If you're planning a kitchen reform in Spain in 2026, the honest answer is: it'll cost more than you expect. Materials shipped from northern Europe have climbed 18-30% since 2022, Spanish skilled labour rates have caught up with European averages, and the post-2024 electrical code (REBT 2024) often forces a partial rewire when you swap out a kitchen.
Here's what real kitchen reforms cost across Spain's main British-buyer regions, based on quotes we see weekly on BuildSpain.
The headline numbers
For a typical 12-18m² kitchen in an existing house or apartment, expect:
- Entry-level reform (Spanish IKEA-equivalent cabinets, basic worktop, no structural change): €8,000 – €14,000
- Mid-range reform (premium Spanish cabinetry, Silestone/Dekton worktop, Bosch or Siemens appliances): €15,000 – €30,000
- Premium reform (imported British/German cabinets, stone tops, integrated everything, structural opening): €32,000 – €60,000
- Luxury (custom cabinetry, Gaggenau / Miele appliances, marble, full structural reconfig): €60,000+
These are quoted prices, not final invoiced amounts. Plan for 10-15% contingency — old Spanish properties almost always reveal something during demolition.
Regional differences
Same kitchen spec costs different amounts in different regions:
- Costa del Sol (Marbella, Estepona): premium pricing — 15-25% above national average. High demand, sophisticated client base, lots of luxury builders.
- Costa Blanca (Jávea, Alicante, Torrevieja): mid-market — usually 10-15% below Costa del Sol for equivalent spec.
- Mallorca: highest in Spain — labour and materials cost 15-30% more because everything ships in.
- Valencia, Murcia, Almería: lower labour rates, typical kitchen 20-30% cheaper than Costa del Sol for equivalent spec.
- Canary Islands: similar to mid-Costa Blanca pricing thanks to 7% IGIC (vs mainland 10-21% IVA on construction).
Where the money actually goes
For a typical €22,000 mid-range Costa del Sol kitchen reform, the rough breakdown is:
- Cabinetry & installation: €8,000 – €10,000
- Worktop (Silestone/Dekton, ~6m linear): €2,500 – €3,500
- Appliances (oven, hob, hood, dishwasher, fridge, microwave): €3,000 – €4,500
- Tiling & floor: €1,500 – €2,500
- Electrical (new circuits, lighting, points, boletín): €1,500 – €2,500
- Plumbing (relocations, new connections): €800 – €1,500
- Demolition & rubble removal: €500 – €1,000
- Permit (licencia de obra menor, ~2% of works): €350 – €500
- Project management & site supervision: €1,500 – €3,000
Hidden costs that surprise people
The headline price almost never includes:
- Electrical board upgrade: Spanish electrical boards (cuadro general) made before 2002 don't meet REBT 2024. Budget €800 – €2,000 if yours is old.
- Plumbing risers/stack updates: Older flats often have galvanised pipes that fail when stressed. Allow €500 – €1,500 contingency.
- Wall straightening: Spanish walls are rarely true. Cabinet installers often charge to scribe or shim around irregularities — €200 – €600.
- Comunidad (building owners' association) fees: For apartment kitchen reforms affecting common areas, there can be administrative costs.
- Skip/rubble removal: Especially in Mallorca and the Canaries, this isn't trivial — €300 – €800 for a typical kitchen.
Quote red flags
If a builder quotes well below the ranges above, ask why. Common shortcuts:
- No permit included — they're planning to work without one, which makes you liable.
- No boletín eléctrico — you can't legally use new circuits without it.
- Verbal-only quote — without line items, scope creep is guaranteed.
- Deposit above 35% — reputable Spanish builders ask 25-30% to cover materials.
- No project completion date — open-ended timelines drift months.
What you get from a good kitchen reform
Beyond the kitchen itself, a properly-permitted reform increases your property's market value by 60-90% of the spend (Spain-wide average for well-located properties). You also get:
- A clean energy efficiency upgrade (modern appliances + LED lighting cuts running costs ~40%)
- Compliance paperwork (boletín, licence) that matters at resale or insurance renewal
- 2-year minimum legal guarantee on workmanship under Spanish consumer law
Getting accurate quotes
The best way to get realistic prices for your specific project is to brief 2-3 vetted local builders with the same scope and compare. Post your project on BuildSpain and we'll match you with up to three vetted English-speaking builders in your region — free, no obligation, written quotes in English.