University life in Barcelona
Barcelona attracts thousands of international students to its universities and colleges. In addition to receiving a world-class education, students can look forward to living in a cosmopolitan and dynamic city with exciting nightlife life, a wealth of cultural attractions, beautiful beaches, and a favorable climate.
Student accommodation in Barcelona
Students can take their pick from a variety of different types of accommodation in Barcelona. The most popular options include shared flats, apartments and halls of residence.
Rental prices in Barcelona will depend on where you're living in the city. Expect to pay between 850 euros and 1,500 euros for a one-bedroom city center flat and 600 euros to 1,200 euros for a one-bedroom place outside the centre. There are also plenty of other living options with student-friendly prices. They include flat sharing and living with a Spanish family. Start your search online with helpful sites such as Cotown, Uniplaces and Student.com.
So, where are the best places for students to live in Barcelona? That all depends on what you want from a neighborhood.
Popular student choices include:
- El Clot - cheap rents close to the city center
- El Raval - friendly local nightlife
- Les Corts - the university district, so you'll be close to your place of study
- Gracia - a bohemian district with hip bars
- Ciutat Vella - beautiful buildings and affordable living in the city center
Good to know:
If you're like most students, you'll be living on a fairly tight budget; therefore, consider sharing an apartment with other students to help make your money go further.
Student living costs in Barcelona
The most expensive and most important expense is going to be accommodation. Whether you live alone or with others, your costs will also include the water and electricity bills. Electricity in Spain is among the most expensive in Europe.
Living in shared accommodation with a fully equipped modern kitchen will allow you to cook and prepare what you want, potentially saving you a lot of money on food bills. In addition, if you want to eat out from time to time, you'll be able to find good quality meals for around 10 to 15 euros in standard restaurants.
Sample average costs:
- 1 liter of milk – 1.01€
- 1 loaf of fresh white bread - 1.37€
- 1 kilogram of chicken fillets – 7.41€
- 1 bottle of domestic beer (0.5 liter) – 1.13€
- 1 kg of apples – 1.94€
- 1 mid-range bottle of wine - 6.00€
- One-way local transport ticket - 2.40 €
- T-usual monthly travelcard (unlimited trips in one zone) - 40€
Good to know:
As a student in Barcelona, you can get discounts in many top attractions simply by showing your university student ID. Also, take advantage of student discount cards which offer substantial savings on thousands of products and services. They include the Carnet Jove, the ESN card (the official membership card of the Erasmus Student Network in Spain) and the International Student Identity Card (ISIC).
Leisure in Barcelona
With beaches, bars, parks, fiestas, museums, galleries and iconic attractions such as the Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter, there's no shortage of ways to enjoy your leisure time. For ideas about what to do, read our articles "Outdoor activities in Barcelona" and "Things to do alone or with a group in Barcelona."
