Pricing of Humana Thrift Shop vs Zara in Spain
After now having lived in Madrid for the past six months, I can confidently say that I fell in love with Humana, the local Spanish thrift shop, pretty quickly. It’s a store that always feels fun to walk into, with lots of locations throughout Madrid, always something different to try on, and that “maybe today’s the day I find something amazing” feeling you get from finding a good thrift.
That said, after shopping there regularly, I’ve also realized that Humana isn’t really the cheapest thrift store in the world, especially when you start comparing it to places like Canada or the U.S.
One thing Humana does really well, though, is their sales. They rotate discounts often, and if you time it right, you can get great deals. Sometimes they’ll do days where everything is €3.
Then around Christmas, they had a countdown-style sale: everything 40% off, then 50% off, then items for €5, and finally down to €1 before restocking. On those days, Humana can be a goldmine, especially when you can score tons of clothes for a few euros each! I loved seeing this Christmas sale this year, and I can’t lie, I did pop into quite a few different Humana’s while this sale was ongoing.
But on a regular, non-sale day, prices can be a bit surprising. I bought a jacket there recently for €14, which is close to $20 USD. It was a good find and I liked it, but it made me think. Back home in Canada or the U.S., I’ve found similar jackets in thrift stores for quite a bit less. In general, I’d say most jackets at Humana range from €10 to €18, which isn’t horrible, but also not dirt cheap either.
This is where the pricing of Humana thrift shop vs Zara in Spain gets interesting…
Because in Spain… everyone shops at Zara. Women love Zara, men love Zara, and honestly, I get it. The prices are surprisingly reasonable here.
A pair of jeans is usually around €29–€39, which isn’t extremely cheap, but also not expensive for brand-new clothing. Zara sits in this sweet spot where it feels accessible.
What really shocked me, though, is Zara Kids. I’ve found that Zara Kids is often the same price, or even cheaper, than Humana.
For example, if a jacket at Humana is around €14, you can sometimes find a brand-new kids’ jacket or tracksuit at Zara for around the same price. I’ve seen tracksuits for €12 for the top and €12 for the bottom, brand new.
If you’re an extra small or small in women’s clothing, Zara Kids can actually work really well for you. Obviously it won’t fit everyone, but if it does fit you, it’s worth checking out. That’s another reason why the pricing of Humana thrift shop vs Zara in Spain isn’t as straightforward as you might expect.
Overall, I still love Humana. It’s fun, sustainable, and you can find great pieces, especially during sale days. But I wouldn’t call it the cheapest thrift store out there, and I don’t think it always wins on price compared to Zara, especially Zara Kids.
So, my honest advice? If you’re visiting Spain and have some time, check out Humana for the experience, but also definitely step into Zara. When it comes to the pricing of Humana thrift shop vs Zara in Spain, both have their place, and sometimes Zara actually (surprisingly) comes out on top.
