I’ve been seeing a lot of people asking about the cost of living in Alicante lately. I’ve been living here for almost two years now, so I can share my actual expenses. This Mediterranean coastal city is indeed much cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona, but the specific costs still depend on your lifestyle.
Housing Costs
Rent is the biggest expense. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around 600-800 euros, but if you go to the outskirts, like San Juan or Playa de San Juan areas, the same cost of living in Alicante apartment might only be 450-600 euros. I currently rent a small apartment near Mercado Central for 680 euros per month, which includes community fees, but utilities are separate, averaging an additional 80-100 euros per month. If you’re sharing, costs drop significantly - a room typically runs 300-400 euros.
Daily Dining
For food, if you cook at home, 200-300 euros per month is enough. Mercadona and Consum are my go-to supermarkets, both reasonably priced. For eating out, a regular Menu del día costs 10-15 euros, and a nice weekend restaurant meal runs 25-35 euros per person. Coffee culture is strong here - a cup costs 1.5-2.5 euros. If you drink coffee daily as part of life in Alicante, it adds up to a significant monthly expense.
Here’s a breakdown of my monthly basic expenses:
| Item | Budget | Comfortable | Luxury |
|---|
| Rent | 450€ | 680€ | 1000€ |
| Food | 200€ | 350€ | 600€ |
| Transport | 40€ | 60€ | 150€ |
| Entertainment | 50€ | 150€ | 300€ |
| Other | 100€ | 200€ | 400€ |
| Total | 840€ | 1440€ | 2450€ |
Transportation Costs
Public transport is quite convenient - a monthly pass costs about 43 euros for unlimited bus and tram rides. I usually bike around; the city isn’t large, and you can reach most places within 20 minutes by bike. Occasional taxis for short trips within the city cost around 8-12 euros. I considered buying a used car before, but gave up due to expensive parking fees.
Other Expenses
My phone plan is with Yoigo, 15 euros per month for 20GB data, which is plenty. Basic gym membership costs 25-35 euros monthly. Movie tickets are about 8 euros, and the beach is free - one of the biggest perks of living in Alicante. For healthcare, if you’re working and part of daily life in Alicante, social security covers most things; private insurance runs around 50 euros per month.
Overall, you can live quite comfortably in Alicante on 1200-1500 euros per month. Of course, this varies by person - if you enjoy frequent travel or dining out often, you’ll need to budget more. Compared to other European coastal cities, Alicante offers great value for money with excellent weather, which explains why more and more people are choosing to settle here.
