Colibrí Finances
Girona

Full Cost Breakdown: Mortgage, Tax and Fees When Buying in Girona

Buying in Girona means more than agreeing a price with the seller. Between the mortgage, regional transfer tax, notary, land registry and gestoría, the extra costs shape your budget from day one. Here is what a UK buyer should expect to see on the final bill.

Who is behind this page. Colibrí Finances is the mortgage brand of PISOK NUEVO HOGAR, S.L., a credit intermediary registered with the Bank of Spain (code E480). We compare more than 20 Spanish banks for people who live abroad. The study is free; our fees are agreed in writing beforehand, and we support you all the way to signing. We answer in English.

Why the Sale Price Is Only Part of the Sum

Anyone searching online for property in Girona eventually asks the same question: what does it actually cost once tax, notary and legal fees are added? For a non-resident buyer coming from the United Kingdom, the answer involves several separate bills that arrive at different points in the process, some payable before completion and some after.

This guide sets out each cost in order, from the mortgage itself to the paperwork a UK income profile needs, so you can plan a realistic budget for a purchase in Girona rather than being surprised at the notary's office.

The exact deposit a bank asks for depends on the bank, your country and your profile — there is no fixed percentage we can quote in advance.

Buying in Girona: what changes here

Girona province covers the Costa Brava coastline as well as inland countryside toward the Pyrenees, offering both beach towns and rural stone villages. Its proximity to France draws French, Belgian and Dutch buyers, alongside others wanting a quieter alternative to busier Spanish coasts.

Girona-Costa Brava airport serves the coast directly, with Barcelona airport also within reach for wider connections. Coastal areas see strong summer activity, while inland towns remain calmer, and property types range from apartments and townhouses near the sea to farmhouses further inland.

The figures below describe Girona (province) as it stands now — residents, advertised home prices, access routes and climate — each dated and sourced. Use them to form a realistic view of Girona (province) while you work out what you can afford.

The people who live in Girona (province)

The province of Girona as a whole, not merely its capital city, had 830,429 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the INE annual census. This figure covers every municipality within the province, from its largest towns to its smallest villages. Across the province of Girona, 181,899 residents carry a foreign nationality, near 22 of every 100. This is a solid but moderate presence, one that differs a great deal from town to town across the province.

According to INE, only 3,372 British nationals were registered across the province of Girona as of 1 January 2025. That low figure reflects the padrón's focus on year-round residents, excluding owners who use a property there only part-time. The following table shows the leading foreign nationalities registered in Girona (province) on 1 January 2025, according to the municipal-level data INE makes available.

Nationality20252021Per 100 inhabitants
Morocco42,82040,0665.2
Romania13,78214,4871.7
Colombia9,5934,5181.2
Ukraine8,1514,2921.0
France6,6036,8680.8
Argentina3,6302,3590.4
China3,6203,6050.4
United Kingdom3,3723,3550.4

For nationalities the census groups together rather than listing them individually, such as Germans, Italians, Dutch, Belgians or Scandinavians, we turn to the detailed INE register for Girona province. Unlike the table above, this count dates from 1 January 2022, the most recent detailed edition.

NationalityRegistered residents
Russia6,057
Italy4,671
Germany2,780
Netherlands1,817
Bulgaria1,702
Portugal1,484
Belgium1,381
Poland1,068

Asking prices for homes in Girona (province)

Our price bank includes 5,315 homes for sale throughout the province of Girona, with a median of €2,840/m² and a median ticket of €290,000. Both numbers land close to the €3,135/m² median of the 130 towns we track across Spain. Half of the properties currently listed are priced between €1,930 and €3,820 per square metre, with cheaper and more expensive homes on either side of that middle band.

Type of homeMedian asking price per m²Median asking priceAdverts
Flats and apartments€2,860/m²€250,0004,010
Houses and villas€2,710/m²€489,0001,305
All homes€2,840/m²€290,0005,315

In Girona (province), the regional transfer tax rate of 10 % applied to the median asking price of €290,000 gives a tax bill of about €29,000, plus roughly €3,500 for notary, registry and gestoría charges. That puts the total near €32,500, money the mortgage will not cover. All prices shown are asking prices from adverts active on 2026-11-01, not completed sales. The price eventually paid is always a matter of negotiation, shaped by condition, precise location and orientation.

This table sets out population, foreign residents per 100 people and median price per square metre for the towns we track in Girona (province), highlighting how much local markets can vary.

