What it costs to buy property in Spain
A foreign buyer should budget roughly 7.5%–15.5% of the purchase price on top of the price itself. No licence or permit is required.
What you pay
- Transfer tax (ITP)6.0%–13.0% of the price$30,000–$65,000
- Legal fees1.0%–1.5% of the price$5,000–$7,500
- Notary and land registry fees0.5%–1.0% of the price$2,500–$5,000
| On a purchase of | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax (ITP) | $15,000 – $32,500 | $30,000 – $65,000 | $60,000 – $130,000 |
| Notary and land registry fees | $1,250 – $2,500 | $2,500 – $5,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Legal fees | $2,500 – $3,750 | $5,000 – $7,500 | $10,000 – $15,000 |
| Total on top of the price | 7.5%–15.5% | 7.5%–15.5% | 7.5%–15.5% |
Who carries the taxes and fees
What the seller pays — not you
- Agency commission — 3%–5%Borne by the seller in Spain, typically 3–5% plus IVA.
Guides that add every tax together and present the total as a buyer's bill overstate the cost. These are the seller's.
Can you buy as a foreigner?
No licence required
No permit needed. A foreign buyer takes freehold title on the same footing as a Spaniard and pays the same transfer tax; all that is required is an NIE, the foreigner's tax number. Note what is not true: the 100% surcharge on non-EU buyers announced in January 2025 was never enacted — the bill has sat undebated since May 2025 and was omitted from the January 2026 housing package. Land in a designated military or border zone still needs separate authorisation for non-EU buyers, which is narrow but real.
No approval to wait for
With no permission to obtain, the timeline is set by conveyancing rather than by a government queue.
Take it with you
These figures as a PDF, worked out at the price you enter, with every source and the date it was checked.
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Nearby markets compared
What a foreign buyer pays on top of a $500,000 price, here and in the markets around it nearest in cost.
An estimate for budgeting, not legal or tax advice. These rates are traced to published sources but have not been reviewed by a practitioner in this jurisdiction. Confirm the current position with an attorney before you commit.
ITP is regional and banded in several communities, so the range here spans the whole country rather than describing any one purchase — the figure that matters is the one for the property's own autonomous community. Professional fees are customary ranges from secondary sources, not statutory scales. Not yet reviewed by a Spanish abogado.