Last week we looked at electricity costs in detail and how Spain's renewable revolution has changed things for property owners. You can read that article here. This week we are covering the rest. IBI, gas, water, community fees, internet, home insurance, security and pool and garden costs. Some of these have changed a lot since 2019 when we wrote the original article. Others have barely moved. Some have even gone down. Let's go through them.
IBI (Council Tax/Property Tax)
The IBI, Impuesto de Bienes Inmobiliarios, is the one cost that belongs to you as the property owner every year regardless of whether you live in it, rent it out or leave it empty. It is based on the catastral value of the property, which is the value that the land registry assigns to it, not the market value. Catastral values tend to be well below market values so do not be alarmed when you see the figure*.
A small apartment in the city with a protected facade might pay as little as 60 Euros per year. More typical for a standard apartment in Valencia is 250 to 500 Euros per year. (We signed for a property last week at 380,000 Euros and the annual council tax was 198 Euros!) Outside the city, houses on standard plots will be 400 to 800 Euros per year. Larger properties on bigger plots in places like Portacoeli in Serra or La Eliana can run to 1,000 to 2,000 Euros per year depending on plot size. These figures have crept up since 2019 but not dramatically and in some cases they have actually gone down usually because the rubbish and recycling costs have been decoupled from the IBI bill.
Being aware of that is important now that most councils charge rubbish collection and recycling separately from the IBI. In the original article we mentioned that some towns still bundled it all together. That is less common now. Expect an additional bill of 50 to 150 Euros per year for waste management and recycling depending on where you are. It is not a lot but it catches people out when they were only expecting one bill and two arrive.
*One thing worth knowing about is the empty property surcharge. Under the 2023 Housing Law, councils can now apply surcharges of up to 50% on the IBI for properties left empty for more than two years without good reason, rising to 100% after three years and up to 150% in some cases. Valencia city has already started applying a 30% surcharge. But... before you panic, this only applies to owners who hold four or more residential properties (Grandes tenedores). If you are buying a single property as a holiday home or investment it does not affect you. It is aimed at investment funds and large holders who stockpile empty flats without renting them out and declaring rental income. That said, it is worth being aware that the direction of travel in Spanish housing policy is to penalise empty properties, so if you are buying to leave empty long term rather than to live in or rent out, keep an eye on how this evolves.
And as we mentioned in last week's article, if you install solar panels many towns give you a 50% reduction on your IBI for five years. That alone can save you 500 to 2,500 Euros over the five years before you even count the savings on your electricity bill.
Gas and Heating
This is where the contrast with last week's electricity article is the most acute. Unlike electricity, gas in Spain has no renewable shield. Gas prices are directly exposed to global markets and right now those markets are in chaos because of the Iran war, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the fact, as mentioned innumerable times before, that there is a clown in the White House.
Many apartments in the city use gas for cooking, water heating and sometimes even central heating. If you are on mains gas, a typical bill for cooking and water heating is 30 to 50 Euros per month. If you add in central heating during the winter months that can rise to 60 to 120 Euros per month in the colder months from November to February depending on the size of your property. In the case of houses many use heating oil systems and of course this is affected by the rise in oil costs but it is becoming less and less common as houses move to rooftop solar and aerotermia water boilers.
Many houses outside the city that are not connected to mains gas and don't use heating oil use the famous orange butano bottles. The standard 12.5 kg regulated bombona de butano currently costs 16.35 Euros as of 17 March 2026 after a 4.9% increase driven by rising freight costs and the conflict in the Gulf. Back in 2019 when we wrote the original article a bottle was around 14 Euros. That same bottle hit a record of 19.55 Euros during 2022 at the height of the Ukraine War energy crisis and with the way things are going in the Middle East the price is expected to head towards 18 Euros or more by the summer. If you use gas only for cooking or your weekend paella a bottle will last you several weeks or even months. If you use it for water heating too you will get through one roughly every two to three weeks. The larger propane bottles used in some central heating systems cost considerably more but of course last longer. The larger propane bottles that are typically used in heating systems are 35kg and they are not price regulated. They currently cost between 70 and 83 Euros each depending on the supplier. Houses with propane heating typically have two to four of these connected in a battery system and some up to eight. In a cold winter you can get through them quickly. At those prices it is not difficult to see why more and more people are switching to electric heat pumps powered by solar.
