Badajoz is a province in Spain that borders Portugal. The city draws on influences from both Spain and Portugal, and that has helped develop its distinctive character over the centuries. Situated on the left bank of the River Guadiana, the city has a history dating back to the Celts. Today, agriculture and food processing are the most important industries in the region.
If you are considering moving to Badajoz, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in the capital city of Spain’s largest province, Badajoz.
Quick Badajoz Facts:
- Population: 150,530 (2018).
- Official Language: Spanish (de facto) with a smattering of many other languages being spoken by its few expat residents, including Portuguese, English, French, German, Italian, Arabic, and Polish.
- GDP Per Capita: $15,752 USD (2015)
- Wellington: Badajoz has seen its fair share of battles and wars. The Duke of Wellington besieged the city in 1812. This act has been described as one of the bloodiest engagements of the Napoleonic Wars.
- Currency: Euro (EUR). As of early 2023, $1 USD = €0.94 EUR, £1 = €1.13 EUR, $1 CAD = €0.70 EUR, $1 AUD = €0.63 EUR
1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Badajoz
Below are sample international shipping rates to Spain from various countries around the world.
2. Badajoz Housing Costs
Housing prices are very affordable compared with other major cities around the world and compared with other major cities in Spain. Prices vary from area to area, but the figures below will give you an indication of what’s available at what price.
Monthly Rental Prices in Badajoz:
- 1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: €465+
- 1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: €340+
- 3 bedroomed flat in City Centre: €650+
- 3 bedroomed flat outside the City Centre: €500+
Badajoz Home Purchase Prices:
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: €1,400
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: €1,200
Badajoz Housing Cost Comparison:
This is how rents in Badajoz compare with other cities around the globe.
- London is 81.9% more expensive
- New York is 88.1% more expensive
- Los Angeles is 83.9% more expensive
- Toronto is 75.5% more expensive
- Vancouver is 77.2% more expensive
- Sydney is 78.8% more expensive
- Melbourne is 69.7% more expensive
- Dubai is 75.9% more expensive
- Paris is 72.4% more expensive
Source: Numbeo
How to Save on Housing Costs:
- Share a Flat or House: There are opportunities to share a house or a flat in Badajoz. With a house/apartment share you will have your own room, or, for a cheaper option, you can share a room. The bathroom/s will be shared with other people in the house. Have a look at Pisa Compartido to find someone you can get on with to share the costs with you.
- Different Areas – Different Prices: Everywhere in Badajoz is affordable compared with most of the cities around the world. Badajoz, both the province and the city are fairly poor areas and the housing availability mirrors that. Unfortunately, when they decided to modernise and expand the city, they built lots of identical apartment blocks. However, there are houses available, especially if you look on the outskirts of the city.
3. Badajoz Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs
Badajoz is home to some good restaurants, where you can while away a few hours, soaking up the sun.
- Inexpensive Restaurant: €10.00 – €15.00
- Takeout Coffee: €1.40 – €1.50
- Bottle of Coke: €2.00 – €2.40
- 1L of Milk: €0.70 – €0.80
- Loaf of Bread: €0.80 – €1.00
- 12 Eggs: €1.70 – €1.90
- 1kg Chicken: €5.80 – €8.00
- 1kg Beef: €9.50 – €13.00
- 1kg Apples: €2.00 – €2.20
- 1kg White Rice: €1.00 – €1.50
This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.
- New York restaurants are 59.5% more expensive and groceries are 59.8% more expensive than Badajoz.
- Los Angeles restaurants are 54.3% more expensive and groceries are 47% more expensive than Badajoz.
- London restaurants are 47% more expensive and groceries are 24.7% more expensive than Badajoz.
- Paris restaurants are 41.1% more expensive and groceries are 45% more expensive than Badajoz.
- Toronto restaurants are 46.5% more expensive and groceries are 39.8% more expensive than Badajoz.
- Vancouver restaurants are 43.2% more expensive and groceries are 42% more expensive than Badajoz.
- Sydney restaurants are 48.2% more expensive and groceries are 47.4% more expensive than Badajoz.
- Melbourne restaurants are 45.8% more expensive and groceries are 48% more expensive than Badajoz.
