In 2023, the periodical «Málaga Hoy» has published interesting information: according to the publisher’s assessment, Málaga is in second place for the cost of living in Spain. The leading line of the rating is Barcelona, where the average city dweller spends 82% of his salary on housing and basic living expenses. Malaga lags behind by only 1% and forces to spend an average of 81%. A single person with a minimum wage, which in 2023 is 1.080 € per month, will not be able to survive here or there.
However, not everything is so sad. According to statistics, the average salary in Málaga is €1,702 and the average cost of living is €1,385 (you can even save something!). Let’s take a look at the main cost items including housing, utilities, food, entertainment, etc.
Housing Costs in Malaga: Buy or Rent
Let’s start with own housing. If it is planned to buy, then when calculating should be based on the average price per square meter. In January 2024 in Malaga, it amounted to 2.668 €. If we do not take into account the problem housing (requiring repair, put up for auction, occupied by «ocupas», unavailable for viewing, etc.), prices for small apartments not in the most prestigious areas start from 150.000 €. On average, an apartment with 1-2 bedrooms will cost 250.000 €.
Also, it is necessary to take into account the cost of home insurance and taxes (annual real estate tax and non-resident income tax, if the owner is a tax resident of another country).
If you plan to rent, you can be guided by the price of 13,6 €/m2. Offers for long-term rent in Malaga is enough, there is a lot to choose from, but it is important to be able to confirm your ability to pay. The most inexpensive offers for rent studios and apartments with 1bedroom start from 600-650 € per month, apartments with 2 bedrooms – from 750 € per month.
Cost of Living in Málaga: Utility Costs
Utilities include electricity, water, gas, internet, condominium services (if the housing is in property). Cell phone service, cable TV, which often come in one package with the Internet, can also be included in this group.
In the off-season, basic utility costs (light + water + gas) for one person will be 60-70 euros per month. In winter and summer, the amount will increase due to air conditioning and heating devices. On average, it is considered that housing with an area of 85 m2 assumes utility costs in the amount of 97.10 € per month, ie 1.14 € per square meter.
Condominium expenses are usually paid by the owners, so tenants may not take into account this expense. Monthly or quarterly condominium quotas are calculated based on the equipment of the apartment complex and the number of residents. The average value is kept at 100-110 € per month.
Communications and Internet, if you do not save much, will cost from 50 € per month and more: it depends on the specific company, its tariffs and additional services.
Cost of Living in Málaga: Transportation Costs
In large cities, which includes Málaga, public transportation helps out residents. One trip on the urban bus costs 1.40 €. However, if desired, you can buy a monthly pass, which will cost from 17 to 26 euros (children, students, elderly persons, people with disabilities will pay the least). Taxi in Malaga costs about 1-1.50 € per kilometer, plus charged a tariff for landing (about 3.50 €), a tariff for waiting (about 19 € per hour).
Your own car is a separate expense item: purchase, maintenance, insurance, annual tax, fuel. Maintenance will cost on average from 100 to 500 € per year, insurance – from 200 to 500 € per year, tax – from 50 to 150 € per year. Petrol and diesel prices are poorly predictable, but a range of €1.50 to €2.00 per liter can be taken when estimating household expenses.
Cost of Living in Málaga: Food Costs
As a rule, all major purchases are made in large supermarket chains and hypermarkets, where the same prices apply for all regions. Therefore, it is safe to consider the cost of the consumer basket per person in Spain – on average 310.18 euros per month. It includes meat and fish products, vegetables, bread, dairy products, sweets, butter and even alcoholic beverages – wine and beer.
If you buy fresh products in local shops and stores (vegetable, meat, sausage, delicatessen), the quality of products in the basket will increase significantly, but its cost will increase by 50-100 € per month.
Cost of Living in Málaga: Childcare and Education
The education and maintenance of children is a separate cost item that is not included in the calculation of the average cost of living in Málaga. Expenses and costs for children should be considered separately. Two years ago, the well-known Spanish Confederación Española de Amas de Casa, Consumidores y Usuarios published calculations according to which the maintenance of a child in Spain until his adulthood (18 years) costs between 115,489 and 354,298 €, ie from 534.67 to 1,640.27 € per month. Why such a difference? It all depends on the educational institution, which can be both public (free) and private (paid), from additional sections and classes, the need to hire tutors, use school transport, school canteen, buy uniforms, etc.
Cost of Living in Málaga: Entertainment and Sports
Entertainment and sports include going to the movies and theaters, museums, visiting exhibitions, concerts, sports schools and gyms. The amount of expenses depends on social activity and individual interests – on average, from 50 euros per month and more.
Entertainment can also include family and friends meetings and dinners in bars, cafes, restaurants. Approximate prices are the following: cocktails – from 9 €, wine – from 3 € per glass, espresso coffee – 1,50 € on average, coffee with milk – 2 € on average, lunch set – 10-15 € per person, dinner in a medium category restaurant – from 30 € per person, dinner in an expensive restaurant – from 50 € per person.
Cost of Living in Malaga: Medicine and Dentistry
Medical expenses directly depend on the presence or absence of public or private insurance. Medicine for residents of Spain, who have the right to service in public clinics and hospitals, is free. Only prescribed medicines are paid out of own pocket, but even in this case, part of the cost is covered by the state.
Private medicine is a paid service. It is possible not to have private insurance and pay for each visit to the doctor and each examination yourself. But, in the vast majority of cases, people prefer to take out private insurance policies that provide different amounts of services and different coverage. Such a policy costs on average 40-80 € per month per person.
There is no free dentistry in Spain, so you have to choose: to serve fully for your own money in private clinics, having full freedom of choice of doctor and center, or to buy dental insurance, giving, as a rule, a certain discount for different types of work and services, but be tied to those clinics with which a particular insurance company cooperates. Dental insurance costs on average 15-20 € per month per person.
Cost of Living in Málaga: Other Costs
Finally, let’s list other additional costs to consider when calculating the cost of living in Málaga in 2024. The list includes:
- Hairdressers and beauty salon services;
- Clothes, shoes, accessories;
- Cosmetics, perfumes, hygiene products, household chemicals;
- Children’s toys, computer games and so on;
- Housekeeping, if assigned to a hired employee;
- Books, magazines, household items;
- Unplanned expenses (replacement or repair of furniture, household appliances, cell phones, computers, etc.);
- Pet maintenance and veterinary clinic services;
- Life insurance, pet insurance;
- Bank fees (for account maintenance, debit and credit cards).
