๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,642 in Spain versus $790 in San Marino.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,397 in Spain versus $1,209 in San Marino.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,151 in Spain versus $1,627 in San Marino.
๐Living in Spain is roughly 108% more expensive than San Marino on average.
๐Spain (23% above) and San Marino (41% below) straddle the global median.
๐Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,118 to $3,230, compared to $356โ$1,224 in San Marino. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Spain
San Marino
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98โฌ13.63
$17.50โฌ14.93
-8.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4โฌ49.85
$66.7โฌ56.9
-12.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.30โฌ8.78
$11.42โฌ9.74
-9.81%
Cappuccino
$2.40โฌ2.04
$1.88โฌ1.61
27.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59โฌ2.21
$3.07โฌ2.62
-15.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84โฌ1.57
$1.58โฌ1.35
16.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50โฌ2.98
$4.54โฌ3.87
-22.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02โฌ3.43
$6.79โฌ5.79
-40.80%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Spain
San Marino
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20โฌ1.02
$1.15โฌ0.98
4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51โฌ1.29
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65โฌ1.41
-
-
Eggs
$3.05โฌ2.60
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.06โฌ11.99
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.62โฌ7.35
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.71โฌ13.40
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.50โฌ2.14
$2.34โฌ1.99
6.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07โฌ1.77
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10โฌ1.79
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53โฌ2.16
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.82โฌ1.55
$1.15โฌ0.98
58.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89โฌ1.61
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29โฌ1.10
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75โฌ0.64
$0.61โฌ0.52
22.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26โฌ5.34
$4.36โฌ3.72
43.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72โฌ4.88
$4.56โฌ3.89
25.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27โฌ1.08
$1.93โฌ1.64
-34.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05โฌ1.75
-
-
๐ Getting Around
Spain
San Marino
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70โฌ1.45
$1.78โฌ1.52
-4.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.56โฌ29.48
$28.85โฌ24.61
19.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.47โฌ3.82
$5.62โฌ4.79
-20.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28โฌ1.09
$1.73โฌ1.47
-26.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.89โฌ22.93
$25.43โฌ21.69
5.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$2.08โฌ1.78
-15.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4Kโฌ32.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9Kโฌ26.3K
-
-
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
San Marino
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150โฌ128
$117โฌ99.7
28.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.16โฌ17.19
$23.19โฌ19.78
-13.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.23โฌ28.34
$35.22โฌ30.04
-5.65%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Spain
San Marino
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.19โฌ40.25
$76.5โฌ65.3
-38.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.06โฌ13.70
$26.42โฌ22.54
-39.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.17โฌ7.82
$8.03โฌ6.85
14.20%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Spain
San Marino
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$509โฌ434
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0Kโฌ8,537
-
-
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Spain
San Marino
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.3โฌ74.5
$79.6โฌ67.9
9.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.92โฌ31.49
$35.23โฌ30.05
4.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0โฌ77.6
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107โฌ91.7
$57.0โฌ48.62
88.54%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Spain
San Marino
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063โฌ907
$645โฌ550
64.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820โฌ700
$568โฌ485
44.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662โฌ1,418
$845โฌ721
96.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252โฌ1,068
$791โฌ674
58.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,395โฌ3,749
$2,892โฌ2,467
51.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,711โฌ2,313
$2,929โฌ2,498
-7.43%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Spain
San Marino
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,097โฌ1,789
$3,770โฌ3,215
-44.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.51
3.55
-1.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: April 21, 2026
Last update for San Marino: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ National rent averages: $898 in Spain, $316 in San Marino. Capital cities: $1,578 in Madrid vs $632 in San Marino.
๐ฐNational salary averages: $2,012 in Spain, $3,796 in San Marino. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money โ weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
โญRent is 184% higher in Spain.
โญPublic transport is 136% more expensive in Spain.
โญSalaries are 89% higher in San Marino, giving San Marino stronger purchasing power.
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 San Marino: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: San Marino or Spain?
At $790 per month in San Marino and $2,174 in Spain, there's a 175% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city โ the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: San Marino or Spain?
San Marino is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between San Marino and Spain?
Rent in Spain beats San Marino across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $2,000 go in San Marino vs Spain?
In San Marino, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital โ you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in San Marino and Spain?
It depends on what you're after. San Marino wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.