How much you'll spend in Spain and in the Aland Islands
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spain and in the Aland Islands actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,760 in Spain versus $1,772 in the Aland Islands.
Spain $1,760
Aland Islands $1,772
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,581 in Spain versus $2,597 in the Aland Islands.
Spain $2,581
Aland Islands $2,597
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,402 in Spain versus $3,421 in the Aland Islands.
Spain $3,402
Aland Islands $3,421
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $937 to $2,649, compared to $1,772–$1,772 in the Aland Islands. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
🌍
Living in Spain costs about 1% less than in the Aland Islands on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Spain 30% above, the Aland Islands 31% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Aland Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.72€14.87
$15.49€13.78
7.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.0€49.76
$87.9€78.2
-36.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.13€9.90
$11.61€10.33
-4.13%
Cappuccino
$2.43€2.17
$4.93€4.39
-50.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.34
$2.89€2.57
-9.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.61
$2.60€2.31
-30.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€3.03
$8.80€7.83
-61.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82€3.39
$9.17€8.15
-58.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Aland Islands
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17€1.04
$1.27€1.13
-7.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50€1.33
$3.18€2.83
-52.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60€1.43
$2.62€2.33
-38.93%
Eggs
$3.33€2.96
$3.03€2.69
9.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.41€12.82
$11.87€10.56
21.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33€7.41
$9.46€8.42
-11.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.30€14.50
$15.61€13.89
4.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.29
$2.56€2.27
0.39%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04€1.82
$1.95€1.73
4.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04€1.82
$2.47€2.19
-17.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.27
$3.90€3.47
-34.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.63
$1.35€1.20
35.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.80
$1.32€1.18
53.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.21
$2.21€1.97
-38.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.66
$2.15€1.91
-65.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.65
$10.72€9.53
-40.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.52€4.91
$14.04€12.49
-60.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.17
$3.41€3.04
-61.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.80
$3.00€2.67
-32.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Aland Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.52
$2.11€1.87
-18.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.15€29.49
$73.5€65.3
-54.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.52€4.02
$7.67€6.82
-41.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.34
$2.77€2.46
-45.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.43€21.73
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.59
$2.33€2.07
-23.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K€32.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K€27.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Aland Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€133
$224€199
-33.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.57€15.62
$31.43€27.96
-44.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.32€27.86
$39.79€35.39
-21.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Aland Islands
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.55€40.52
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.00€13.34
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.47€8.43
$15.71€13.97
-39.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Aland Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544€484
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K€9,563
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Aland Islands
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.1€74.8
$91.0€80.9
-7.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.90€32.82
$33.74€30.01
9.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.5€78.7
$111€98.4
-19.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104€92.8
$79.9€71.1
30.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Aland Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,017€904
$645€574
57.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$793€705
$555€494
42.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,605€1,428
$1,018€906
57.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209€1,075
$701€623
72.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,093€3,640
$2,559€2,276
59.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,581€2,296
$1,440€1,281
79.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Aland Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,001€1,780
$2,649€2,356
-24.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
4.35
-24.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: October 20, 2026
Last update for the Aland Islands: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$793 45%
Aland Islands
$555 31.3% ↓ 30%$238
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.4%
Aland Islands
$343 19.4% ↑ 26.3%$72
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$239 13.6%
Aland Islands
$302 17.1% ↑ 26.6%$63
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199 11.3%
Aland Islands
$295 16.7% ↑ 48.4%$96
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$141 8%
Aland Islands
$142 8% ↑ 0.4%$0.6
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$65 3.7%
Aland Islands
$31 * 1.8% ↓ 51.3%$33
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$52 3%
Aland Islands
$103 5.8% ↑ 98.7%$51
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 35.6%
Aland Islands
$701 20.5% ↓ 42%$508
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$647 19%
Aland Islands
$770 22.5% ↑ 19%$123
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$764 22.5%
Aland Islands
$1K 30.2% ↑ 35.5%$271
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$216 6.4%
Aland Islands
$327 9.6% ↑ 50.9%$110
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$314 9.2%
Aland Islands
$315 9.2% ↑ 0.4%$1.4
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$144 4.2%
Aland Islands
$63 * 1.8% ↓ 56.4%$81
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$107 3.2%
Aland Islands
$211 6.2% ↑ 96.3%$103
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $913 in Spain, $655 in the Aland Islands. Capital cities: $1,509 in Madrid vs $655 in Mariehamn.
💰National salary averages: $1,977 in Spain, $2,682 in the Aland Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 39% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 49% more in the Aland Islands.
⭐Public transport is 155% more expensive in the Aland Islands.
⭐Salaries are 36% higher in the Aland Islands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the Aland Islands.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Spain vs Aland Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between the Aland Islands and Spain?
At $1,772 per month in the Aland Islands and $1,760 in Spain, there's a 1% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Spain: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget in the Aland Islands or in Spain?
In Spain, $3,000 covers most cities easily; in the Aland Islands it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to the Aland Islands or to Spain?
It depends on what you're after: Spain wins on affordability; the Aland Islands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.