Let's go back to what we talked about last week. The direction of travel for heating and cooling is electric. Electrification is everywhere and will be everything. You can see our article about electrifying your life here (Written two years ago because we saw that direction of travel).
Heat pumps, which work as both air conditioning in summer and heating in winter, run on electricity of course. If your electricity is coming from solar panels on your roof with battery storage, or from a 100% renewable supplier like Naturgy or Octopus at cheaper rates than the legacy providers, then your heating costs are increasingly decoupled from global gas and oil prices. More and more renovations and new builds are going all electric for exactly this reason. It is worth thinking about when you buy.
As with electricity, it is worth comparing gas suppliers too. The main players are Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy and Total Energies. Many offer discounts of 5 to 10% if you bundle electricity and gas together. Our bill optimisation service covers gas as well as electricity (And everything else) so if you want us to check whether you are on the best deal, get in touch.
Water
Water in Valencia is still surprisingly cheap for a country that spends half the year complaining about drought and where clouds are rarely seen for weeks on end at times. A typical apartment bill runs to 25 to 40 Euros per month including taxes for drainage and waste water treatment. For a house the bill depends on whether you have a garden and pool but expect 40 to 70 Euros per month for a standard property with some outdoor space. On the islands that water costs goes very high, so if you are on Mallorca and have a pool make sure to keep that pool water clean otherwise refilling costs a small fortune.
Most houses in the campo (As opposed to flats) have two types of water supply. The drinkable water supply from the mains* (agua potable) and the agricultural water supply (agua de riego) for the garden and usually the pool. Agricultural water is cheap. You can fill a pool for 20 to 50 Euros depending on the size and the provider. The agricultural water also keeps the garden alive through the summer without running up your mains water bill.
(*Drinkable yes. Nice? not so much in Valencia. Many people get a water softener and reverse osmosis system to make it more palatable or simply buy bottled water)
**One thing to keep an eye on is water restrictions. Valencia has had a wet winter this year (a very wet winter with dams at almost 100% capacity in many cases) but drought periods do happen and when they do the council can restrict water use for gardens and pools. It does not happen often enough to be a major concern and I can't see it happening this year but it is worth bearing in mind.
Community Fees
If you live in an apartment you pay a monthly community fee to fund the upkeep of the building equivalent to an HOA or property management contract elsewhere but it's much much cheaper. This payment covers cleaning of common areas, lighting, maintenance of the lift if there is one, building insurance, and any ongoing repairs or improvements. It is usually paid quarterly by direct debit.
An apartment with a lift will typically have community fees of 30 to 80 Euros per month. Without a lift you are looking at 10 to 30 Euros per month. These figures have gone up a bit since 2019, mainly because of inflation on maintenance contracts, cleaning costs and building insurance premiums but the communities are run for the benefit of the residents by the residents as opposed to property management companies so price rises are generally constrained. A building with a concierge or porter will be more expensive but there aren't too many of those around.
Houses do not usually have community fees unless they are on an estate with shared facilities. On estates like Portacoeli in Serra the community fee covers the shared facilities, the 24 hour security and the water rates and can be 100 to 200 Euros per month or more for houses on double plots or larger. Townhouse complexes with a shared pool and garden will be somewhere in between.
One thing to check before you buy any apartment is whether there is a derrama planned. A derrama is a special levy for major works like replacing the lift (Or even installing a new one), waterproofing the roof or renovating the facade. These can run into several thousand Euros and are divided among the owners. Your lawyer should check the community minutes before purchase to see if any big works are coming up. Ask us and we will make sure the lawyer does this if there is any doubt.
