Moving to Sevilla? 2025 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

To consider the origins of Sevilla, we must look back over 3000 years, as the myth tells us that the Greek god, Hercules, created it. It goes without saying that it’s a city full to the brim of history, yet still manages to embrace 21st-century living. It sits on the Guadalquivir River in southern Spain and is Andalusia’s largest city.

If you are considering moving to Sevilla, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in the capital of Andalucia.

Quick Sevilla Facts:

Population: 688,711 (2018).
Official Language: Spanish (de facto) with many other languages being spoken by expat residents, including English, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese and Polish.
GDP Per Capita: $34,820 USD (2017)
Christopher Columbus: Sevilla Cathedral houses a magnificent tomb where the remains of Christopher Columbus are interred.
Currency: Euro (EUR). As of 2024, £1 = €1.20, $1 USD = €0.89, $1 CAD = €0.66, $1 AUD = €0.61

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Sevilla

The table below shows the estimated cost of hiring a 20- or 40-foot container from a range of major cities, and shipping it to this stunning and historic Spanish city:

Origin City	20FT	40FT
Beijing	$2,450 - $2,550	$4,400 - $4,600
Berlin	$1,950 - $2,050	$3,600 - $3,800
Chicago	$2,250 - $2,350	$4,100 - $4,300
Chongqing	$2,650 - $2,750	$4,800 - $5,000
Delhi	$2,600 - $2,700	$4,700 - $4,900
Dubai	$2,750 - $2,850	$5,000 - $5,200
Houston	$2,350 - $2,450	$4,200 - $4,400
Los Angeles	$2,250 - $2,350	$4,100 - $4,300
Madrid	$1,800 - $1,900	$3,300 - $3,500
New York City	$2,150 - $2,250	$4,000 - $4,200
Paris	$1,900 - $2,000	$3,500 - $3,700
Phoenix	$2,300 - $2,400	$4,200 - $4,400
Rome	$1,900 - $2,000	$3,500 - $3,700
Shanghai	$2,550 - $2,650	$4,600 - $4,800
Sydney	$2,950 - $3,050	$5,200 - $5,400
Toronto	$2,300 - $2,400	$4,200 - $4,400
Vancouver	$2,350 - $2,450	$4,300 - $4,500
Vienna	$2,000 - $2,100	$3,600 - $3,800

All figures are in USD;
The rates above are estimates only and may have changed since the time this article was updated (September 2024). They are based on the lowest estimated rate from either Freightos, Flexport, or Maersk;
To get a more accurate idea of the cost for you, please use the quote form at the top of this page;
Please also see our guide to international container shipping.

2. Sevilla Housing Costs

Housing prices are very affordable compared with other major cities around the world and compared with other cities in Spain. There’s a large selection of different housing types, from small studios to villas. Prices obviously vary from area to area but the figures below will indicate what’s available at what price.

Monthly Rental Prices in Sevilla:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: €650+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: €465+
3 bedroomed flat in City Centre: €1,000+
3 bedroomed flat outside the City Centre: €760+

Sevilla Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: €3,200+
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: €1,800+

Sevilla Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in Sevilla compare with other cities around the globe.

London is 73.9% more expensive
New York is 82.2% more expensive
Los Angeles is 75.7% more expensive
Toronto is 63.1% more expensive
Vancouver is 65.6% more expensive
Sydney is 68% more expensive
Melbourne is 55.3% more expensive
Dubai is 62.9% more expensive
Paris is 59.1% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs:

Share a Flat or House: House and flat shares are very common in Sevilla, especially among students and young professionals. 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. There are many flats available for shared rental as well. Have a look at RoomLaLa, Spot a Home, Piso Compartido and Just Landed to find someone you can get on with to share the costs with you.
Different Areas – Different Prices: El Centro (the city centre) is one of the most expensive places to live. There’s a variety of apartments and rooms, from luxury penthouses to dingy shared spaces. The main drawbacks to living in the centre of the city, apart from the cost, is the lack of food shops and parking spaces. Santa Cruz is next to El Centro and is the old Jewish quarter, full of squares and orange trees. It is a charming historic neighbourhood which draws tourists. Accommodation is mainly apartments. El Arenal is a lively area on the banks of the river and has a selection of small apartments and houses. Triana, with its quaint homes and churches, is very popular with expats and locals alike. Rents in the northern part of Triana are very reasonable. Next to Triana is Los Remedios, which is considered to be one of the upmarket areas of Sevilla. The apartments are much larger here and suitable for families. Alameda and Mararena Sur are popular with students and locals – good areas for cheap rent and immersing yourself in Spanish culture. Nervión contains the business district and has a variety of accommodations including larger houses suitable for families.

