Tarragona vs Alicante on €80,000: take-home pay, rent and cost of living in 2026
On a gross salary of €80,000 a year, a single employee takes home €4,375 a month in Tarragona (66% of gross) and €4,373 a month in Alicante (66%), after income tax and social security contributions.
Alicante is 1% cheaper than Tarragona overall (cost-of-living index 36.6 vs 36.9, New York = 100). A one-bedroom flat in the city centre rents for about €892 a month in Alicante and €809 in Tarragona, which leaves €3,481 and €3,565 of take-home pay after rent. Keeping the same standard of living and saving 15% of your pay would cost about €3,688 a month in Alicante — this salary leaves €685 a month on top.
By category, groceries cost 0% more in Alicante than in Tarragona, eating out 7% more and rent 23% more.
Of the gross salary, income tax takes €23,489 a year in Tarragona and €23,506 in Alicante; social contributions and other levies take €4,017 and €4,017.
Moving from abroad? Under the Beckham law, take-home pay in Alicante would be €4,732 a month — see who qualifies.
| Tarragona | Alicante | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary per year | €80,000 | €80,000 |
| Income tax per year | €23,489 | €23,506 |
| Social contributions per year | €4,017 | €4,017 |
| Take-home pay per month | €4,375 | €4,373 |
| One-bedroom rent, city centre | €809 | €892 |
| Left after rent | €3,565 | €3,481 |
| Cost-of-living index (New York = 100) | 36.9 | 36.6 |
How each figure is taxed: Spain tax calculator and Spain tax calculator. Single employee without children; rent and price data from Numbeo, refreshed monthly.
Questions about Tarragona vs Alicante
Is Alicante, Spain more expensive than Tarragona, Spain?
Alicante, Spain is 1% cheaper than Tarragona, Spain overall. On a gross salary of €80,000 a year, you take home €4,375 a month in Tarragona, Spain and €4,373 a month in Alicante, Spain after income tax and social contributions.
How much can I save living in Alicante, Spain vs Tarragona, Spain?
Keeping the same standard of living as in Tarragona, Spain, you could save about €685 a month (€8,220 a year) in Alicante, Spain on this salary, after rent and living costs.
What taxes will I pay in Spain vs Spain?
On €80,000 gross a year you take home €4,375 a month in Spain and €4,373 a month in Spain. The calculation applies each country's 2026 income tax and social security rules for a single employee.