How much money do I need per month to study in Alicante?

Between €575 (minimum budget, cooking at home and living in San Vicente del Raspeig) and €950 (comfortable budget, living in the centre and going out frequently). Most Erasmus students spend €700-800/month.

Is Alicante cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona to study?

Yes, significantly. An equivalent room costs 30-40% less than Madrid and 40-50% less than Barcelona. Food and transport are similar. With a Madrid budget you can live comfortably in Alicante.

How much does food cost per month in Alicante?

Between €150 and €220/month if you cook at home most days. Mixing cooking with eating out 2-3 times a week, €220-300. Eating out every day easily exceeds €350.

How much does public transport cost for students in Alicante?

The TAM/TRAM youth pass (under 31) costs ~€35/month and gives unlimited trips on urban buses and tram (TRAM L4 to the University of Alicante). Clearly the best option.

What expenses are usually forgotten when budgeting?

Bills (electricity, water, gas) if not included in rent — can add €30-50/month. Academic material (books, photocopies). Winter coat if not bringing one (Alicante is not warm in January). Sheets and initial flat kit. And the fund for flights home: €100-200/month set aside.

How much does university hall accommodation cost?

University halls in Alicante cost between €700 and €900/month with full board. Limited spots that fill up in May-June. Single room in shared flat is significantly cheaper (€290-480/month without board).

Cost of Living for Students in Alicante: Monthly Budget 2026

Before coming to study in Alicante the most repeated question is: **how much money per month do I need to live well?** Short answer: between €600 and €950/month depending on your lifestyle. The long answer, with detail and money-saving tips, is in this guide. We've split costs into three levels (minimum, medium, comfortable) based on what we see every year with the 3,000+ students who have stayed in our properties.

1. Total monthly budget: 3 scenarios

Minimum level (~€575-650/month): frugal students, cooking at home every day, living in San Vicente or cheap areas, going out once a week. Typical budget for a student on limited scholarship.

Medium level (~€700-800/month): most Erasmus students. You live in a decent room, go out 2 nights a week, eat out occasionally, travel locally some weekends.

Comfortable level (~€850-950/month): students with financial slack. You live in a central area or near the beach, go out almost every week, eat out frequently, travel more.

Important note: these numbers are excluding flights and trips home. If you come from outside Spain, add €100-200 extra per month for that fund.

2. Housing

Biggest item: typically 50-60% of the total.

Room in shared flat (what 80% are looking for):

University area (San Vicente del Raspeig): €290-380/month.
- Central Alicante: €350-480/month.
  - Near the beach: €380-550/month.
    Studio or full apartment: from €650/month in the centre.
    University halls: €700-900/month (usually full board included).
    Important: the advertised price is not what you pay. Add:
    - Electricity: €15-25/month.
      - Water: €5-12/month.
        Gas (if any): €8-15/month.
        Final cleaning deducted from deposit: €15-40 one-off.
        Internet: almost always included.
        Tip: contracts with bills included up to a cap ("flat rate up to €X" model) are convenient but slightly more expensive. If you share with energy-conscious flatmates, bills separate is cheaper.

3. Food

Cooking at home most days: €150-220/month.

Mixing cooking + eating out 2-3 times a week: €220-300/month.

Eating out almost every day: €350+/month.

Where to shop:

Mercadona and Consum: standard supermarkets, good value.
- Aldi and Lidl: cheapest for basics (eggs, dairy, bread, flour).
  - Municipal markets (Mercado Central de Alicante, Mercado de Babel): fruit, veg and fish significantly cheaper than supermarket, especially after 13:00 when vendors discount to clear stock.
    - Día and other discount chains: cheap basics but inconsistent quality.
      Eating out in Alicante (typical prices):
      - University canteen menu of the day: €5-6.
        Local bar menu of the day: €10-13.
        Pizza/burger dinner with drink: €12-16.
        Casual tapas: €15-20 per person.
        Mid-range restaurant dinner: €25-35 per person.
        Money-saving tricks:
        Too Good To Go: app selling restaurant/bakery leftovers for €2-4. Many options in Alicante.
        Bulk buying at markets, Sunday "batch cooking".

4. Transport

TAM/TRAM youth pass (under 31): ~€35/month. Includes:

Unlimited urban bus (TAM).
- Unlimited tram (TRAM, including line L4 to the university campus).
  Clearly the best option for any student.
  If you don't use public transport much (walking to campus): single trip ~€1.40. With less than 25 trips/month, the pass doesn't pay off.
  Bike:
  - Second-hand own bike: €50-150 one-off. Good option if staying the whole year.
    - Alabici (public bike share in central Alicante): €40/year, student discounts.
      Taxi/Uber: for occasional nights or emergencies. Average trip in Alicante: €8-12. Both Uber and Cabify operate.
      Renfe cercanías train (if you study at UMH Elche and live in Alicante): monthly pass ~€30, single trip €3-4.
      Flights home: Ryanair, Vueling and EasyJet fly from Alicante airport (ALC) to most of Europe. Booking early is key. Flights to Italy/France/UK from €25-60 one-way with flexibility. To Germany/Netherlands from €40-80.

