Accommodation in Spain
As a student in a Spain college or institution, having adequate housing for your stay is a must. It is essential that housing be arranged before you arrive in the country. Several housing options are available for students, each with their own perks and benefits, as well as cons. You should take a look at all of the housing options that are available, weighing both the pros and the cons, before making the choice as to where you will stay while attending college.
Types of Housing
The type of housing that is available to a student may vary depending upon your exact location in the country. Additionally the costs of that particular housing will vary according to your location. Do keep these things in mind when comparing your options.
Host Families
Foreign students wishing to attend college in Spain can choose to stay with a host family. Many host family opportunities are available for students throughout Spain, each providing a highly rewarding experience that will leave you with many memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Dorm Housing
Many of the colleges and universities in Spain offer dormitories and student housing on campus. Student housing varies according to the exact school you will be attending, but is something to look into. The benefits of dorm housing include the ability to meet other students attending college, the ability to live much more affordably and the fact that you are always nearby the school.
Studio Apartments
Also known as extended-stay hotels, studio apartment rentals are available throughout Spain and an option that many students opt for, especially upon first entering the country. Though costly, these apartments provide everything that a college student needs –from living space to a bedroom area, a kitchenette, on-site laundry facilities, cable TV, telephone and more –all at one price that can be paid per week or month. Studio apartment rentals are available for periods of 30 days to 12 months.
Roommates
Many students enjoy living with a roommate. Not only does it reduce the cost of living, it also provides people to socialize with when you are probably alone in a new country. If you are a people person, roommates could be the best choice for your accommodation in Spain.
Apartments/flats
If you prefer to rent your own place while you attend college, apartments and flats are available, along with townhomes. However, it is important to know that it can be difficult to get into such housing. It is in your best interest to speak with an agent dealing in rental homes if you wish to obtain your own private housing. Most of the rentals are handled by private owners, but in larger cities such as Madrid, these apartments are often already occupied or filled quickly. The agent can make the process of finding something suitable for your needs easier, especially when you are thousands of miles away.
A Look at Spain Accommodation Information
The amount of rent that you will pay to rent your own home in Spain will vary according to your location, the neighborhood that you choose, the accommodations and amenities offered and other factors. For example the average rental rate for a one bedroom apartment in Barcelona is around 850 Euros while in Madrid the one bedroom rate averages a cost of 1000 Euros per month. There are also other costs that you may incur that should be kept in mind as well, including telephone, utilities, food, etc.
Be sure that you take into consideration other factors that may be needed when you move in, such as deposits for the rental and/or utilities, fees for application, and the likewise. Do keep in mind that many landlords require that you sign a contract before moving into their homes. Most of the contracts state the period of time that you will agree to live in the accommodation, as well as other terms and conditions of living on the property, so make sure that you read this contract well before signing on the dotted line.
You will also need to make sure that you have dishes, toiletries and other essential items upon moving in to ensure your comfort. Plan your budget for moving in accordingly, and always keep this in mind when making your housing selection. Plan to have a little more money than you anticipate needing, just to have on hand for those unexpected things that always seem to happen.
While cost is always a factor, make sure that you take the time to carefully select which of the accommodation options is best suited for your needs. Your comfort is of the most importance, and when you are in lands that are probably quite unfamiliar to you, being able to go home to a place of comfort is essential. There are many rentals and many options available, so make sure that you do take the time to examine them all and get just what you want and need in your accommodations. Attending college in Spain is a once in a lifetime experience; make it as special as it should be with the perfect accommodations.
Costs of Living in Spain
Attending a college or a university in Spain is a once in a lifetime event that you are certain to appreciate for the rest of your life. The amazing country has excellent learning opportunities, surrounded by pristine living in the most immaculate of culture. Combined with an amazing climate and plenty to do, Spain is certainly the place to be.
If you are a student that is soon to be living in Spain and attending school, you are probably very excited but also nervous, unsure of what to expect. There’s lots of things running through your mind –including how much it will cost to live in this beautiful country.