3. Sevilla Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

Sevilla has some excellent restaurants where you can while away the afternoon or evening, soaking up the atmosphere.

Inexpensive Restaurant: €10.00 – €12.00
Takeout Coffee: €1.60 – €1.80
Bottle of Coke: €1.50 – €2.00
1L of Milk: €0.80 – €0.90
Loaf of Bread: €0.80 – €1.50
12 Eggs: €2.40 – €2.50
1kg Chicken: €7.10- €8.00
1kg Beef: €11.50 – €20.00
1kg Apples: €2.40 – €3.00
1kg White Rice: €1.10 – €1.50

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

New York restaurants are 56.6% more expensive and groceries are 55.1% more expensive than Sevilla.
Los Angeles restaurants are 52% more expensive and groceries are 41.5% more expensive than Sevilla.
London restaurants are 46.2% more expensive and groceries are 20% more expensive than Sevilla.
Paris restaurants are 38% more expensive and groceries are 40.6% more expensive than Sevilla.
Toronto restaurants are 41.6% more expensive and groceries are 33.4% more expensive than Sevilla.
Vancouver restaurants are 39.8% more expensive and groceries are 36.1% more expensive than Sevilla.
Sydney restaurants are 43.3% more expensive and groceries are 41.9% more expensive than Sevilla.
Melbourne restaurants are 41.6% more expensive and groceries are 43% more expensive than Sevilla.
Dubai restaurants are 39.1% more expensive and groceries are 8.3% more expensive than Sevilla.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

Know Your Supermarkets: El Corte Ingles is a supermarket chain similar to the UK’s Marks & Spencers. Carrefour and Dia also have several well-stocked, reasonably priced stores in Sevilla. Like all Spanish cities, Sevilla has some excellent markets One of the oldest is Mercado de la Calle Feria which specialises in fresh fish. The Mercado de Triana has everything you would expect to find in a fresh food market, plus upmarket additions such as a sushi and oyster bar, a microbrewery and a performing arts venue. Mercado de Puerta de la Carne is further away from the tourist routes and has an appetising array of every food imaginable.
Find Cheap Eats: If you search, you will find excellent food at good prices in the city. Have a look at the following sites to see which restaurants tantalise your taste buds – Trip Advisor, Yelp and Devour Seville.

4. Sevilla Alcohol Costs

Sevilla has bars, restaurants and clubs for everyone, no matter what sort of ambience you are looking for. 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: €2.50 – €2.70
Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: €2.50 – €3.00
Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €1.00 – €1.35
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: €1.50 – €1.70
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: €5.00 – €10.00

How To Drink For Less in Sevilla:

Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials over weekends and public holidays.
You can always find bars and clubs which have specials on. Have a look at the following sites to find where your favourite tipple is on special – Euro Cheapo, Trip Advisor (beer) and Trip Advisor.
Walk around the areas which house the tertiary institutions to find the best alcohol deals.

5. Sevilla Transportation Fares

Sevilla has a reliable and efficient public transport system consisting of buses and trams. There is also a good main train service to major cities in Spain.

Here are some example ticket costs.

Adult single for the bus – €1.40
Adult single for tram – €1.20
One day ticket for the bus – €5.00
Three-day ticket for the bus – €10.00
Monthly season ticket for the bus – €35.30

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

Buy a loadable Con Transbordo card for discounted fares – minimum cost €7
Buy a bike. Sevilla has an excellent system of dedicated cycle lanes.
Walk. Depending on where you live and work, walking is certainly an option.

