Places & lifestyle · 8 min read
Coast or city? What it costs to live well in Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Porto, the Costa Blanca and the Algarve
The big cities cost far more for the same lifestyle, mainly because of housing. On the coast, a comfortable two-bedroom life with cleaning and a gym costs roughly a third less than in Madrid, Barcelona or Lisbon.
- Places compared
- Six, in Spain and Portugal
- Biggest cost
- Housing
- Download
- Coast or city shortlist
Many people picture retirement on the coast, then wonder whether a great city would offer more culture, healthcare and company. Both are good choices. This guide compares the cost of the same comfortable lifestyle in six places, using current local prices, so you can see what each really asks of your budget.
- 6places compared on the same lifestyle
- 55–65%higher rents in the big cities than on the coast
- €1.70–€2.80for a coffee, wherever you live
The same lifestyle, six places
We priced what a couple living at Solera Village would enjoy: a good two-bedroom home, weekly cleaning and two wellness memberships, plus a sociable month of dinners out, coffees, wine and local transport. Choose a place to see the details.
Monthly cost for a couple: home, weekly cleaning and two gyms
Look closer at one place
Alicante, Costa Blanca · Spain · Coastal
- Two-bedroom home, monthly rent
- €1,220
- Two-bedroom home, purchase price (90 m²)
- €335,000
- Weekly cleaning, per month
- €180
- Two gym memberships, per month
- €74
- Cappuccino
- €1.98
- Three-course dinner for two
- €60
- Bottle of good wine (shop)
- €5.00
- Local beer (pint)
- €3.00
- Electricity, water, heating and cooling
- €125
- Monthly transport pass
- €24
Home, cleaning and gyms in Alicante: €1,474 a month. A sociable month of dinners, coffees, wine, transport and bills adds about €543.
At Solera Village, your home, weekly cleaning, wellness facilities and upkeep come to about €1,600 a month, with a community and a team on site.
What the numbers show
- Housing drives the difference. A two-bedroom home in central Madrid, Barcelona or Lisbon costs about 55–65% more to rent than in Alicante or Faro, and up to twice as much to buy.
- Everyday pleasures are affordable everywhere. A coffee costs €1.70–€2.80 and dinner for two at a good local restaurant €40–€60.
- Portugal is not automatically cheaper. Lisbon rents are now among the highest in southern Europe, while Faro and Alicante are close.
“The cities cost more for the same lifestyle, and almost all of the difference is housing.”
What a city gives you
Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon offer world-class museums, concerts, teaching hospitals and fast rail links. In return, summers can be very hot in Madrid, flats are often smaller and older, and it can take longer to build a circle of friends.
What the coast gives you
The Costa Blanca and the Algarve offer the sea, an outdoor life all year and long-established international communities. Healthcare is good and airports are close. For culture, Madrid is about two hours from Alicante by train, and Lisbon under three hours from Faro by road.
Where Solera Village fits
Solera Village is planned near Alicante and near Faro, where the comparison shows the same lifestyle costs least. Your home, cleaning, wellness facilities and upkeep are covered by one predictable monthly amount, with a community around you from the first day.
See the numbers for yourself
Compare everyday costs in your home city with Solera, and buying or renting with Solera over 10 to 25 years.
Open the cost calculatorGeneral information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; please take personal advice before you move. Ask us a question.