Internet and Mobile
This section needed the biggest rewrite along with electricity but not a whole article. In 2019 we were talking about 500 Mbps as a top speed, Wimax on rural estates and 5 to 10 GB of mobile data in a package. That world is gone.
Fibre is everywhere now. In the city, in the towns, in the villages. Even most of the urbanisations and estates that had Wimax or 4G in 2019 now have fibre. Standard speeds are 600 Mbps to 1 Gbps both ways. 5G coverage is widespread in the Valencia region.
The prices have actually come down since 2019, which is unusual for anything anywhere really. A fibre and mobile package from O2 starts at 30 Euros per month for 300 Mbps fibre with a mobile line with 25 GB and unlimited calls. Their 600 Mbps package with 35 GB of mobile data and unlimited calls is 35 Euros per month. Step up to 1 Gbps with 120 GB of mobile data and you are paying 38 Euros per month. All of those are without any lock in contract, you can leave whenever you want.
If you want TV included, O2 offer packages with Movistar Plus+ from 38 Euros per month with 600 Mbps and 35 GB. Add Netflix to that and it is 45 Euros per month. Orange offer similar packages with fibre and TV from 35 Euros per month on a 12 month promotional price. Movistar themselves start their fibre packages at around 20 Euros per month for 300 Mbps going up depending on what you add.
For most people moving here the O2 or Digi packages might be the sweet spot. They use the Movistar network, which is the biggest in Spain, but at lower prices and with no lock in. Mobile data has exploded since 2019. Where you used to get 5 to 10 GB in a package you now get 35 to 375 GB depending on what you pay or even unlimited data (My contract for all of our phones in the family is with unlimited data to feed our various addictions). For remote workers this matters of course as it allows you to work from anywhere with fast connections. Of course there are black spots where your coverage is limited, last week I was at the top of a mountain in Asturias and had no coverage but generally it's great.
If you are buying a second property, perhaps a holiday home or a place you use at weekends, there is no need to pay full price for a separate internet connection. Most of the main providers now offer second home fibre connections at heavily reduced prices if you already have a main line with them. As an example Digi offer 300 Mbps for just 10 Euros per month and 1 Gbps for 20 Euros, with only three months commitment and the option to suspend the service from their app for up to three months a year when you are not using the property. Yoigo, MasMovil, Vodafone, Movistar, Orange and Pepephone have their own versions at a slightly higher or lower prices and speeds. For those of you with a property in other parts of Spain, regional operators have similar deals in place. The point is you do not need to pay 35 to 40 Euros per month to keep the internet on in a house you only use part of the year.
However, if you find yourself in one of the rare spots without fibre (That is unlikely to be Valencia by the way) Starlink is now available in Spain as a backup option, though at a much higher price and you wouldn't want to use something from and give money to an absolute charlatan fascist and a***hole like Musk would you?
Home Insurance
This was not in the original 2019 article and it should have been so let's correct that right now. Home insurance, seguro del hogar, is not legally required in Spain unless you have a mortgage, in which case the bank will insist on it. But you should have it regardless, you don't want a flood from a burst pipe and the costly consequences affecting your downstairs neighbour or even some plasterwork falling from your house onto a passer by without insurance.
A standard building and contents policy for an apartment in Valencia will cost 150 to 300 Euros per year. For a house it will be 250 to 1000 Euros per year depending on size, location and what you want covered.
Be careful here though. If you have been with the same insurer for years the chances are you are paying too much. We went through this ourselves. We were with Generali paying 811 Euros per year for our house, a policy that had crept up from 389 Euros over the previous decade. We switched to Linea Directa recently for about 310 Euros per year with actually better coverage. That is a saving of 500 Euros a year for about an hour's work comparing quotes.
If you have solar panels and battery storage, make sure your policy covers them. Not all policies do and some that claim to cover solar specifically exclude inverters and batteries. Check the small print or get us to check it for you.
