Spanish towns where one-person living costs can be under £500 a month, roundup finds
Daily Mail Travel lists small cities and villages with low rents and modest everyday costs, though residency rules limit stays for UK nationals
A Daily Mail Travel roundup identified more than a dozen Spanish towns and villages where a single person’s monthly living costs — including rent, food, transport and utilities — can be below £500. The report used cost estimates from Numbeo and example rental listings to illustrate how low living expenses can be in rural and regional centres across Spain.
The article said the monthly basket it modelled was for one person and included six public transport tickets, two inexpensive restaurant visits, four café visits, groceries (milk, bread, rice, eggs, butter, jam, pastries, tea, coffee, cheese, chicken, beef, fruit and vegetables), four bottles of wine, two litres of beer or soft drinks, utilities, mobile and internet, and a cinema visit. It noted that Brexit-era rules restrict how long British residents can stay in Spain each year without a residency visa.
The roundup highlighted a mixture of historic cities and small rural communities. Ciudad Real, in Castile‑La Mancha, was presented as an attractive, historic city of about 75,000 people where the typical monthly living cost was estimated at £437. The article cited a studio flat example listed at around €360 (£311) with a separate kitchen and bathroom.
In Andalusia, Arroyo del Ojanco (population roughly 2,200) and Huesa (about 2,600) were singled out for outdoor amenities and proximity to mountain and reservoir recreation. Typical monthly costs were listed at about £465 for each town, with rental examples of a fully furnished second‑floor apartment in Arroyo del Ojanco for about €250 (£217) and a one‑bed flat in Huesa at the same monthly rate.
Several towns in Extremadura and Castile‑León also featured. Guijo de Coria in Cáceres was shown with a reported decline in population from 263 in 2011 to 189 in 2024, which the piece said contributes to lower accommodation costs; its typical monthly cost was estimated at £435 and an unfurnished three‑bed country house was cited at around €200 (£173) per month. Zarza de Granadilla, also in Cáceres, was listed with estimated monthly costs near £492 and an example furnished one‑bed apartment for about €295 (£256).
Smaller municipalities in inland Spain included Ituero de Azaba in Salamanca, where the report estimated monthly costs of around £479 and highlighted a furnished one‑bed ground‑floor apartment for €250 (£217). Villanueva de los Infantes in Ciudad Real, a town noted for 16th‑ and 17th‑century architecture and a strong culinary scene, was presented with one of the lowest total monthly estimates on the list at £342; the story gave an example two‑bed flat for €275 (£237).
The roundup also cited larger regional centres that nonetheless remain affordable. Ourense in Galicia, a city of about 107,000 known for hot springs, had typical monthly costs estimated at £400 and a centrally located attic studio listed at approximately €230 (£200). Tortosa in Catalonia, with a well‑preserved historic centre and a population around 35,000, was shown with typical costs around £491 and a newly renovated apartment example noted at roughly €350 (£302).
Other places mentioned included Castralvo near Teruel in Aragon (typical monthly costs around £500 and a three‑storey furnished village house listed at €330/£287), Almodóvar del Campo in Ciudad Real (£448 typical costs with a furnished one‑bed flat at about €300/£260), and Herrera del Duque in Badajoz (£421 typical costs and a one‑bed apartment example at €270/£235).
The piece noted that everyday prices in many Spanish towns remain lower than in the UK, citing examples such as the cost of a beer in bars. It also warned that the Numbeo‑based figures are averages and that actual costs will vary with lifestyle choices; modest living can reduce totals, while higher spending on dining or imported goods will increase them. The rental listings used in the article were presented as examples and subject to change.
The report emphasized legal and logistical considerations for British nationals. Since the UK’s departure from the EU, Britons are generally limited in the length of time they can remain in Spain under visa‑free travel rules and would need to apply for the appropriate residency permits to live in Spain long term. Airport distances and transport links to each town were noted in the roundup as part of practical planning; for example, Madrid Airport is about 180 kilometres from Ciudad Real, Vigo Airport is roughly 90 kilometres from Ourense and Reus Airport is about 64 kilometres from Tortosa.
Economists and migration specialists have pointed to rising living costs in the UK and increased interest among some Britons in relocating to lower‑cost parts of Europe. The Daily Mail Travel compilation provides a snapshot of prices at a point in time and offers examples for prospective movers to consider, while underscoring that visa requirements and personal budgets will shape individual decisions. Costs and availability of accommodation can change rapidly, and prospective residents should verify current prices, legal requirements and travel links before relocating.