How Much Does a Private Detective Cost in Granada? Real Prices and Fees 2026

The most common question before hiring a private detective: how much does it cost? The transparent answer for Granada in 2026: surveillance investigations start at €400 per working day. Most cases resolve between €600 and €1,800 in total, depending on complexity and duration. Here is the honest breakdown.

Indicative rates by type of investigation (Granada, 2026)

• Infidelity investigation: €800–€1,800. Most cases require 2–4 surveillance days in Granada or the Granada metropolitan area.
• Sick-leave fraud: €600–€1,400. Two to three days are typically enough to document incompatible activities.
• Cohabitation verification (to cancel a compensatory pension): €600–€1,200.
• Child custody evidence: €800–€1,800, depending on the scope and number of sessions requested by your solicitor.
• Asset investigation (hidden assets in divorce): €700–€2,000+, depending on the complexity of the assets and whether cross-border verification is required.
• People location: fixed fee agreed in advance, depending on available data and case complexity.
• OSINT / digital investigation: quoted per project.
• Electronic sweep (TSCM): quoted per surface area and type of premises.

All quotes are fixed and communicated before work begins. No hourly billing, no open-ended meters.

What factors affect the final cost?

• Number of surveillance days (the main variable).
• Number of operatives: busy city areas or surveillance over long distances may require two detectives.
• Travel: within Granada province, no extra charge. Cases outside the province are quoted individually.
• Technical resources: advanced OSINT or electronic sweeps have their own fee structure.
• Urgency: activating in under 24 hours may carry a surcharge.

What is included in the quote?

A professional quote must include: all planned investigation days, the complete expert report (photos, video, narrative, chain of custody), and the detective's availability for court ratification. If any of these are offered as "extras" not mentioned upfront, that is a warning sign.

Can the cost be recovered?

Often yes. In sick-leave cases, stopping unjustified allowances and avoiding an unfair dismissal claim typically returns far more than the investigation cost. In custody cases, the detective's report can influence years of arrangements. In maintenance cases, proving real income can modify payments for years. In some civil proceedings, detective fees may be recoverable as court costs.

Why do some detective agencies charge much less?

Low prices usually mean one of three things: no TIP licence (evidence inadmissible in court), outsourcing to third parties without oversight, or very limited investigative capacity. Hiring an unlicensed "detective" is not only legally risky — it wastes the money spent, because the report will not hold up in court.