Budgets and tariffs are indicative and change by city and inflation. Adjust figures to your lifestyle and university.

Daily life roadmap

First week (setup) → Weekly routine (shopping, transport, bills) → Cost optimisation

Student checklist — daily life

  • Week 1: SIM or eSIM, transport pass, supermarket map, Bizum app active.
  • Every week: planned shopping, meal prep, check shared bills.
  • Every month: review subscriptions, compare electricity/internet tariffs.
  • Emergency buffer: €200–300 for pharmacy, repairs, last-minute tickets.

Indicative monthly budget (2026)

ItemMadrid / BarcelonaValencia / mid-size citiesSalamanca / Granada
Rent (room)500–750 EUR350–550 EUR250–400 EUR
Groceries + eating out220–350 EUR180–280 EUR150–230 EUR
Transport20–55 EUR (pass)15–40 EUR10–30 EUR
Phone10–25 EUR10–20 EUR10–20 EUR
Utilities share40–80 EUR30–60 EUR25–50 EUR
Leisure80–150 EUR60–120 EUR40–90 EUR
Indicative total950–1,450 EUR700–1,050 EUR550–850 EUR

Transport

  • Madrid: Metro/bus Abono Transportes; Abono Joven for under 26.
  • Barcelona: TMB — T-usual, integrated pass.
  • Valencia: EMT + Metrovalencia.
  • Intercity: Renfe (AVE, Media Distancia), Ouigo, ALSA bus.
  • Bike / scooter: Municipal rules; helmet and parking where required.

Groceries and cooking

  • Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi, Dia — Good value for students.
  • Carrefour, El Corte Inglés — Pricier but full range.
  • Mercados municipales — Fresh fruit/vegetables; compare prices.
  • Menú del día — Lunch €12–16 in many bars (check hours 13:30–16:00).
  • Late dinner: Many places open after 20:30 — plan accordingly.

Phone and internet

OperatorNote
MásMóvil / Digi / PepephoneLow-cost MVNOs, good urban coverage
Movistar / Vodafone / OrangeFibre + mobile bundles
eSIMUseful before you have NIE with some operators

Energy and shared flat

  • Switch off standby; agree thermostat rules (heating/AC are costly).
  • Share bills with a spreadsheet or app (Splitwise).
  • Summer: moderate AC; winter: 19–21 °C is an efficient standard.

Washing machine — quick guide

  1. Separate whites, colours, delicates; empty pockets.
  2. Typical programmes: Algodón, Sintéticos, Delicado.
  3. Dose detergent — too much leaves residue and odours.
  4. Line-dry on a rack (balcony) where possible — common in Spain.
  5. Clean filter/drawer monthly to avoid mould.

Culture and everyday safety

  • Shop siesta: Many shops closed 14:00–17:00 — shop morning or evening.
  • Pickpockets: Watch metro and tourist areas (Barcelona, central Madrid).
  • 112 — EU unified emergencies.
  • Documents: Copy TIE/NIE to the cloud; carry original only when needed.
August

Empty cities, small offices — close paperwork sooner.

Quick reference

Late nightlife, tapas, local festivities. Very hot summer; mild winter coast.

  • Normal dinner 9–10pm
  • Shops closed on Sunday (supermarkets often open)
  • Siesta not everywhere but slow pace
  • Strong Erasmus bubble

Transport

Mobility

Metro Madrid/BCN, EMT, Renfe. BlaBlaCar. Electric bikes.

  • Renfe
  • T-usual
  • Bicing

Climate and what to pack

Fan/AC summer. Northern light winter jacket. Sunscreen.

  • Occasional Sirocco

Phone and internet

Telephone

Movistar, Vodafone, Lowi, Orange. eSIM ok. University WiFi.

  • WhatsApp for everything

Food and groceries

Good for students

Markets, shared tapas. Cheap university menu.

Habits and settling in

Spanish helps a lot. Documents translated if necessary. Local festivals — plan study.

  • Bizum between roommates
  • Three Kings Gift
Deep dive (optional)

Go deeper

Key numbers

ServiceNumber
General emergency (EU)112
Medical emergencies (many CCAA)061 (not universal—check your region)
National police091
Guardia Civil062
24/7 emotional support line024 (verify hours on official pages)
Consumer affairsOfficial phones and e-office on consumo.gob.es

Post & pharmacy

Correos

Tracked mail and branch services.

Pharmacy

Prescription medicines; duty pharmacies rotate—check your town hall or CCAA health portal.

Go deeper

Driving licence & ID

Exchange rules, international permits, and minimum ages differ widely. Confirm with the national or state motoring authority in Spain before driving; rental desks usually require licence plus passport or national ID.

Mobile plans & SIM

Compare prepaid vs contract; you will usually need ID and sometimes proof of address. Ask about number portability, fair-use data caps, and EU/international roaming if you travel outside Spain.

Groceries & food

Mix discount supermarkets with local markets and food-rescue apps where they operate. Check Sunday opening rules and bag/bottle deposit schemes in Spain—they affect weekly cost.

Official government portal · Official energy efficiency hub

Trusted sources we used for this content

Spanish and EU public sources: Eurostat, sede.gob.es, INSS, SEPE, the Tax Agency, Ministry of Health, and MAEC. Confirm rules on the official portal.