Healthcare costs in Granada for foreign residents

Public vs private care in Granada

Granada’s public system is run by the Servicio Andaluz de Salud (SAS). The main public hospitals are Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves and Hospital Universitario Clínico San Cecilio at the PTS campus. Primary care runs through neighborhood centros de salud with assigned family doctors.

You can usually access public care at little or no direct cost if you are employed in Spain, registered as autónomo, or covered as a dependent. Retirees from some countries, such as the UK with an S1, can also join. EU citizens visiting temporarily can use an EHIC for medically necessary treatment, but long term residents should register locally.

If you are in Spain on a non-lucrative or student visa, or you are early-retired without contributions, you will likely rely on private insurance. Many residents keep a low-cost private policy even if they use the public system, mainly for faster diagnostics and English-speaking specialists.

What you will pay in the public system

Public GP and hospital care are free at the point of use once you hold your SAS health card (tarjeta sanitaria). The main ongoing cost is medication, plus anything excluded from the system such as routine dentistry and most adult optical care.

Prescription co-pays in Spain depend on income and status. Your share is automatically calculated when the pharmacy reads your electronic prescription. The figures below are typical national rules as of 2026 and also apply in Andalusia.

• Active workers: 40 percent of the official price for most medicines.
• Higher incomes: 50 percent from roughly 18,000 to 100,000 euros, 60 percent above that.
• Pensioners: 10 percent with monthly caps that limit how much you can spend.
• Chronic conditions: often 10 percent with a per-pack ceiling on many drugs.
• Exemptions: various groups, including certain low-income households and people with severe disability, pay nothing.

Private insurance in Granada and visa needs

Granada has broad private coverage from Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, Asisa, Mapfre and others. For non-lucrative and student visas, you usually need a comprehensive policy with no co-pays and no waiting periods that is equivalent to public coverage.

Approximate monthly premiums in Granada in 2026: a healthy 28-year-old pays around 35 to 55 euros for a policy with co-pays, or 45 to 70 euros for a visa-compliant option without co-pays. A 45-year-old often pays 60 to 95 euros with co-pays, or 85 to 140 euros without. At 60, expect 110 to 180 euros with co-pays, or 150 to 240 euros without. Over 70, choices narrow and prices can exceed 200 to 300 euros monthly.

Popular private hospitals and clinics in Granada include Quirónsalud Granada and HLA Inmaculada. Many specialists also consult in smaller polyclinics across the city. English is more commonly spoken in private settings, though it is not guaranteed, so ask before booking.

Typical out-of-pocket prices in Granada

If you prefer to pay directly or your insurance uses reimbursement, these are realistic local ranges. Prices vary by clinic and time of day, but Granada is usually a little cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona.

• GP consultation: 40 to 60 euros
• Specialist visit (dermatology, gynecology, ENT): 60 to 120 euros
• Diagnostic tests: blood panel 25 to 60 euros, ultrasound 60 to 120 euros, MRI 180 to 300 euros
• Physiotherapy session: 25 to 40 euros
• Psychology session: 40 to 70 euros
• Dental care: cleaning 40 to 60 euros, filling 50 to 90 euros, root canal 150 to 250 euros, crown 250 to 450 euros
• Emergency visit at a private hospital: 150 to 300 euros before tests
• Ambulance private transfer in city: 70 to 150 euros

Pharmacies, everyday costs and how to save

Granada has pharmacies on nearly every block, with some offering 24-hour service on a rota. With a public prescription, bring your health card and ID. Without it, many common medications can still be bought privately at modest prices.

Indicative prices without a public prescription: ibuprofen 600 mg around 2 to 3 euros, paracetamol 1.5 to 2.5 euros, antihistamines 3 to 6 euros, combined birth control 5 to 15 euros, morning-after pill about 18 to 20 euros. Antibiotics require a prescription.

To reduce costs: ask for generics, use the electronic prescription from your public GP to avoid paying full retail, and review your insurer’s co-pay tables before booking tests. If you use public care, choose your assigned centro de salud for routine issues and go to Virgen de las Nieves or Clínico San Cecilio for emergencies. For any life-threatening emergency, call 112.