Cost comparison · ES vs GB
Cost of buying property: Spain vs the United Kingdom
Buying costs differ sharply between Spain and the United Kingdom. Below, the one-off purchase costs and the annual costs of ownership for each — pivoted from the same researched basis as our calculators, side by side, so you can compare like for like.
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All-in one-off cost — side by side
Spain
≈ 10–14% of price (resale, all-in one-off)
All-in one-off cost — side by side
the United Kingdom
SDLT can reach ~19% for a non-resident second home; fees add ~£2–5k
Spain
All-in estimate
≈ 10–14% of price (resale, all-in one-off)
One-off costs — Spain
Regional: ~6% Madrid, 7% Andalucía, 8% Murcia, 10–11% Catalonia & Valencia. The single biggest cost.
New-builds from a developer pay 10% IVA plus ~1–1.5% AJD instead of ITP.
Set by official scale; the notary executes the escritura.
Registering the deed at the Registro de la Propiedad.
Independent lawyer (abogado) — strongly recommended for foreign buyers.
Annual costs — Spain
Annual, on the cadastral value (not market price).
On imputed income (1.1–2% of cadastral value) even if you never rent it. 19% for EU owners, 24% non-EU.
Building/community charges and municipal waste tax.
the United Kingdom
All-in estimate
SDLT can reach ~19% for a non-resident second home; fees add ~£2–5k
One-off costs — the United Kingdom
Progressive by band on the purchase price (England & NI; Scotland/Wales differ).
If you spent fewer than 183 days in the UK in the relevant 12 months — most foreign buyers.
Since 31 Oct 2024, if you already own any property anywhere in the world.
Plus VAT; handles contracts and completion.
Local authority searches and registration of title.
Annual costs — the United Kingdom
Annual, banded by property value and local authority.
Most London flats are leasehold; service charges can run to thousands/year.
Avoid corporate ownership of homes — the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings is punitive.
Costs are only half the decision. Get fair-price analysis, legal flags and rental ROI for a specific address.
Run the full dossier on a property →Frequently asked
Is it cheaper to buy property in Spain or the United Kingdom?
Typical all-in one-off costs are ≈ 10–14% of price (resale, all-in one-off) in Spain and SDLT can reach ~19% for a non-resident second home; fees add ~£2–5k in the United Kingdom. Compare the full breakdowns above and use each country's calculator for a price-specific figure before deciding.
How much are buying costs in Spain on top of the price?
For a resale, budget roughly 10–14% of the purchase price all-in: regional ITP transfer tax (6–11%) is the bulk, plus notary, registry and legal fees of about 2–3% combined. New-builds pay 10% IVA plus ~1–1.5% AJD instead of ITP.
How much stamp duty does a foreigner pay in the UK?
On top of the standard SDLT bands, a non-UK-resident buying an additional property pays both the 2% non-resident surcharge and the 5% additional-dwelling surcharge — about 7 percentage points extra across all bands. If it is your only home worldwide and you'll live in it, only the 2% non-resident surcharge applies.