Accommodation and living costs for international students in Madrid
If you're thinking about living and studying in Spain, you need to know how much it costs to live comfortably. While the cost of living in Madrid will depend on your lifestyle and habits, the average international student can expect to spend more than 1,000 euros on housing, food, and other bills each month.
Accommodation in Madrid will likely be your most significant monthly expenditure. Rental prices in Madrid vary greatly depending on neighborhood, size and amenities. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is 1,370 euros per month, while the same sort of property outside the center is around 966 euros per month. To save on costs, most students live in shared flats or student housing. A private room in a furnished apartment begins at around 400 euros per month.
Other accommodation options in Madrid include studio apartments, renting a room in a student residence and living with a Spanish family during your time in Madrid. The most common way to search for student housing in Madrid is through a specialized agency such as Alumni or through your university.
Utilities like electricity, water, and internet service may or may not be included in the cost of the rent. Make sure you take this into account when budgeting accommodation costs. Expect to pay around 160 euros per month for basic utilities for an 85 m² apartment, not including internet or cell phone plans.
Food is another area where costs can vary, depending on eating habits. On average, figure 250 euros to 400 euros per month for groceries and around 15 euros for a meal in an inexpensive restaurant. Using a cost of living index updated by locals will give you an idea of how much you'll spend on basic groceries and meals out.
To stay in touch with friends and family back home and your new friends in Madrid, you'll need to keep your phone connected. You may decide to buy a new phone once you're in Spain or a sim card for your existing mobile. Monthly plans typically start from around 15€ per month.
Good to know:
If you're a university student with a student account, you can use your student email and password to connect to the Wi-Fi network Eduroam. This university Wi-Fi network in nearly all European universities provides easy, secure connectivity from thousands of hotspots in more than 100 countries.
