Renting accommodation in Barcelona
When making your big move to Barcelona, one of the most important decisions is where you will call home. Finding a comfortable, high-quality property in a good neighborhood is reasonably straightforward, with plenty to choose from. However, with the increase in mortgage interest rates, landlords are facing higher monthly mortgage payments, which is gradually leading to a rise in rents.
If you want to live in this beautiful Catalan city, here are a few essential things you need to know, including the price you can expect to pay in each district
Good to know:
Monthly rental prices in Barcelona tend not to include utilities, so you will need to budget for any water, electricity and gas you use.
Types of rental accommodation in Barcelona
The most common types of rental accommodation in Barcelona, especially in the city center, are apartments, and many options are available for long-term lease. Houses for rent are more challenging to find, but that's not to say it's not impossible, of course. If you are looking for more affordable accommodation, consider flat sharing, an option that many students and single people choose.
How to find an apartment in Barcelona
If you are relocating to Barcelona, it's a good idea to find somewhere temporary at first to give you a chance to look around and find the perfect neighborhood for you. Once you have found a suitable area, the search for a property in Barcelona can begin in earnest. There are a plethora of online listings and property portals. Local newspapers also carry classified ads.
You can also contact real estate and rental agencies and tell them what you're looking for. Note that you may have to pay them a finder's fee when they have found a property, which can be the equivalent of one month's rent.
Another way to find a place in Barcelona is through networking. Tell everyone you meet and know you want to rent in the city. Word of mouth is often a good way to secure a bargain.
Good to know:
Before you start looking for your rental home in Barcelona, make sure you have your NIE (foreigners' identity number), passport, evidence of employment or ability to pay the rent, a Spanish bank account and an idea of your budget.
Rental prices in Barcelona
The average rental prices in all of Barcelona's ten districts as of July 2023 are:
- Barcelona Old Town: 22.84 euros per square meter
- Eixample: 22.05 euros per square meter
- Gràcia: 20.95 euros per square meter
- Horta Guinardó: 16.55 euros per square meter
- Les Corts: 18.51 euros per square meter
- Nou Barris: 15.64 euros per square meter
- Sant Andreu: €16.60 euros per square meter
- Sant Martí: €20.71 euros per square meter
- Sarrià-Sant Gervasi: 21.19 euros per square meter
- Sants-Montjuïc: €19.55 euros per square metre
According to the online database Numbeo, you can expect to pay the following for a flat in Barcelona as of July 2023:
- 1-bedroom apartment in the city center: Between €850 and €1,500 per month
- 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center: Between €600 and €1,200 per month
- 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: Between €1,450 and €2,500 per month
- 3-bedroom apartment outside the city center: Between €1,000 and €1,700 per month
Important:
Never pay anything upfront until you have seen the property.
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