When I first arrived in Spain, I felt that shopping at a farmacia was quite cheap, especially for over-the-counter daily items. But lately, I’m not sure if it’s just my imagination, but my wallet feels lighter and many things seem to be quietly increasing in price, particularly consumables like masks and hand sanitizer. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar feeling when it comes to checking medicine prices?
On my last trip to the pharmacy, I jotted down the prices of a few things I regularly buy and compared them to my shopping records from last year on my phone. It turns out it wasn’t just my imagination. For example, a box of 50 standard surgical masks could be found for around €4 last year, but now they’re generally €5-€6. The Isdin sunscreen I always use has also visibly gone up by a euro or two. While the individual price hikes aren’t huge, they really add up over time. It feels like my salary isn’t increasing, but my expenses are constantly on the rise.
Price Change Observations
To make it clearer, I’ve put together a simple table comparing the approximate prices of a few Spanish medical supplies I often buy this year versus last year. Of course, prices will vary between different pharmacies and brands, so this is just based on my personal experience and should be taken as a reference.
| Item | Approx. Price Last Year | Approx. Price This Year |
|---|
| Surgical Masks | €4-€5 | €5-€7 |
| Alcohol Hand Sanitizer | €3-€4 | €4-€5 |
| Ibuprofen | €3 | €3.5 |
| Digital Thermometer | €5-€7 | €6-€9 |
| Well-known Brand Sunscreen | €18-€20 | €20-€22 |
As you can see from the table, most everyday medical and protective items have seen a price increase of around 10%-20%. I chatted with a pharmacist who mentioned that the costs of raw materials and logistics are all on the rise. Especially since the pandemic, the demand for health products has stabilized, making it unlikely for prices to return to their previous levels.
Money-Saving Tips
While price hikes seem to be the trend, there are still ways we can save a bit of money. Here are a few of my tips:
- Compare prices at online pharmacies: Platforms like Promofarma and Dosfarma often have discounts and make it easy to compare prices across different brands. Sometimes, they are significantly cheaper than physical stores.
- Look for pharmacy-owned brands: Many chain pharmacies have their own brands for products like ointments and vitamins. The ingredients and effectiveness are often similar to major brands, but the price is much lower.
- Buy family-sized packs: When it comes to frequently used medicines or consumables, which can be a different challenge than navigating Spanish customs clearance, buying family-sized or large packs locally will make the per-unit cost much more affordable.
Do you have any other money-saving tricks or price observations? Feel free to leave a comment below to discuss and share information. After all, when living in Spain, every little bit saved counts!
