The all-in cost in one number
As a rule of thumb, a non-resident buying in Spain should budget 10–13% of the purchase price on top for taxes and fees. So a €400,000 resale flat in Madrid costs roughly €440,000 all-in before you buy a stick of furniture. The single biggest line is the transfer tax; the rest is notary, registry, legal and the foreigner-specific paperwork.
The full cost breakdown (2026)
| Cost | Resale | New-build |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax | ITP ~6–11% (by region) | 10% VAT (IVA) |
| Stamp duty (AJD) | — | 0.5–1.5% |
| Notary | 0.2–0.6% (≈ €600–1,800 on €300k) | |
| Land registry | 0.1–0.4% (≈ €300–1,200) | |
| Legal / lawyer | ~1–1.5% (min ≈ €1,500) | |
| Translation / POA | €300–1,200 (foreign buyers) | |
Transfer tax — the biggest line, and it's regional
On a resale home you pay ITP (Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales), set by the autonomous community — roughly 6% in Madrid, up to 10–11% in Catalonia and Valencia, around 7% in Andalucía. On a new-build bought from a developer you instead pay 10% VAT (IVA) plus AJD stamp duty of 0.5–1.5%. You never pay both ITP and VAT — it's one or the other depending on whether the home is new.
Run your specific region with our ITP calculator.
The fees foreign buyers face that locals don't
There is no extra purchase tax for foreigners — you pay the same ITP or VAT as a Spaniard. But you will carry costs a local typically doesn't:
- Translation & interpreting at the notary: €300–1,200.
- Power of attorney if you can't attend completion in person.
- NIE — the foreigner ID number you must have to sign (see our guide to the buying process).
- Gestor / tax adviser for the annual non-resident filing: €150–500/year.
The annual cost nobody quotes you
Even if the flat sits empty, a non-resident owes tax every year:
- Modelo 210 (imputed income): Spain taxes a deemed income of ~1.1% of the cadastral value at 19% — payable whether or not you rent it out.
- IBI: municipal property tax, 0.4–1.1% of cadastral value.
- Community fees: €50–300+/month depending on building amenities.
- Waste tax (basura): €100–300/year.
If you'll let the property, factor the harsh non-resident rental regime too — see our non-resident property tax comparison.
Worked example — €400,000 resale in Madrid
€400,000 purchase + ~€24,000 ITP (6%) + ~€16,000 notary, registry, legal and paperwork ≈ €440,000 all-in. With a non-resident mortgage capped at 70% LTV, you'd need roughly 40% of the price in cash up front (30% deposit + ~10% costs).
Want this calculated for your exact property and region — purchase cost, holding cost and after-tax yield? Run the address through Outpost, or see a sample dossier first.
Sources: idealista (Spain property buying costs 2026); Spanish notary/registry fee schedules; Agencia Tributaria Modelo 210 guidance. Reviewed June 2026. Regional ITP rates change by budget year — confirm with a local adviser.