The costs of living in Spain are not the same for everyone. It really depends on where you live and the lifestyle that you want to lead. Living in Spain can be very affordable, or it can be very expensive, and you are the determining factor to which you will receive. As a student you are probably wanting to live as affordable as possible, and this means conducting as much research as you possibly can be concerning housing options, shopping, schools and more.
It is safe to say that you should look outside of Madrid and Barcelona if you want the most affordable of living options in Spain. These two cities rank among the top 50 most expensive places to live in the world. Country living, as it is called, is much more affordable, and brings to you a wonderful, comfortable place to call home as you attain your education. If you you’re your heart set on living near the beach, do not think that you cannot do this affordable. The key to beach housing is also location, and you must stay away from Mallorca.
Housing costs will be the biggest expense that you have while attending a university in Spain, as you can imagine, so make sure that you carefully consider the city in which you reside, as well as the housing option that is best suited for your needs. Even if you attend a school in Madrid or in Barcelona you can choose to live in a nearby city and live much more affordably. The three cheapest places to live in Spain are Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela and Granada.
Now for a look at the costs of living in Spain for some other very important things.
Entertainment
There is plenty of choices in entertainment available throughout the country, and most of that entertainment is affordable. There is certainly entertainment options to suit the needs and the tastes of all, with many museums, bars and pubs, zoos, markets, shopping centers, art galleries and more scattered about. Most of these things are affordable for the budget.
Additionally Spain is loaded with tons of free things that you can do to entertain your time. These things are certainly worth looking into, as they are also varied in nature and include something that every taste can appreciate.
Internet is available throughout Spain and can be obtained at a cost of about 10 Euros per month, quite affordable compared to other nearby areas and a true bargain for you.
Clothing
You can attend a college in Spain and do it in style, as clothing is very affordable in Spain. Furthermore there are a number of choices in shopping for the clothing that you want to wear. Spain is filled with shopping malls, outlets, department stores, and more, with numerous brand names and all of the latest fashions from around the world ready for you to obtain. Barcelona is certainly the place to go when you want to shop for clothing.
Electronics
We all love electronics, and as a student those items like laptops, tablets and smartphones can greatly aid in learning, as well as getting around in the country, providing entertainment and more. You may find yourself wanting to purchase any of the items above, or TVs, DVD players and more. The cost of electronics is a bit more expensive than in other parts of Europe, although you can shop around and get a good deal.
Food
Everyone needs to eat, and you will be pleased to know that you can eat well for less in Spain. Many great restaurants are available for dining out, with the average meal costing between 6 and 20 Euros per person. This is more than affordable, easily feeding you and all of your college buddies.
If you plan to prepare your own meals (or, make your own sandwiches) the costs of buying foods at the supermarket is quite affordable as well. Spain is filled with many markets, and staying away from Hipercor will ensure that you get the best prices on all of your goods. Typical prices for some of the most commonly purchased food items can be found below.
1 Liter Milk -1 Euro
Fresh Chicken – 4 Euros per kilogram
1 Kilo Potatoes -70c
Frozen Pizza -3.50 Euros
Cheddar Cheese -6 Euros for 250grams of cheese
The average individual will spend an average of 450 Euros per month on food while in Spain.
Transportation
If you use the public transportation system you can get around quite affordably. A busis available, as is a taxi cab. Expect to spend about 6 Euros to utilize public transportation, per trip. Rental cars are also available.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Spain is among the best that you will find. You can always expect to find amazing hospitals and highly qualified doctors with state of the art equipment and using the latest technologies. The healthcare in Spain is sponsored by the government, making the costs of healthcare affordable for anyone. The average doctor visit will cost 50 Euros if you are without insurance.
Utilities
We’ve already talked about the average cost of Internet, but what about other utilities? If you choose to rent your own apartment or flat, you can expect to spend an additional 300 Euros for utilities which include electric, gas, telephone and internet.
Tuition Fees in Spain
And now what you really need to know as a student in Spain! The costs of attending college in Spain are not the same, as you may have already expected. The tuition costs vary by institution, however, on an average you can expect the average tuition rate to be around 1000 Euros per semester.
Overall the costs of living in Spain are about 20% less than living in other European countries. Plan accordingly and you can ensure that you are living comfortably while you attend school in the country.