How to Search Student Residence in Madrid

With ten major universities, Madrid is a hot spot for international students. However, we know that being a student and working out where to live can be a little tricky, especially if you are moving abroad. To make things easier, we have put together a guide that will help you find the right student accommodation in Madrid.

Why Madrid?

As the city of flamenco dancing, Almodóvar, Real Madrid and Mediterranean tapas, it’s no wonder that Madrid ranks in the top 15 of the best cities in the world to live in.

Whether you are looking to learn Spanish, embrace the Madrileño culture or simply enjoy the warm weather and good food, Madrid has something for you.

How much does a Student Residence in Madrid cost?

Budgeting is the first thing to think about when choosing a residence that’s right for you.

Like most capital cities, living in the centre of Madrid is more expensive than living in its outskirts. Living in central Madrid does have its benefits of keeping you within the student network and close to popular restaurants, bars and tourist attractions. At the same time, living in the outskirts of the city has its benefits of having a lower cost of living and keeping you amongst locals. Luckily, Madrid has a fantastic public transport setup so it’s always easy to travel in and out of the city as you please.

According to the recent Housing Anywhere Rental index, the average price of a room rental in Madrid is 575€, whilst a studio apartment is 1,050€ and a standard apartment is 1,500€. Keep in mind that it is also normal for landlords to ask for a deposit equal to one-two months’ rent.

When budgeting, don’t forget to factor in additional living costs such as supermarket shopping, transport fees, eating out and other activities.

What Do You Need to Know About Student Residences in Madrid?

The main types of student housing in Madrid include:

PBSA – Purpose-Built Student Accommodation
Studio Apartment Rentals
Shared Apartment Rentals

When it comes to independently finding studio or shared apartment rentals, we highly recommend using a trusted site accredited by your university. Unfortunately, students who find accommodation through the likes of Facebook are unprotected by law and often become victims of scams. To check whether the site you are booking your accommodation with is legitimate, we recommend using TrustPilot.

Over a quarter of a million students live in Madrid so be sure to not leave your accommodation search to the last minute.

With Madrid having a total of 131 neighbourhoods and 21 districts, knowing where to start your accommodation search can feel a little daunting. As a helpful starting point, we have pulled together seven of the most popular neighbourhoods in Madrid.

Madrid’s Best Neighbourhoods

Puerta Del Sol

Puerta del Sol, or Sol, is classed as the geographical centre of Spain. It’s home to the famous Bear and the Strawberry Tree statue (El Oso y el Madroño) and Casa de Correo’s clock tower where locals go to celebrate New Years Eve. Though rent is fairly high, you will be smack in the middle of Madrid’s liveliness and international student network.

Malasaña

Located in central Madrid, Malasaña is a more affordable place to live than Sol. Known for its graffiti street art and thrifting, Malasaña is considered one of the more retro and cooler neighbourhoods. As a go-to place for nightlife, Malasaña is also a popular destination for international students.

Chueca

Chueca is famous for hosting Madrid’s gay pride festival (Día del Orgullo de Gays). The neighbourhood is full of fun-loving, diverse and inclusive bars so it attracts lots of students. Round the corner from Malasaña, the two neighbourhoods have a very similar urban vibe and vibrant nightlife.

Retiro

Famous for its mix of green spaces and urban culture, Retiro truly lends itself to Madrid’s World Heritage status. Retiro is home to El Retiro, Madrid’s biggest park. The park is filled with grandiose statues, rowboats and live musicians, making for a great place to relax, picnic or study under the sun. As a vibrant hub of local culture, art and leisure, Retiro is the perfect lifestyle balance for international students.

La Latina

Known for keeping its authentic Madrileño culture, La Latina is an ex-pat favourite. As a relaxed neighbourhood full of locals, the place has lots of history and charm. Its El Rastro flea market, hosted every Sunday, is a must-do filled with 700 stalls of Spanish antiques, vintage clothes, paella pans and fresh food. La Latina is also where Madrid hosts its festival of La Paloma. The festival is a tradition-packed procession in celebration of Virgen de La Paloma, the patron saint of La Latina.

Lavapiés

Literally meaning ‘wash feet’, Lavapiés is located in the southeast part of Madrid. The bohemian neighbourhood is famous for its triangle of art: the Reina Sofía Musem, La Casa Encendida and the Tabacalera museum. Full of chic restaurants and classy boutique, Lavapiés is certainly one for the art lovers.

Salamanca

As one of Madrid’s most sophisticated neighbourhoods, Salamanca is for those with higher-end budgets. Located in the northeast of the city, Salamanca is known for its Golden Mile of designer shops and stunning architecture. The neighbourhood is great for families and young working professionals.

The Role of Student Residences

Living in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) can be a great choice for students studying abroad for several reasons:

Community: At Collegiate, our student residences are built with students in mind. With shared bars, lounges, study facilities, a roof-top terrace, swimming pool and more, our PBSA helps set you up with a fun student social life from the get-go.
Location: With our Madrid accommodation being located in Madrid’s centre, our residence offers the convenience of short commutes to classes, libraries and other campus facilities.
Safety: Our PBSA comes with on-site security personnel and CCTV, giving you the peace of mind you need to relax into your student life.

All-Inclusive Living: Collegiate apartments come with fully furnished units and essential utilities like electricity, water, heating and wi-fi included in rent. Our all-inclusive living is a budget friendly approach that allows you to leave behind the hassle of setting up your own bills abroad.

By offering a supportive, convenient and enjoyable living environment, choosing PBSA will significantly boost your year abroad experience.

To find out more about Collegiate’s student accommodation, click here.