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Spain vs United Kingdom

United Kingdom is {pct} {word} than Spain. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in United Kingdom to match Spain.

Spain vs United Kingdom at a glance — United Kingdom is 23% more expensive than Spain overall. Average net salary: $2,900/mo vs $1,900/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 47%.

SpainUnited Kingdom
Cost of living
Cost of living index100123
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)47%45%
VAT / sales tax21%20%
Social security (employee)6.4%8%
Corporate tax25%25%
Capital gains28%24%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$1,900/mo$2,900/mo
Minimum wage$1,652/mo✓$2,050/mo
GDP per capita$38,627✓$57,602✓
Inflation (annual)2.7%✓3.9%✓
Life expectancy84 yr✓81 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Digital-nomad visaYesNo

✓ = official statistics (Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

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? Frequently asked questions

Is Spain cheaper than United Kingdom?

United Kingdom is about 23% more expensive than Spain overall — its cost-of-living index is 123 versus 100 for Spain.

How much do you need to earn in United Kingdom to live like in Spain?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Spain is worth about $92,292 in United Kingdom. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Spain or United Kingdom?

United Kingdom has the lower top income-tax rate — 45% versus 47% in Spain.