How much do you need to earn to live here, after Spain takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Spain's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Alicante is roughly €1,344/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think €1,780/month gross (€1,434 net after ~19% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €620 Cheapest neighborhood (Carolinas) | €880 Median neighborhood | €1,070 Premium neighborhood (Playa de San Juan) |
| Groceries | €210 | €252 | €315 |
| Transport | €38 | €38 | €38 |
| Utilities | €102 | €102 | €102 |
| Dining & Entertainment | €135 | €162 | €203 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | €1,105 | €1,434 | €1,728 |
€1,344/month gross
€1,780/month gross
€2,188/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 5 neighborhoods in Alicante.
Carolinas
10 min by bus
€620 - €760
San Blas
12 min by bus
€740 - €890
Benalúa
8 min by walk
€800 - €960
Playa de San Juan
20 min by tram
€980 - €1,160
Centro
5 min by walk
€860 - €1,040
Benalúa
8 min by walk
€800 - €960
All 5 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
Explore AlicantePlug in what you'd really earn. Get your take-home pay, neighborhoods within reach, and monthly savings.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Spain's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least €1,344/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Alicante. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for €1,780/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Spain.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 5 neighborhoods in Alicante is approximately €881/month. Rents range from €620 in Carolinas to €1,160 in Playa de San Juan.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Alicante cost approximately €210. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Spain are progressive. At the budget salary level of €1,344/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 18%. At the comfortable level of €1,780/month, it rises to approximately 19%. This includes income tax and social contributions.