6. Other expenses to consider

Academic material:

Books: ~€50-150/term if buying. Tip: the UA library has almost every textbook, and Telegram groups exchange notes and second-hand books.
- Printing and copy shop: ~€10-15/month.
  - Stationery: ~€10 initial.
    Communications:
    - Prepaid/contract mobile SIM: €8-15/month (Yoigo, Pepephone, Lowi are the cheapest).
      - Calls home: free via WhatsApp on WiFi.
        Health and pharmacy:
        With European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): basic care free.
        Without EHIC: Erasmus insurance ~€25-50/month.
        Pharmacy: paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc. €3-5.
        Hygiene and cleaning:
        Personal hygiene products: ~€15-25/month.
        Detergent and flat cleaning: ~€5-10/month.
        Things forgotten when budgeting:
        Sheets, towel, pillow if not included with flat: ~€40-60 one-off.
        Clothes: you'll need a coat for January (the "typical" Erasmus coat from Decathlon or Primark, €30-50).
        Beach clothes if arriving in September: swimwear, beach towel.
        European adapter and USB cable if forgotten: €10-20.

7. Monthly summary table

See the table below for the full picture. Ranges are for the 2026-2027 academic year in Alicante.

Category	Minimum	Medium	Comfortable
Housing + bills	€320-380	€400-470	€500-600
Food	€150-180	€220-260	€300-380
Transport	€35	€35-50	€50-80
Leisure & social	€40-60	€80-130	€180-250
Material & other	€20-30	€30-50	€50-80
Estimated total	€575-650	€700-800	€850-950

8. Alicante vs Madrid vs Barcelona (quick comparison)

For context, an equivalent room in a student city:

- Alicante: €290-480/month.

Valencia: €350-500/month.
- Madrid: €450-650/month.
  - Barcelona: €500-750/month.
    Food and transport are similar across Spain, with Madrid and Barcelona slightly more expensive. Alicante's big difference is housing (~30-40% cheaper than Madrid and ~40-50% cheaper than Barcelona) and climate (350 sunny days a year).
    Conclusion: with the same budget as Madrid you live in Alicante with room to enjoy. That's why many Erasmus repeat or stay for a master's.

9. Tricks to save €100-200/month

1. Live in San Vicente if you study at UA. Difference: ~€100/month. Plus you walk to campus every day.

2. TAM/TRAM youth pass from day one. Difference vs single tickets: €30-50/month.

3. Cook at home on weekdays. Difference vs eating out: €150-200/month.

4. Shop at municipal markets on Saturday afternoons. Difference vs supermarket: €20-30/month.

5. Join the UA gym if you study there. Difference vs private gym: €30-40/month.

6. Use the university library for books. Difference: €50-100/term.

7. Use Too Good To Go 2-3 times a week. Difference: €30-50/month.

8. Live with flatmates who share habits. Someone who showers 30 min daily and leaves lights on shoots the electricity bill to €40/month. Living with people with similar habits lowers the bill.

9. ESN events free or cheap. Difference vs expensive clubs: variable but significant.

10. Book flights home in advance. Difference vs last-minute: €50-150 per trip.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need per month to study in Alicante?: Between €575 (minimum budget, cooking at home and living in San Vicente del Raspeig) and €950 (comfortable budget, living in the centre and going out frequently). Most Erasmus students spend €700-800/month.
Is Alicante cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona to study?: Yes, significantly. An equivalent room costs 30-40% less than Madrid and 40-50% less than Barcelona. Food and transport are similar. With a Madrid budget you can live comfortably in Alicante.
How much does food cost per month in Alicante?: Between €150 and €220/month if you cook at home most days. Mixing cooking with eating out 2-3 times a week, €220-300. Eating out every day easily exceeds €350.
How much does public transport cost for students in Alicante?: The TAM/TRAM youth pass (under 31) costs ~€35/month and gives unlimited trips on urban buses and tram (TRAM L4 to the University of Alicante). Clearly the best option.
What expenses are usually forgotten when budgeting?: Bills (electricity, water, gas) if not included in rent — can add €30-50/month. Academic material (books, photocopies). Winter coat if not bringing one (Alicante is not warm in January). Sheets and initial flat kit. And the fund for flights home: €100-200/month set aside.
How much does university hall accommodation cost?: University halls in Alicante cost between €700 and €900/month with full board. Limited spots that fill up in May-June. Single room in shared flat is significantly cheaper (€290-480/month without board).

Keep reading

Guide

Erasmus accommodation in Alicante