family of three living in Alicante in 2026.

A decent three-bedroom apartment in Alicante in 2026 will cost €1,250 — €1,400 per month. Two years ago, the same apartment was going for €1,000 at most. The rental market has grown 25-40% in two years — and it hasn't stopped.

Electricity — around €160 per month with moderate air conditioning use and a gas hob in the kitchen. If you have an electric hob or an electric water heater instead of gas, expect the bill to be noticeably higher.

Water — billed every three months. Works out to around €60-65 per month on average.

Gas — around €30 per month if used for cooking and hot water. Some properties have no gas connection but a gas hob — in that case you'll need to replace the gas canister yourself as it runs out.

Total utilities: around €250 per month with standard usage.

Mobile phone plan plus home broadband — around €15 per month. That includes home internet at roughly 300 Mbps. For Spain, this is exceptionally good value.

Public transport in Alicante is cheap — if you use a transport card. Cards are available in most shops for a couple of euros. One journey with the card costs 45-50 cents. Without the card — around €1.50. The difference adds up quickly if you travel regularly.

A weekly shop for a family of three — two adults and a child — comes to around €150-200. That covers everything: vegetables, fruit, dairy, and meat.

Buy your fruit and vegetables at the market. The selection is far wider than any supermarket, prices are better, and you can try before you buy.

For meat and fish, the central market is the place to go. More expensive than a supermarket, but the quality is noticeably better and the range of fresh produce isn't comparable. If you care about what you eat — the market is your answer.

A mid-range café or restaurant will cost around €25-30 per person — that covers a salad, a main course, and a drink. Higher-end places will cost more. A quick lunch — pizza runs around €13-16.

Basic insurance — covering theft, fire, broken glass, and roadside assistance up to 100km twice a year — comes to around €500 per year. For everyday needs, that's enough.

If you drive mainly around the city with occasional trips around Alicante province, your annual mileage will be around 8,000km. Car washes — drive-through brush washes cost €7-14 depending on the programme. Self-service washes are also popular.

Finding a good garage takes time. From personal experience, it didn't happen on the first try — or the second. Do the research before something breaks.

When buying a used car — inspect it in person. This is not Germany, where the online description usually matches what you find in real life. No buying sight unseen.

Children can — and should — start school in Alicante from the age of three. The transition is handled well and the atmosphere is genuinely friendly. There are three types of school: state, semi-private, and private.

Semi-private is worth looking at more closely. Tuition costs around €40 per month, plus €150 for school meals. School uniform for the year runs €150-200. The annual enrolment fee is around €500 — books are included. Parents' association membership is €60 per year.

School life here goes beyond the classroom. Family events, outdoor chefs cooking giant paella over an open fire, trampolines, football, and once a year — an outdoor family film evening on school grounds. A full-length animated film on a big screen under the open sky.

Our child is absolutely in love with the school — and as parents, that means everything.

Private health insurance costs €850-1,000 per year. If you don't overuse it, the price stays stable. Frequent visits will push the cost up year on year.

One important detail: serious investigations and operations are typically only covered after 6 months from the start of your policy. Plan ahead.

Dentistry without insurance — a standard filling will cost €60-80. There are also clinics where you can book an MRI or ultrasound directly, without a GP referral.

Alicante has something for every age and every budget.

For children — indoor play centres with trampolines and activities. These are hugely popular among locals for birthday parties. Prices run from €15 to €22 per child, which covers 2-3 hours of play plus cake, a light snack, and a drink. Plenty of outdoor options too.

For adults — cinemas, clubs, sports bars, themed venues, swimming pools, tennis courts, padel, golf. Everything you'd expect from a well-developed European city.

And the biggest draw of all — an extraordinary range of beaches. Just arriving at the beach puts you in a better mood. That sounds simple, but when you live here year-round, it's hard to overstate.