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In my recent posts, I delved into the top neighbourhoods in Barcelona for international students and shared my personal favourites in Madrid. I hope you've read them and the insights were helpful in narrowing down your choices for accommodation in either Barcelona or Madrid. Now, let's tackle another hot topic in the world of international students: How to find a home even when you are currently thousands of miles away from Spain?
I feel ya - I've been there. But believe me when I say, this may be the most challenging yet most fun factor of moving to Spain. This is what people call the eustress - the good stress. That type of stress you feel when you're excited. (The only stress I wish for everyone to ever have!)
But even if this is a eustress, you still have to put your 100% in doing ample research so you can find a nice home at the other side of the world. As for me, I was researching until midnight almost every night for a couple of weeks when I was just coming to Barcelona for the first time. It was thrilling. It was fun. It was exciting. But yes, it was stressful too. Thank God for the world wide web and for the endless information it possess. So now that I´m on the other side, I would like to play as your guide in helping you find your first home in Spain.
Nota bene: The rental price in Spain depends on many factors i.e. the condition of the apartment, where it's situated, if it´s shared or not, etc .. It's also good to note that the rents in Spain (or at least in the 2 major cities - BCN and MAD) have been sky rocketing over the past few years. I used to pay 280 euros (with bills included) on my second accommodation in Barcelona in 2019. Now the minimum rent for a room has gone double. As of 2024, the average rent prices in the 2 main Spanish cities are as follows:
Room: 450€ – 700€/month with bills included
Studio: 750€ –950€/month no bills included
1 bedroom apartment: 950€ - 1200€/month no bills included
2 bedroom apartment: 1200€ - 1800€/month no bills included
While I have seen a lot of modern apartments, most are old-fashioned. So if you are someone who can never live without an elevator bringing you to the top floor, please make sure that the flat you're renting is in a modern-ish building. In other words, please don't be like Emily in (Emily in) Paris who got shocked when she realized that there´s no elevator in her building and that she has to use the stairs to get to the top floor with all her suitcases. In other words, don't be like me!
Yes. Sadly, I've been a victim of living in old buildings without elevators and I kid you not, it's so not fun. Especially when you're just moving with all your heavy things. Especially when you're doing your weekly grocery shopping. Especially when you're just trying to make it home after a tiring day at school or at work and you have to climb 3-4 flights of stairs to get home. You know what I mean?
In my defense, I lived in a no-elevator building on my first ever shared flat in Barcelona - the one that I've found online from Dubai and also on my last-ever flat in Barcelona when I really, really, really wanna live by myself for the first time in my life but I can only afford a studio in a very humble shape slash with no elevator. Yes. I chose the ´no elevator´ poison in exchange of freedom (AKA not having any roommates, finally!)
But enough about me and let's find you the room/flat of your dreams in Spain already!
Ways to Find Rooms/Flats in Spain as an International Student
#1) Leverage University Resources - Many Spanish business schools and universities offer invaluable resources and guidance for international students looking for accommodations. Sometimes, they even have partnerships with dormitories and student residences. So do check out your business school/university's website or contact their international students´ department directly. More often than not, they can provide great insights into housing options and resources in the Spanish city of your choice.
#2) Use Student-Friendly Platforms - Specialized platforms like Uniplaces, Badi, and Spotahome cater specifically to students. I got my first accommodation in Barcelona from Spotahome and I 100% recommend them. I even used them again when I moved to Madrid from Barcelona four years later.
#3) Join International Student Forums/Facebook Groups - Participating in online forums or communities for international students can be an excellent way to exchange advices, tips, and housing listings. Although I never used Facebook group to find a room/flat in Spain, I did use it once upon a life when I was trying to find my first room/bedspace in Dubai from the Philippines. I also know some acquaintances who were able to find their rooms in Barcelona from Facebook expat groups!
#4) Opt for Temporary Accommodations - In cases where securing long-term housing proves challenging, temporary options through platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com can be the best way. I suggest to book for at least a couple of months so you have ample time to find a long-term rental when you´re already settling in Spain. This way, you won´t feel too pressured to find a room/flat right away. This can also buy you time to explore the neighbourhoods in the city and even find friends who may be your potential roommates!
Moving to a new country is already so tough. Cut yourself some slack.
#5) Explore Real Estate Platforms - I put this last because this is the riskiest and trickiest of all. For instance, many real estate platforms in Spain are primarily in Spanish so this can lead to miscommunications, misunderstandings, and potentially signing agreements without fully understanding the terms. Another downside is that some listings on these platforms may be fraudulent or misleading so given the fact that you are still 8000 miles away, you may fall victim to scams such as fake listings, unauthorized subletting, or worst of all - rental deposits being taken without providing accommodation. Believe me, this happened a lot!
However, as long as you take everything with a grain of salt, you can navigate these platforms cautiously. My advise is VERIFY the legitimacy of listings by requesting additional information, photos, or virtual tours. You can do your own thorough research about the landlord´s reputation before committing. A lot of people I know usually go for this option when they have already arrived in Spain while they are in their temporary accommodations. This way, they can visit the property personally and check them thoroughly.
While we´re here, I´ll give you some of the top real estate platforms in Spain!
Idealista: This stands as one of Spain's largest real estate websites, offering an extensive array of listings for sales and rentals, including apartments, rooms, offices, and houses. Its customizable search options make it easier to find the perfect fit.
Habitaclia: This platform features listings for homes, apartments, and commercial properties in Spain, as well as helpful guides and advice for property seekers.
Fotocasa: Another go-to platform when finding the perfect flat in Spain, this boasts a diverse range of rental listings across Spain, encompassing apartments, houses, and rooms tailored to personal preferences.
Pisos.com: Recognized for its comprehensive rental property listings, Pisos.com provides options for apartments, rooms, and houses searchable by location, price, size, and other filters.
And there you have it! I hope this post could be helpful for you when finding your perfect home in Spain. I know that this can be challenging but as I've said, this is also an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, in a new neighbourhood, in a brand new country. So, dive in with enthusiasm, utilize the resources available to you, and before you know it, you'll be settling into your own cozy corner of Spain.
Happy house hunting!
Salud!
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