PlaceInhabitantsForeign residents per 100Median asking price per m²
Girona108,35221.9€3,070/m²
Blanes42,44619.7€2,420/m²
Lloret de Mar41,94438.5€2,890/m²
Palafrugell24,55624.7€2,220/m²
Sant Feliu de Guíxols23,06020.6€3,090/m²
Roses20,17530.3€3,490/m²
Platja d'Aro12,88935.2€4,290/m²
Torroella de Montgrí12,50728.4€1,910/m²
Castelló d'Empúries12,27545.5€3,410/m²
L'Escala10,64128.3€3,490/m²
Tossa de Mar6,29325.9€3,330/m²
Begur4,28620.9€4,650/m²

Renting in Girona (province): holiday lets and long-term

INE's experimental statistic, based on listings from the main holiday-rental platforms, counted 20,821 holiday-let homes in Girona (province) in 05/2026 (116,320 bed places), about 25 per 1,000 residents. That is a moderate presence, and tourist letting still requires a regional licence.

How to reach Girona (province) and its weather

Before booking, confirm that Aeropuerto de Girona-Costa Brava (GRO), the one commercial airport serving Girona (province), has a connection from your home airport at the time of year you intend to fly, as this changes seasonally. The figures that follow reflect conditions in or around Girona, the provincial capital; elsewhere in the province, particularly inland, at altitude or on other islands, the climate can vary considerably. January brings a mean of just 7.1 °C and lows around 1.1 °C, against an August mean of 23.4 °C and highs near 29.8 °C, making this one of the colder corners of Spain in winter. Insulation and heating costs deserve close attention before buying. With around 728 mm of rain annually over about 66 days, this area is wetter than much of coastal or central Spain, so it is worth looking for signs of damp when viewing a property. All figures are AEMET's official 1981-2010 normals for the Girona Aeropuerto station, about 9 km away; expect small local variations, especially further inland or at higher elevation.

MonthMean °CAvg. max °CAvg. min °CRain (mm)Sunshine (h)
January7.113.11.162147
February7.914.11.751156
March10.416.74.150179
April12.518.86.267194
May16.322.410.171224
June20.426.614.360247
July23.630.117.132285
August23.429.817.046261
September20.126.114.170195
October16.221.810.588167
November10.916.65.270143
December7.813.62.056132

15,239 home sales were registered in the province of Girona in the twelve months to 07/2026, according to INE. A market of this size usually means more comparable sales and a wider choice of homes for buyers. These figures describe the province of Girona as a whole and can change considerably from one town to another, and from one property to the next. Tell us what you are looking for and we will go through the numbers together.

Sources and dates of the figures: INE, Censo anual de población (2025-01-01); INE, Estadística del Padrón continuo (1 de enero de 2022), provincias (2022-01-01); our group's own price bank, asking prices in active adverts (2026-11-01); INE, Medición del número de viviendas turísticas (05/2026); INE, Estadística de Transmisiones de Derechos de la Propiedad (07/2026); OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); rutas OSRM (2026-10-05); AEMET, valores climatológicos normales (1981-2010).

Purchase costs in Girona

The transfer tax on a resale home is set by each Spanish region. In Girona the general rate is 10 %, and on top of it come notary, land registry and gestoría (roughly one more percent). On a new build you pay 10 % VAT plus stamp duty instead of the transfer tax. This money is not lent by the bank.

ItemOn a price of 250 000 €Set by
Transfer tax (10 %)25 000 €The region
Notary, registry, gestoría3 000 €Official fees
Approximate total28 000 €About 11,2 % of the price

Beyond the Price Tag: What You Actually Pay

A Spanish mortgage for a property in Girona is only one line in the budget. Non-residents are usually asked for a larger deposit than residents, and the bank will also charge for the valuation of the property before it agrees anything. On top of that sits a set of taxes and fees that exist regardless of how the purchase is financed.

For UK buyers, currency matters too. Because the United Kingdom uses sterling rather than the euro, the amount you actually transfer to Spain can shift with the exchange rate between the day you budget and the day you complete, so it is worth building in some margin.

Ask your gestoría for a written estimate of notary, registry and tax costs for Girona before you commit, since regional transfer tax varies by autonomous community.

NIE

Tax number first

You need a Spanish NIE and a Spanish bank account before you can buy or make payments in Girona.

10 %

New build VAT

New homes carry VAT plus stamp duty instead of transfer tax; resale homes carry regional transfer tax (ITP).

3 %

When you sell

If you later sell as a non-resident, the buyer withholds 3% of the price against your Spanish tax bill.

