Accommodation in Spain

You can start looking for housing as soon as have an email confirmation and acceptance from your host. ***Your email confirmation is considered your official acceptance, even if the agreement is not signed, as this can take several weeks or months. It is against MIT policy to renege on an accepted offer. Summer is very popular in Spain, so start the search early!

MIT-Spain will provide you with a list of websites (student housing, apartment shares). You can also ask your host for recommendations or use your own networks.

• Students usually pay between €450 and €850 euros for a room in a shared apartment. Costs may be more expensive in university housing, but this may include cleaning and meals.
• Generally, your stipend is not enough to live alone in your own apartment.
• Most agencies charge a fee, 1st month’s rent, and a deposit which should be returned at the end of your stay.

• Spanish apartments, called pisos, are often listed as “interior” vs “exterior”. This means that an interior apartment may have windows that directly face another building or interior courtyard while an exterior apartment faces the street. Interior apartments may be quieter and darker while exterior may have direct sunlight but will also be louder, especially on a busy street.
• If smoking bothers you, make sure to find a non-smoking apartment.
• Typically, there is a washer in the kitchen. The majority of Spanish apartments do not have a clothes dryer. Be prepared to hang your clothes to dry on a drying rack!
• You might also be surprised by the windows in your apartment. European windows in general tend to use a tilt-and-turn design to allow for different levels of air circulation and have external shutters, called persianas in Spain, instead of curtains or internal blinds.
• Spanish doors usually lock automatically behind you. Always make sure you have your keys before walking out!

Most rentals are fully-furnished with bedding, towels and a fully stocked kitchen. You will have to check to see if bills are included or are charged separately from the rental cost. Most rentals will not have air conditioning, if this is important for you, make sure to search places that list air conditioning. Much of Spain is HOT in the summer.

Most apartments have Wi-Fi, but it may not be as fast as you are accustomed to!

A typical commute in Madrid or Barcelona is 30 minutes - 1 hour. If your host is outside of the city center, you want to make sure you are close to a train or metro station that is more direct to the host. If you decide to live with friends, make sure the location is convenient for everyone’s internship host location.

You will need to speak directly with the housing provider to try to resolve the issue. MIT-Spain can step in to support you but cannot accept any responsibility for the issue. Take screenshots of the advertisements and keep all email correspondence with the provider.

Madrid

Madrid's most expensive and central neighborhoods are Salamanca and Retiro. More affordable areas are El Centro, La Latina, Lavapiés, Huertas, Malasaña, Chueca, Argüelles, and Moncloa--all within easy walking distance to public transportation, shops, and restaurants.  

Avoid: Carabanchel, Vallecas Bridge, Usera.

Barcelona

Recommended Barcelona neighborhoods are Gràcia, Barceloneta, Eixample, Poblenou, Ciutat Vella, Sagrada Familia, el Born

Avoid: Raval, Park Güell, La Mina, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Rambla de Raval Boulevard.

*** Feel free to consult with MIT-Spain when finalizing your apartment search!