6. Cost of Internet in Sevilla

Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:

Ono: €33.40 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

Summers in Sevilla are very hot, both day and night. Sevilla’s hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 28°C. The coldest month in winter is January, with an average temperature of 11°C. March brings the most rain, with an average of 90mm falling.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: €70 – €90
Summer Dress: €30 – €40
Running Shoes (Trainers): €65 – €70
Business Shoes: €90 – €100
Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): €55
Deodorant: €2.50
Shampoo: €3.50
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): €1.50
Gym Membership: €40 per month
Movie (cinema) Ticket: €8

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Sevilla

Everyone in Spain drives on the right. Driving in Sevilla can be very frustrating during peak periods, especially during the holiday season and parking is very hard to find.

If you’re moving to Sevilla from within Spain, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address with our new Sevilla 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 Sevilla:

Volkswagen Golf: €28,475+
1 litre (¼ gallon) of Gas (petrol): €1.71
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 Sevilla:

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Carpoolworld, Shareling and Carpling.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Uber is not available in Sevilla.

9. Taxes in Sevilla

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 must 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 Sevilla

If you do make the move to Sevilla, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023:

New York: €289
Los Angeles: €435
London: €25
Paris: €31
Toronto: €418
Vancouver: €527
Dubai: €214
Sydney: €847
Melbourne: €816
Cape Town: €653
Hong Kong: €504

Other Tips on Moving to Sevilla:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Sevilla but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to Sevilla 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 Sevilla.

Meetups: Sevilla has lots of free meetup groups you can find on Meetup.com. Join Business Networking, Sevilla Yoga, Silicon Drinkabout, Freediving Sevilla and many more.
Attend Local Events: There’s always something happening in Sevilla. Find out what’s going on from Andalucia Events, Explore Sevilla, Trip Advisor and Bands in Town.

12. Moving to Sevilla with a Family

Sevilla has a lot to offer families. History, culture, architecture, parks and a choice of good schools and universities. Here’s some extra food for thought.

New Parents (or parents to be): Mums 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: The areas around the city centre are not really suitable for family living, as the flats are very small. Los Remedios has much larger apartments and is considered one of the upmarket areas of Seville. There are lots of schools in the area, plus boutiques and trendy bars. Nervión is a large area which also includes the business district. It has housing which is perfect for families, from large unfurnished apartments to large houses. If you move just outside Seville, you will find villas with large gardens, which are great for families.
Find Things To Do With The Kids: Devour Sevilla, We3Travel, The Culture Trip and Ciao Bambino all have great ideas for activities and events your kids will love.

13. Moving to Sevilla for Work

Moving to Sevilla for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. Unemployment in Spain is high. During the first quarter of 2017, it rose to 18.75%. Obviously, you stand a much better chance of landing a job if you speak Spanish. 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.

The major employers in Sevilla are in the manufacturing, engineering, telecommunication and tourism industry. There are also opportunities in teaching, healthcare and retail.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary: The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
How to Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Sevilla, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Xpat Jobs, Think Spain and Go Abroad. 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 Sevilla from Australia

There’s a large group of Australians living in Sevilla. Here’s more food for thought:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Sevilla with the population of a city in Australia, you’d be looking at a city a little larger than the Gold Coast.
Join Expat Groups: Both InterNations and Expat.com offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Sevilla.

15. Moving to Sevilla from Canada

Quite a few Canadians are living in Sevilla. Here are a few extra points to consider:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Sevilla with the population of a city in Canada, you’d be looking at a city a little smaller than Hamilton.
Join Expat Groups: Both InterNations and Expat.com offer ways of meeting up with other Canadians in Sevilla.

16. Moving to Sevilla from the United States

There’s a small American contingent living and working in Sevilla. If you’re considering it, here are a few bonus tips:

Size Comparison: Sevilla’s population is roughly the same as Detroit.
Expat Groups: Meeting Americans who are already living and working in Sevilla 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 Sevilla from the United Kingdom

They are a lot of Brits living and working in Sevilla. If you’re considering it, here are a few bonus tips:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Sevilla with a city in the UK, you’d be looking at Leeds.
Expat Groups: Meeting Brits who are already living and working in Sevilla 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 Meetup.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Sevilla you can start by comparing moving quotes here.