Insurance is one of the services we cover in our bill optimisation service. It is often the single biggest saving we find for people because nobody ever gets round to comparing their insurance. They just let it renew every year and the price creeps up and up without them really noticing. It certainly did for me.
Security
Spain is a safe country and Valencia is a safe city. Our Cost of Living in Valencia 2026 article showed Valencia scoring very low on the crime index compared with London, New York and Paris. It's not just a statistic though, you do actually feel safe here.
That said, if you want an alarm system for peace of mind the prices have not changed much over the last seven years. Securitas Direct remains the main player and you can contract a monitored alarm system from 30 to 50 Euros per month. They install the system, monitor it remotely and notify the police if anything triggers. Smart home systems have also become more common since 2019 with app based monitoring, cameras and sensors available from a range of providers at lower price points.
For houses on estates or in more rural areas a basic alarm is a pretty sensible investment, especially if the property is empty for longer periods. For city apartments the main security issue is making sure you have a good front door and you do not leave valuables visible from the street (It's difficult to do that in an apartment of course unless you hang jewellery off the balcony for some reason). Burglary is rare in Spain because community and black out blinds play a big part in the security process but there was an attempt to rob one of our client's places recently defeated by a half decent door (Not even a good security door). It can happen, it rarely does. We got a locksmith round for them, changed the lock and improved the system they had just in case. It was all done in a day with them seeing what we were doing remotely, from New York in this case. Basic security is common sense stuff.
Pool and Garden
If you have a house with a pool and garden you need to budget for upkeep. The numbers have gone up somewhat since 2019 because of inflation on materials and labour but they are still not excessive.
A gardener and pool maintenance service for a typical house will cost 120 to 300 Euros per month depending on the size of the garden and pool and how often they come. If you do the pool yourself, chemicals for a standard 8x4 metre chlorine pool will run to 30 to 40 Euros per month in the summer. The filter pump runs a few hours a day and adds to the electricity bill but as we covered last week, if you have solar panels that cost is minimal.
Saltwater pool systems are becoming more popular (but they remain less common) as they require fewer chemicals and less maintenance. The upfront cost of converting is higher but the ongoing costs are lower and the water is kinder to your skin and eyes.
If you do not want the hassle and cost of a private pool, many developments and estates have shared pools where the cost is split among all the owners and comes out of the community fee. You can get access to a well maintained shared pool and garden for 30 to 60 Euros per month as part of your community costs.
And one more thing to borrow from last week's article. If you have solar panels, your pool pump, your garden irrigation system and your exterior lighting can all run off solar generated electricity. Every kWh your panels produce that goes into running the garden means your electricity bill stays reasonable.
What Does That All Mean?
What does it actually cost to run a Valencia property per month? Let us put some rough numbers together for two typical scenarios.
A Two Bedroom Apartment
Let's look at the cost monthly. A two bedroom apartment in Valencia city with a lift, no pool and no garden. IBI works out at about 30 Euros per month. Electricity 60 to 90 Euros. Gas 30 to 40 Euros. Water 25 to 35 Euros. Community fees 40 to 60 Euros. Internet and mobile 35 to 45 Euros. Home insurance about 20 Euros per month. Total: roughly 240 to 320 Euros per month depending on the time of year and your usage. So a carrying cost each year of around 3000-4000 Euros.
A Three Bedroomed House With Pool
A three bedroom house in the commuter belt with a pool and garden but no solar. IBI is about 50 Euros per month. Electricity 80 to 120 Euros. Gas 35 to 60 Euros. Water 40 to 60 Euros. Internet and mobile 35 to 45 Euros. Home insurance about 30 Euros per month. Pool and garden 150 to 200 Euros. Security 35 Euros. Total: roughly 455 to 600 Euros per month.