90/180

Stay limits

As a UK citizen you can stay in Spain 90 days in any 180 without a visa; longer stays need a permit.

Taxes and Fees at Purchase in Girona

Every purchase in Girona carries a similar structure of costs, even though the exact amounts depend on the property's value and type. Resale properties carry transfer tax (ITP), set regionally, while new builds carry VAT and stamp duty instead. Then come the fixed professional costs: notary fees for the deed, land registry fees to record your ownership, gestoría fees for handling paperwork, and the bank's valuation fee if you are financing the purchase with a mortgage.

None of these figures are quoted here as fixed amounts, because they change by region and by bank, but the categories below always appear on a Spanish completion statement.

CostWho sets itNotes
Transfer tax (ITP) or VATRegion / StateITP for resale, VAT plus stamp duty for new build
Notary feesFixed scaleCharged for drawing up the title deed
Land registryFixed scaleRegisters your ownership; takes some weeks
GestoríaMarket rateHandles filings, tax forms and translations
Bank valuationLenderRequired before a mortgage is approved

Preparing Your File as a UK Buyer

Spanish banks assess non-resident applicants on income and existing debt shown in their home country. For a UK applicant, that usually means recent payslips and a P60, the last filed Self Assessment tax return, several months of bank statements, and evidence of any existing loans or mortgage commitments, alongside a valid passport. Some documents may need a sworn translation into Spanish, and occasionally an apostille, though the exact list depends on the bank.

Mortgage terms in Spain typically run until the borrower is around 70 to 75 years old, and you can choose between fixed, variable (Euribor-linked) and mixed-rate structures. We compare more than 20 Spanish banks to find which terms suit a buyer purchasing in Girona, and the study is free and without obligation.

Selling Later, and Ongoing Tax Duties

Owning property in Girona as a non-resident brings an annual obligation: filing a non-resident income tax return (Modelo 210), even if the property is not rented out. Spain and the United Kingdom have a double taxation agreement, and a local tax adviser should confirm exactly how rental income or any future gain must be reported both in Spain and to HMRC.

When you eventually sell, the buyer withholds 3% of the price on account of your Spanish tax liability. It is worth noting, too, that the Golden Visa route for property investors ended on 3 April 2025 and is no longer an option for anyone buying now.

Because payments are made in euros, track the GBP/EUR exchange rate when timing transfers for the deposit, notary day and any later tax payments.

If you live in the United Kingdom

Spain is a relatively short flight away from most UK airports, making regular visits to a Spanish property straightforward for owners based in Britain. Many British buyers are drawn to Spain for its climate, coastal lifestyle and established expatriate communities. One practical point to bear in mind is that Spanish inheritance law differs from UK rules, so it is worth taking specific advice on how it may affect the property and one's estate. Currency movements between sterling and the euro can also affect the overall cost of purchase and ongoing expenses.

What a Spanish bank will usually ask you for

Tax at home and in Spain

Spain and the United Kingdom have a double taxation agreement in place, and a local tax adviser should confirm how rental income or gains from Spanish property must be declared and reported to HMRC.

Staying in Spain

As the United Kingdom is no longer an EU member state, British citizens may stay in Spain for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, and must apply for a visa or residence permit for longer stays.

Since the United Kingdom uses the pound sterling (GBP) rather than the euro, buyers should factor in exchange-rate movements and currency conversion costs when paying for a property or transferring funds to Spain.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to visit Spain to get a mortgage for a property in Girona?

Not for the whole process. Much of the file preparation and bank comparison can be done remotely, though you will need to travel at least once to open a Spanish bank account, get your NIE stamped, and sign at the notary in Girona.

How much deposit will a Spanish bank ask a UK buyer for?

There is no fixed figure we can give in advance, as it depends on the bank, your income profile and the property itself. Non-residents are generally asked for a larger deposit than Spanish residents, and each lender assesses this differently.

Will Brexit affect how long I can stay in my Girona property?

Owning a home does not extend your stay. As a UK citizen you can remain in Spain for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa; longer or more frequent stays require applying for a visa or residence permit.

Do I still pay UK tax on a property I buy in Girona?

Possibly, alongside Spanish obligations. Spain and the UK have a double taxation agreement, but you should ask a tax adviser how rental income or any future gain from the Girona property must be declared to HMRC and in Spain.

What happens with currency exchange when I transfer money to Spain?

Since the UK uses sterling and Spain uses the euro, the amount you pay can vary with exchange-rate movements between budgeting and completion. It is sensible to build in some margin and ask your gestoría or bank about transfer timing.

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