- Dubai restaurants are 43.5% more expensive and groceries are 16.7% more expensive than Badajoz.
Source: Numbeo
Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:
- Know Your Supermarkets: Badajoz has the usual supermarket chains, such as Carrefour, El Corte Ingles and El Árbol, all of which offer a good selection of produce at reasonable prices. It also has a few good food markets in the centre of the city.
- Find Cheap Eats: Badajoz’s restaurant prices are very reasonable compared with other cities. Have a look at the following sites to see which restaurants tantalise your taste buds – Trip Advisor and Culture Trip.
4. Badajoz Alcohol Costs
Like all Spanish cities, Badajoz has a good number of bars and restaurants. The following is a list of basic prices of beer and wine from the supermarket and restaurants.
- Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: €1.50 – €2.50
- Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: €3.00 – €3.50
- Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €1.40 – €1.50
- Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: €1.80 – €2.00
- Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: €5.00 – €8.00
How To Drink For Less in Badajoz:
- Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials over weekends and public holidays.
- Most of Badajoz’s bars and clubs are very good value. Have a look at the following sites to find where your favourite tipple is on special – Yelp (sports bars) and Yelp (nightlife).
5. Badajoz Transportation Fares
Badajoz has a fairly good public transport system, consisting of buses and trains. Both modes of transport service the town, the surrounding areas and other cities in Spain and Portugal.
Here are some example ticket costs.
- Adult single – €1.20
- One day ticket for the bus – €4.00
- Monthly season ticket for the bus – €30.00
How To Save Money on Public Transport:
- Buy a 10-trip ticket for €8.00
- Buy a bike. The traffic in the city is light compared with other cities and many people cycle to work and school.
- Walk. Depending on where you live and work, walking is certainly an option.
6. Cost of Internet in Badajoz
Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:
- Ono: €59.40 a month (Fiber broadband up to 600mb)
- Orange: €30.95 a month (Fiber broadband up to 500mb)
7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure
July and August are the hottest months in Badajoz, with an average high of 25°C. The temperature frequently rises into the mid-30s. The coldest month is January, where the average high is 9°C. April is the wettest month, where an average of 60mm of rainfall.
Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.
- Pair of Jeans: €70 – €90
- Summer Dress: €25 – €35
- Running Shoes (Trainers): €40 – €70
- Business Shoes: €45 – €90
- Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): €60
- Deodorant: €2.00
- Shampoo: €1.40
- Toilet Paper (4 rolls): €1.50
- Gym Membership: €35 – €40 per month
- Movie (cinema) Ticket: €7.00 – €7.50
Source: Numbeo and Expatistan
8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Badajoz
Everyone in Spain drives on the right. Driving and parking in Badajoz are not a problem. Peak times don’t produce traffic jams like in other cities.
If you’re moving to Badajoz from within Spain, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address with our new Badajoz one at your nearest traffic office.
If you live outside the EU, then you can drive on that licence for six months. If your foreign licence is not in Spanish, then you must obtain a Spanish translation or get an International Driving Licence. After this six-month period, you must obtain a Spanish driving licence.
If you are from an EU country then you will need to get a Spanish licence after being in the country for two years. However, you must register your details with the Central Register of Drivers and Minor Offenders after six months. Note that persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to drive in Spain.
Residents of certain countries can exchange their licence, other people will need to take a Spanish driving test – both written and practical. Expatica.com has useful information in English for expats wanting to drive in Spain.
If you are taking a car with you to Spain, you can drive it for 6 months without registering it in Spain. After the 6 months period, you have 30 days to register it.
Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Badajoz:
- Volkswagen Golf: €18,750
- 1 litre (¼ gallon) of Fas (petrol): €1.79
- Registration Fee (if any): the cost depends on the size of the vehicle and its CO2 emissions.
Source: Expatistan
Ways To Save Money on Driving in Badajoz:
- Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Carpoolworld.
- Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Currently, Uber is not available in Badajoz.
9. Taxes in Badajoz
No matter where you live in Spain, you will pay the same rate of tax. Sales tax, or VAT (Value Added Tax), is 21% in Spain and is included in the price that is advertised.
