Cost of living in Cartagena: rent, salaries & real expenses (2026)
The cost of living in Cartagena is around €1301/month, with rent at €531 (INE 2023) — 18% below the Spanish average. Rent trend: +2.1% per year. Here's the full breakdown.
Avg. rent
531€
/ month · INE
Total cost
1301€
/ month est.
Salary needed
30k€
gross / year
Rent trend
+2.1%
annual change
Estimated monthly budget
Food, transport and utility expenses based on INE/Eurostat national averages. Adjust to your lifestyle.
Rent in Cartagena
Est. rent
531€
/ month
vs Spain
-18%
media 648€
Ranking
#591
of 748
Trend
+2.1%
annual change
Rent in Cartagena is 18% cheaper than the national average and 0% more expensive than the Región de Murcia average (€530/month). The annual trend is +2.1%.
What salary do you need to live in Cartagena?
Recommended salary
30,000€
gross / year
Rule applied
30%
max rent/net
Avg CCAA salary
26,349€
gross / year · INE
To avoid spending more than 30% of your net salary on rent in Cartagena (€531/month), you need to earn at least €30,000 gross/year. The average gross salary in Región de Murcia is €26,349/year according to INE.
Buying in Cartagena: what does a mortgage cost?
Est. price
105,000€
PER ~200 months
Monthly payment
421€
25yr · 3.5% · 80%
Down pmt + costs
31,500€
20% + 10%
Estimate based on a sale price of €105,000 (typical price-to-rent ratio). 25-year mortgage at 3.5% with 80% financed. Indicative calculation.
Calculate with your price →Quality of life in Cartagena
Summer max
29.2°C
Jun–Aug · ERA5
Winter min
9.3°C
Dec–Feb · ERA5
Unemployment
11.1%
SEPE 202604
Rent burden
48.5%
of net income
Cartagena has a warm climate with mild summers (29.2°C max from June to August) and cool winters (9.3°C min from December to February). Unemployment stands at 11.1% (SEPE 202604) and the rent-to-income burden is 48.5%. Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 (2015-2024 normals).
📊 Full data
Municipal page with all indicators
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Rent: INE IPVA index (2023). Expenses: INE/Eurostat national averages. Mortgage: indicative calculation.