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Countries · Student guide

Spain

Complete guide for international students in Spain: bureaucracy, housing, budget, health, work and finance.

Updated on Jul 28, 2026

Cost of living
Medium

Typical spending band for a student

Language
Spanish

Main language to handle day to day

Currency
EUR

Local currency for banking and payments

Visas
Easy

Typical visa/permit process complexity

Overview

In Spain the cost of living can be friendly, but NIE, empadronamiento and rental market in university cities take time. Much changes between Comunidad: same concepts, practices and different speeds.

What really changes here

  • NIE/TIE: key document for contract, bank, work
  • Empadronamiento (municipal residence): often required for healthcare and school
  • Rentals: 1–2 month deposit, often without guarantor if you pay multiple months in advance
  • Healthcare: social security or student convenience after registration
  • Transport: cheap monthly passes; bike and metro
  • Payments: Bizum and card; cash in bars and markets

Ideal if…

  • Erasmus and students looking for climate and social life
  • Medium-sized cities (Granada, Valencia, Salamanca) for low budgets
  • Those who speak Spanish or learn quickly
  • Who accepts slower bureaucracy with appointments

Harder if…

  • You are looking for a studio apartment in Madrid/Barcelona center without NIE
  • You expect email responses from offices within 24 hours
  • Can't tolerate summer heat without AC
  • You want only English in all local bureaucracy

Arrival checklist

First 7 days

  1. Police appointment for NIE (prior quotation!)
  2. Management of the assistance
  3. Bank account with NIE
  4. University registration
  5. Health insurance or temporary private insurance
  6. Spanish SIM; save 112
  7. Transport or bike subscription
Mistakes to avoid
  • Renting without NIE — many contracts impossible
  • Ignore prior citation for offices
  • Sign without understanding Comunidad de Vecinos rules
  • Working beyond study permit hours

City guides

Cities in Spain

Neighborhoods, rent, universities, transport and safety: everything you need to choose where to move.

Madrid
  • from 430 EURroom/month
  • 5universities
  • 8neighborhoods

Capital of Spain and largest university center in the country (Complutense, Politécnica, Autónoma, Carlos III and several business schools), Madrid combines one of the liveliest cultural and nightlife scenes in Europe with a huge metro (13 lines, over 300 km). Rents are expensive, but the Abono Joven — EUR 20 per month, reduced to EUR 10 until the end of 2026 — is among the cheapest under-26 subscriptions on the continent.

Open city guideBarcelona
  • from 430 EURroom/month
  • 5universities
  • 8neighborhoods

Capital of Catalonia, on the Mediterranean, Barcelona combines the beach, Gaudí's architecture and a rapidly growing tech and startup scene (22@ Poblenou). Large university center (UB, UPF, UPC, UAB) and home to world-class business schools (IESE, ESADE). The climate and quality of life are a huge attraction, but it is among the most expensive cities in Spain for housing: look for accommodation well in advance and be wary of rental scams.

Open city guideValencia
  • from 360 EURroom/month
  • 5universities
  • 8neighborhoods

Third city in Spain, on the Mediterranean, Valencia combines beaches, the greenery of the Turia Garden, the City of Arts and Sciences and a lively historic centre. Large university center (Universitat de València and Politècnica, almost 100,000 students) and growing tech/startup scene. It offers a very high quality of life at lower costs than Madrid and Barcelona, ​​even if rents have grown quickly. It is among the safest and most cycle-friendly cities in the country.

Open city guideSiviglia
  • from 290 EURroom/month
  • 5universities
  • 8neighborhoods

Capital of Andalusia, Seville is a warm, historic and human-scale city: the monumental center (Cathedral, Giralda, Alcázar), the culture of flamenco and tapas and a sunny climate all year round. Large university center (Universidad de Sevilla and Pablo de Olavide) but with a job market more linked to tourism and services. Compared to Madrid and Barcelona it is significantly cheaper: rents, shopping and transport are among the most accessible of the large Spanish cities.

Open city guide
Move checklist Plan documents and deadlines step by step

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