If you own a property in Spain you will need to pay IBI tax. The amount varies depending on the size of the property, the services you receive and the area it’s in. Note if you rent a property, it is the owner who pays IBI, not the tenant.
Finally, if you decide to buy a flat or house in Spain, you’ll have to pay various taxes and fees. There is a property transfer tax of between 5% and 10%, VAT is payable at 10% on new properties, notary costs, title deed tax and land registration fees are between 1% and 2.5% of the purchase price and legal fees will cost between 1% and 2%.
10. Flight Costs from Badajoz
If you do make the move to Badajoz, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023. Note that only London and Paris travel directly to Badajoz, the other countries involve multiple stops.
- New York: €540
- Los Angeles: €790
- London: €110
- Paris: €125
- Toronto: €580
- Vancouver: €690
- Dubai: €420
- Sydney: €1,500
- Melbourne: €1,400
- Cape Town: €600
- Hong Kong: €570
Other Tips on Moving to Badajoz:
The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Badajoz but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.
11. Moving to Badajoz Alone
Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be rather daunting. Here are a few tips about settling into Badajoz.
- Meetups: Badajoz has lots of free meetup groups you can find on Meetup.com. Join Badajoz Walking Meetup or Marketing Online, or start your own group.
- Attend Local Events: Badajoz is a quiet city but that doesn’t mean there’s no fun to be had. Find out what’s going on from Trip Advisor and Minube.
12. Moving to Badajoz with a Family
Badajoz is the ideal city for those families who enjoy a slower pace of life. The road system and public transport system allow easy access to other parts of Spain and Portugal.
- New Oarents (or parents to be): Mum Abroad is an excellent site which will give you information on antenatal classes, postnatal classes and general parenting. It’s an interactive site so you can ask for information directly.
- Live in a Family-friendly Area: Badajoz is a very friendly city, where families are welcomed with open arms. The majority of accommodation available is apartments but there are houses in the outer suburbs of the city.
- Find Things To Do With The Kids: Trip Advisor have great ideas for activities and events your kids will love.
13. Moving to Badajoz for Work
Unemployment is high in Badajoz. Although no figures are available for Badajoz, the national average for the first quarter of 2017 was 18.75% and the employment rate in Badajoz is definitely higher than that. If you want to guarantee a job, you really need to speak Spanish, as there are very few jobs available for those who don’t speak the language. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.
Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:
- Salary: The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea. At the moment there is no salary information for Badajoz on Glassdoor or Payscale.
- How to Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Badajoz, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Europe Language Jobs and Xpat Jobs. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.
14. Moving to Badajoz from Australia
Very few Australians go to Badajoz but if you want to start a trend, then here’s more food for thought:
- Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Badajoz with the population of a city in Australia, you’d be looking at Cairns, Queensland.
- Join Expat Groups: Both InterNations and Expat.com offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Badajoz.
15. Moving to Badajoz from Canada
There are very few Canadians living in Badajoz. However, if you are thinking of living in the city, here are a few extra points to consider:
- Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of the city of Badajoz with the population of a city in Canada, you’d be looking at Kingston, Ontario.
- Join Expat Groups: Both InterNations and Expat.com offer ways of meeting up with other Canadians in Badajoz.
16. Moving to Badajoz from the United States
There’s a very small group of Americans living in Badajoz. If you’re considering it, here are a few bonus tips:
- Size: The population of Badajoz is a little less than that of Pasadena.
- Expat Groups: Meeting Americans who are already living and working in Badajoz is an excellent way to make friends and learn how to integrate quickly into your new life. InterNations and Expat.com will enable you to meet other expats from the States and other countries.
17. Moving to Badajoz from the United Kingdom
They are a few Brits living in Badajoz. If you’re considering boosting their numbers, here are a few bonus tips:
- Size: If you compare the population size of Badajoz with a city in the UK, you’d be looking at Dundee.
- Expat Groups: Meeting Brits who are already living and working in Badajoz is an excellent way to make friends and learn all about living in the city. Have a look at the following sites to find people from home – InterNations and Expat.com.
Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Badajoz you can start by comparing moving quotes here.
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