For one person, living is cheaper in Tonga: $1,067 a month against $1,754 in Spain, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Spain outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
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 Tonga actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,754 in Spain versus $1,067 in Tonga.
Spain $1,754
Tonga $1,067
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,570 in Spain versus $1,901 in Tonga.
Spain $2,570
Tonga $1,901
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,386 in Spain versus $2,735 in Tonga.
Spain $3,386
Tonga $2,735
🌍
Living in Spain is roughly 64% more expensive than in Tonga on average.
📊
Spain (30% above) and Tonga (21% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Tonga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.56€14.73
$8.43TOP 20.30
96.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.6€50.4
$62.2TOP 150
-9.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.24€10.00
$10.24TOP 24.66
9.77%
Cappuccino
$2.32€2.07
$2.93TOP 7.05
-20.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57€2.28
$2.79TOP 6.72
-7.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86€1.66
$2.52TOP 6.07
-26.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.34€2.97
$3.22TOP 7.76
3.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02€3.58
$5.09TOP 12.26
-21.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Tonga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21€1.08
$1.53TOP 3.67
-20.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54€1.37
$1.01TOP 2.44
52.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63€1.45
$2.04TOP 4.90
-20.10%
Eggs
$3.30€2.93
$5.16TOP 12.44
-36.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.35€12.76
$8.91TOP 21.45
61.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.54€7.60
$5.85TOP 14.10
45.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€14.31
$7.56TOP 18.21
112.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.18
$2.73TOP 6.58
-10.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02€1.79
$2.71TOP 6.52
-25.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07€1.85
$2.83TOP 6.81
-26.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44€2.17
$3.83TOP 9.22
-36.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78€1.58
$3.10TOP 7.48
-42.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.78
$2.66TOP 6.40
-24.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29€1.15
$2.26TOP 5.45
-42.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75€0.66
$1.34TOP 3.24
-44.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.42€5.71
$10.31TOP 24.84
-37.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€5.08
$16.99TOP 40.94
-66.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.15
$3.15TOP 7.60
-58.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.77
$3.37TOP 8.12
-40.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Tonga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70€1.51
$2.04TOP 4.91
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.97€30.22
$41.75TOP 101
-18.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€4.07
$2.05TOP 4.94
123.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.32
$2.11TOP 5.09
-29.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.59€21.87
$41.87TOP 101
-41.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.55
$1.48TOP 3.57
17.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K€31.0K
$5,815TOP 14.0K
499.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K€26.4K
$8,165TOP 19.7K
263.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Tonga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147€131
$186TOP 448
-21.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.90€15.92
$21.76TOP 52.4
-17.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.21€27.76
$124TOP 299
-74.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Tonga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.57€39.65
$30.75TOP 74.1
44.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.01€13.35
$41.12TOP 99.1
-63.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.24€8.22
$42.25TOP 102
-78.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Tonga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$529€470
$156TOP 377
238.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K€9,212
$248TOP 596
4083.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Tonga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.8€75.5
$14.49TOP 34.92
485.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.80€32.73
$17.69TOP 42.60
108.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7€79.7
$21.07TOP 50.8
325.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107€94.8
$29.61TOP 71.3
260.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Tonga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$988€879
$627TOP 1,510
57.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$791€703
$50.1TOP 121
1477.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,580€1,405
$846TOP 2,038
86.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,196€1,064
$584TOP 1,406
104.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,059€3,610
$415TOP 1,000
877.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,615€2,326
$244TOP 589
969.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Tonga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,923€1,711
$672TOP 1,619
186.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: October 13, 2026
Last update for Tonga: October 12, 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
$791 45.1%
Tonga
$50 4.7% ↓ 93.7%$741
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.5%
Tonga
$290 27.1% ↑ 6.6%$18
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$237 13.5%
Tonga
$181 16.9% ↓ 23.6%$56
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$196 11.2%
Tonga
$332 31.1% ↑ 69.3%$136
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$143 8.2%
Tonga
$37 3.5% ↓ 73.9%$106
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$63 3.6%
Tonga
$115 10.8% ↑ 82.8%$52
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$53 3%
Tonga
$63 5.9% ↑ 18.5%$9.8
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 35.3%
Tonga
$584 21.3% ↓ 51.2%$612
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$646 19.1%
Tonga
$652 23.8% ↑ 0.9%$5.9
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$763 22.5%
Tonga
$662 24.2% ↓ 13.2%$100
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$214 6.3%
Tonga
$354 12.9% ↑ 65.3%$140
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$318 9.4%
Tonga
$83 3% ↓ 73.9%$235
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$141 4.2%
Tonga
$272 9.9% ↑ 92.5%$131
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$109 3.2%
Tonga
$129 4.7% ↑ 18.5%$20
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $908 in Spain, $207 in Tonga. Capital cities: $1,506 in Madrid vs $622 in Nuku'alofa.
💰National salary averages: $1,972 in Spain, $680 in Tonga. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 339% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 171% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 107% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 190% higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
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 Tonga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Spain or Tonga?
At $1,754 per month in Spain and $1,067 in Tonga, there's a 64% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Spain or Tonga?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Tonga: 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.
How do rents compare between Spain and Tonga?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $908 in Spain and $207 in Tonga. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $1,000 go in Spain compared to Tonga?
In Tonga, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Spain it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Spain and in Tonga?
It depends on what you're after: Tonga wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.