Money · 2 July 2026 · 5 min read
What it costs to own: the annual bills.
The purchase costs get all the attention, and we have covered those in the calculator. But the question that decides whether ownership stays a pleasure is smaller and yearly: what does the place cost you every year you own it? Here is the honest list for a typical €350,000 two-bed apartment in a community with a pool.
The list
| Annual cost | Typical range |
|---|---|
| IBI (local property tax) | €400 – €900 |
| Community fees (pool, lifts, gardens) | €1,200 – €3,000 |
| Non-resident income tax (imputed) | €300 – €700 |
| Home insurance | €250 – €450 |
| Utilities and internet (part-time use) | €900 – €1,500 |
| Rubbish charge (basura) | €80 – €200 |
| Realistic total | €3,100 – €6,700 a year |
The two that surprise people
Community fees are the big variable and the one to check hardest before you buy: a modest block might charge €80 a month while a resort-style community with gardens, security and three pools can pass €250. The community's accounts and minutes tell you where fees are heading and whether a special levy is coming, and your lawyer gets both.
The non-resident tax surprises everyone: Spain taxes non-resident owners on a notional rental value even if the property is never let, calculated from the cadastral value. It is small money, a few hundred euro for most apartments, but it needs an annual filing (Modelo 210) that many owners hand to a gestor for a modest fee. Let the property for real and actual rental income gets taxed instead, with EU residents able to deduct expenses.
The planning rule
Budget 1 to 1.5% of the property's value per year for running costs, and you will rarely be caught out. If letting income is part of the plan, run the full sums in our holiday lets guide before assuming the apartment covers itself.