What it really costs to own an apartment in Spain — annual costs explained

Foreign buyers tend to budget the purchase price meticulously and the annual running costs not at all. This guide is the second number — what owning a Costa del Sol apartment actually costs you, year after year, regardless of whether you live in it or not.

The figures below are typical ranges, not promises. Your specific apartment will have a specific number; we always include realistic annual cost detail on individual listings, and your lawyer will confirm the precise figures during due diligence.

The six recurring items

Annual ownership cost is dominated by six things:

IBI — the council tax (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles)
Comunidad — the homeowners' association fee
Basura — rubbish collection (municipal)
Building insurance — content and basic structural cover
Utilities — water, electricity, gas, internet (even when you're not there, standing charges apply)
Non-resident income tax (Modelo 210) — applies to non-resident owners whether the apartment is rented or not

1. IBI — Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles

The Spanish council tax. Set by the municipality, charged once a year (typically autumn). The base is the property's cadastral value (valor catastral) — generally well below market value. The IBI rate ranges by municipality, typically 0.4% to 1.1% of cadastral value per year.

Practical impact: for a Costa del Sol apartment with a cadastral value of €120,000, IBI is typically €500–€1,300 per year. The cadastral value is on the IBI receipt — your lawyer obtains the current receipt during due diligence.

2. Comunidad de propietarios

The single most variable cost item. Every apartment building in Spain has a homeowners' association (comunidad de propietarios) which pays for lift maintenance, pool plant, communal cleaning, gardener, building insurance for common areas, administrator fees, and sometimes 24h security or concierge.

Typical ranges across our covered towns:

Building profile	Typical monthly comunidad
Small block, no pool, no lift	€40–€80
Mid-size urbanización, pool, lift, gardener	€120–€250
Larger urbanización, pool, lift, garden, 24h security	€250–€500
Luxury urbanización (Puerto Banús, Sierra Blanca), spa, concierge	€500–€900+

Annual comunidad on a typical mid-range Costa del Sol apartment runs €1,500–€3,500 per year; on a luxury Marbella building it can exceed €8,000. Always read the previous two AGM minutes before buying — and ask whether any derrama (special levy) has been voted in the last 24 months that you'd be inheriting.

3. Basura — rubbish collection

Annual municipal rubbish charge. Small but real. Typical Costa del Sol annual basura runs €120–€280 per year depending on municipality and property size.

4. Building insurance

The comunidad fee typically covers structural insurance for the building shell. You still need contents insurance for the apartment interior, and many owners add public liability and home-emergency cover. Annual premiums typically €250–€600 for a Costa del Sol apartment, depending on insured value.

5. Utilities (even when you're not there)

Standing charges apply year-round. Expect:

Utility	Annual minimum (apartment empty most of year)
Electricity (standing + meter)	€300–€500
Water	€150–€350
Gas (if connected)	€100–€200
Internet / TV (kept on year-round)	€360–€600

If you spend 3+ months a year in the apartment, expect this to roughly double.

6. Non-resident income tax (Modelo 210)

This is the line foreign buyers miss most often. Spain levies tax on non-resident apartment owners every year, whether the apartment is rented or not.

Two scenarios:

If the apartment is for personal use only (no rental income): Spain applies an "imputed income" — a deemed rental income of 1.1% of cadastral value (or 2% for older cadastral values). That imputed income is taxed at 19% for residents of EU/EEA countries and 24% for non-EU/EEA residents. Modelo 210 is filed annually.

Worked example: cadastral value €120,000, EU-resident owner. Imputed income = €1,320. Tax = €1,320 × 19% = €250.80 per year.

If the apartment is rented out: tax is on actual net rental income (after allowable deductions — interest, depreciation, comunidad share, repairs). 19% for EU/EEA residents, 24% for non-EU. Filed annually (since the 2024 tax year; previously quarterly).

Post-Brexit note for British owners: the UK is no longer part of the EU, which means British owners are now taxed at 24% (not 19%) and cannot deduct expenses against rental income on Modelo 210. This is a real change since 2021 that some older guides still get wrong.

Also worth knowing: Modelo 720

Modelo 720 applies to Spanish tax residents only, not non-resident apartment owners. It is the declaration of assets held outside Spain above €50,000. If you become a Spanish tax resident (you live in Spain 183+ days a year, or your centre of economic interest is in Spain), you'll need to file Modelo 720 — but for non-resident apartment owners, this is not your form.

(Note: Modelo 720 had a punitive penalty regime that the European Court of Justice ruled disproportionate in 2022. Spain has since reformed the penalties, but the declaration obligation itself still applies for tax residents.)

Putting it together — a worked example

Mid-range Costa del Sol apartment, cadastral value €120,000, mid-size urbanización with pool + lift, EU-resident foreign owner, used 6 weeks a year as a holiday home (no rental):

Item	Annual cost
IBI (council tax)	€700
Comunidad (~€180/month)	€2,160
Basura	€180
Building/contents insurance	€420
Utilities (standing charges + 6 weeks of use)	€1,400
Modelo 210 (non-resident income tax)	€250
Total	€5,110

For a Sierra Blanca or Puerto Banús apartment with full-service comunidad, swap the €180/month for €450–€600/month and recalculate — the annual total ends up closer to €10,000–€14,000.

What can change the number meaningfully

Derramas (special levies voted by the comunidad) — a one-off €5,000–€30,000 hit is not uncommon for major works (roof, lift replacement, terrace waterproofing). Ask before buying.
Pool surcharges in older buildings — some buildings split pool costs from comunidad. Confirm what's in the headline fee.
Renting out short-term changes the tax picture substantially and triggers the need for a VUT licence (Vivienda con Fines Turísticos) in Andalucía. That's a separate process — feel free to ask.
Becoming a Spanish tax resident changes Modelo 210 to a different tax framework. If you're spending more than 183 days a year here, talk to an asesor fiscal.

What it really costs to own an apartment in Spain.

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