That same house with solar panels and battery storage? Electricity drops to 20 to 50 Euros per month. IBI drops by 50% for five years. The pool pump runs on solar. Suddenly you are looking at 350 to 480 Euros per month and the gap only widens as gas and electricity prices rise for everyone else. So your carrying cost annually could be as little as 4200 Euros and go up to around 7200 per year.
For comparison, according to our Cost of Living in Valencia 2026 article, Valencia's cost of living index is roughly half that of New York and dramatically lower than London, Paris, Los Angeles or Toronto. The running costs of your property are a big part of the why.
Saving Money on Your Bills
If you have read this far and have previously read last week's article you will have noticed a theme. There is money to be saved on almost every one of these bills and most people never get round to doing it. The bills are in Spanish, the tariff structures can be confusing, life is busy and as a result many people just can't be bothered.
That is why we now offer our bill optimisation service for our clients. We look at your electricity, gas, internet and insurance bills, compare the market, find the best deals for your situation and handle any switches for you. Most of our clients will save several hundred Euros a year and some could save quite a lot more. You can read about how the service works and what it costs in our Valencia Property Services 2026-27 article. Or just get in touch and we will take it from there.
How Do Those Figures Look?
When you are looking to come over to live in Valencia and Spain you need real world examples so you know what to expect regarding your annual costs. This article and our others about day to day costs, the cost of living in Valencia and more, linked below, give you that real world understanding. The figures quoted above will be reviewed over time to keep them up to date but that's the panorama we are currently looking at. How does that compare with your current housing and living costs where you are? Let us know by contacting us. Just send us a mail and tell us when you will be joining us here in Valencia and as usual feel free to fill in the form below and get started on your journey to living in Valencia. It's worth it in so many ways and not all of them can be counted in cash terms.
Stepping Stone Rental of the Week
Bright 1-Bedroom + 1 office/spare bedroom Apartment Near Ruzafa. Ideal dream home for remote workers & professionals. No kids, No pets. Silence (As far as Valencia does silence). Close to the City Center.
Looking for a smooth landing in the city? This bright, practical, and modern 1-bedroom apartment is just a short walk south from Ruzafa, one of Valencia's most vibrant neighborhoods. Set on the third floor of a quiet residential building (no elevator), it's a quiet and fully furnished space that makes settling in effortless.
Inside, you'll find a sunlit living area with a private balcony, a double bedroom with built-in storage, and a separate room that works well as a home office or guest room. This apartment's new renovation combines a touch of sleek modern with convenience and functionality and amenities such as, Fast Wi-Fi and air conditioning in both the living room and bedroom ensure comfort year-round.
Step outside and you're close to local cafes, supermarkets, and public transport, with the rest of the city just a bike ride or bus ride away. Whether you're staying for a few months or just in transition, this place is set up to support easy day-to-day living.
Available for mid-term stay of 3-months.
Property of the Week
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Spring is upon us and after the buzz of everything the Fallas Festival brings we welcome the return to normality with lighter, warmer and tranquil nights.
A popular request is for a quiet zone but well connected so here in one of our favourite neighbourhoods we bring this great Condo on a serene street, ideally located for Valencia city life and the Turia Gardens, but away from the crowds and the tourist trail.
This large apartment with contemporary design provides everything you need in a city apartment, space, light and a functional layout for a busy family.
The Reception Hall leads us to the generous Living Room and sunny glazed Terrace perfect for Office space, a large independent Kitchen with Dining area, Utility room and Laundry, Four Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms, Garage Space and Storage Unit.
A great apartment in a fantastic neighbourhood, come and take a look.
Related Stuff...
Make sure to click the images below for our related posts all about the costs of living in Valencia and more.
Over On Our Substack
Over On Our Socials
Ten Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms, generous living areas and nooks and spaces on a tasty wedge of M2 with interior patio for soirees and shade set on a corner in the centre of the village. We are very Fondue of this place. buff.ly/0iBqfEw
— Graham Hunt (@grahunt.bsky.social) March 27, 2026 at 10:26 AM
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