Note
Buying costs as a percentage of the price in Spain
Quick answer
Online guides quote a single percentage, but none comes from an official source, and the tax part alone varies by region and by type of home. Build your own figure from the regional rate plus written quotes for fees and a reserve.
Applies toBuyers who have seen a rule of thumb for costs and want to know how far to trust it. Specific rates by region are on the transfer tax pages.
On this page: 6 sections
§ 1Why a rule of thumb misleads
The costs of buying are the sum of several items, and each varies for a different reason. The tax varies by region and by type of home. The fees vary by professional and by the complexity of the purchase. The set-up costs vary by the condition of the home. A single percentage averages all of these into a number that fits no actual purchase, and a buyer who relies on it can be a long way out.
We do not print a percentage because no official source we checked gives one. What we can print are the verified parts, which you can combine for your own case. The wider picture is in buying costs.
§ 2The tax part, as a share of the price
For a resale, the tax is a percentage of the tax base, and the base is the higher of the official reference value and the price. The general rate is 6% in Madrid, 7% in Andalusia and 9% in the Valencian Community, and Catalonia uses a scale of 10% to 13%. The tax alone therefore ranges widely from region to region, before any reduction or fee.
For a new home the tax is VAT at 10%, plus stamp duty on the deed at the regional rate. Because the two taxes are different in kind, a comparison of a new build and a resale on percentages alone is not fair. Which taxes apply shows how they fit together.
§ 3The fee part
The notary, the registry, a lawyer and a gestor charge fees that depend on the work and on the professional. We have not verified a scale for them, so we do not give a figure. Ask each for a written quote that lists what is included. Quotes also reveal who is paying for what, which is worth settling before you reserve.
§ 4Building your own percentage
Add the tax, the quotes and a reserve, and divide the total by the price. The result is your percentage, and it will not match a rule of thumb. Seeing the parts separately lets you see what to negotiate, what to check and what is outside your control.
The costs that people forget are in the costs people miss, and examples of total costs show the method with illustrative prices.
§ 5One more caution
A percentage taken from the contract price can understate the tax if the reference value is higher. It can also overstate the cost if a reduced rate applies to you. For the deed tax, see stamp duty in Spain, which explains how the regional rate is used.
§ 6How to use the figures you find online
When you see a percentage quoted, ask four things of it: which region it covers, whether it is for a new home or a resale, which costs it includes and what date it carries. If those are not stated, set it aside. If they are, compare it with the verified rates in this section and see how much of the gap is explained by tax and how much by fees. The exercise teaches more than the number itself.
FAQRelated questions
Why do websites give different percentages?
They average different regions, types of home and fees, and some include costs others leave out. A figure with no stated assumptions cannot be checked, so treat it as a prompt to ask questions, not as a budget.
Is the percentage applied to the price I pay?
For taxes, the base can be higher than the price. On a resale it is the higher of the reference value and the price, so a percentage taken from the contract price may understate the real tax.
What should I use instead of a rule of thumb?
Use the regional rate for the tax, a written quote for each professional and a reserve you choose. The sum, set against the price, gives a percentage that is yours and can be explained.
Sources
- Junta de Andalucía: Modalidad Transmisiones Patrimoniales Onerosas (official source, opens in a new window), General rateLast checked 17 October 2026
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Ley 11/2021 de prevención y lucha contra el fraude fiscal (BOE-A-2021-11473) (official source, opens in a new window), Reference value as ITP tax baseLast checked 17 October 2026
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Decreto-ley 5/2025 de Cataluña (BOE-A-2025-10270) (official source, opens in a new window), Article 5, amending article 641-1 of the Código tributario de CataluñaLast checked 17 October 2026
- Comunidad de Madrid: Transmisiones Patrimoniales Onerosas (official source, opens in a new window), Rates, bonuses and valuation ruleLast checked 17 October 2026
- Ministerio de Hacienda: Tributación autonómica: medidas 2026, chapter I (updated 23 September 2026) (official source, opens in a new window), Table of general transfer tax rates by regionLast checked 18 October 2026
- Agencia Tributaria: Compro una vivienda: ¿tengo que pagar IVA o ITP? (official source, opens in a new window), Calificación IVA / ITPLast checked 17 October 2026
- Agència Tributària Valenciana: Transmisiones Patrimoniales y Actos Jurídicos Documentados (official source, opens in a new window), Modelo 600 rate tableLast checked 17 October 2026
Tax note. Rates depend on the region, the type of property and the buyer, and they change. Figures here are dated and sourced; examples are illustrative and show their assumptions. Confirm yours with the regional tax agency or a tax adviser.