The Cost of Living-Expenses in Madrid – What kind of lifestyle can you afford ?

First of all, for many of you probably first time coming Madrid, We are here to give a information about Madrid City living-expenses cost. You can compare your monthly budget, visualize right now the lifestyle you can afford in Madrid, including all costs for living (rent,mobile phone, bills, food, transportation etc.) per person:

• Bare necessities in Madrid’s city center for a student life, 800 -1000 € Minimum level.
• 1100 – 1500 €: living a bit more comfortably, eating out with some week-end excursions
• 1600 – 2000 €: professional type living, traveling and enjoy the Madrid city.
• 2000 – 4000 €: living comfortably, think about investing, charity and buying a home if you’re planning to stay for years, able to sustain a family,
• Over 4000 €: we can talk of a luxury lifestyle.

  1. Accommodation, Housing and room

In the Madrid city center room price mimimum 450€ beetwen 700€ per monthly. Some rooms bills included some of them not included, it is depend owner the flat policy. Find more information write us by WhatsApp

  1. Transportation Madrid

Transportation Madrid is the best in the Europe. (Metro,public buses and renfe also trains) and a relatively cheap and abundant taxi service. We would like to inform you public transportation in Madrid,there are monthly public transportation passes at affordable prices that allow for unlimited traveling in different modes of transportation within their zones. The monthly pass for the city center costs around 55€ between 110€. If you are under 23 years, you will be able to save money. One round metro cost 1,50€ which is cheap in Europe.

 

  1. How to get Abono Transportation-Metro Card

These are the documents you need to get your transportation monthly card: Aplication form (www.tarjetatransportepublico.es)

  • A standard passport sized photo (which you can get at the photo booths in most metro stations, Sol Metro)
  • EU ID, residence ID or passport (photo copy)

Once you have prepared these three things, you have two options to process your abono.

  • The first option is the easiest if you don’t speak the language–you can make an online request, you’ll be asked to upload all three required files. Once they process your request, your card will be sent to your address in less than 20 days.
  • The second option is a bit faster–make an appointment on the internetor by calling 012 (press 4; calling hours M-F from 8am to 10 pm). Then, choose a place, day and time. At the appointment you will hand in the three documents in person, and they will tell you in how many days you should return to pick up your Metro abono card (from 1-3 weeks).

In my opinion, the first option (online) is the best because you won’t have to waste your precious time waiting on line.

If you have any questions during the application process you can email (in Spanish or English) the customer attention service of the Consorcio de Transporte de Madrid: tarjetatransportepublico@crtm.es

 

  1. Mobile Phone and internet

Monthly pre-pay or Contract mobile phone cost 20€-70€, depending on use too much. When an international student comes to Madrid, becomes ERASMUS, and as ERASMUS, needs a phone to keep in touch with friends both at home and in Madrid.

But, how can you do this if you don´t have a Spanish number? It´s quite easy if you know perfectly how. Lets see…

Sometimes it is hard to go to a phone shop and ask for prices, so here they are. Have a look and compare!

First you have to choose between “CONTRACT” or “PAYPHONE”. This is not quite easy both in economic and practical ways so let´s have a look on each one.

Contract Mobile Phone:

Supposes signing a contract with the company for at least 12 months. Can be cheaper than a payphone but we only recommend this way if you are staying for a full year here in Madrid. You should choose a “VOICE+DATA” fare; we suppose you actually own a smartphone.

To sign a contract with the operator you need to get the shop. Once there you must carry your PASSPORT and a CURRENT ACCOUNT Nº. BASED IN SPAIN. So if you want to get this way you should open an account at an Spanish bank.

  • PAYPHONE: Easier way of getting an Spanish number. Just get the shop and ask about fare. We recommend you a “VOICE+DATA” fare because we suppose you own a smartphone.

When the fare has been choosen you just need your ID CARD and some cash to pay for it. It is the best way and we recommend you to purchase this kind of line.

There are a lot of things going through your head when you move to a new country, one of those things is finding the best cellphone (mobile) deal out there.  Madrid is home to many cellphone providers, most of them you have never heard of, unless you have visited other places in Europe or South America. These providers are the first ones you will see and hear about, but they are not necessarily the best option for you.

Below you will find a list of the best and not so great cellphone companies in Madrid.

  1. Orange (Ok)

This company has really good deals for students, they also give away some pretty good phones when you sign up. You can get a prepaid plan and put in as much money as you want every week/month. Every week the company will deduct (if your phone has credit) three something euros and with that you get: 1gb data on your phone, free texting and some free minutes. No hidden fees and no need to sign a contract.

  1. Vodafone (not so good)

This company is huge and very well known, but not great with customers and their phone plans. They charge ridiculous rates, sometime you get an obscene bill for calls you never made and they do not have good deals (phone wise).

 

  1. Yoigo (Good)

This is probably the best way to go. Yoigo is very popular amongst foreign and national students. Not only do you get great phones when you sign up with them, but they have a plethora of amazing prepaid plans. The deals are very cheap and you get a great service…fast internet on your phone, free text and minutes every month.

 

  1. Movistar (Ok)

Like a same as Vodafone. These guys might just take the cake when it comes to lousy cell phone service. Laughable rates, that you never actually know where they come from, because they never send you a bill. If you get a pay as you go plan both the internet service and minutes are exceeded as soon as you get them. Internet costs around 37€-53€ well-know companies Jazztell, Movistar, Orange etc. only one time paying instalitaion for internet 37-60€. Internet is already installed and costs are included in the monthly rent.

 

  1. Supermarket and Food

Monthly supermarket expenses around 250€-400€ per person. Most wel-known supermarkets, Mercadona,Lidle,Simply,Dia atc.

  1. Hair Cut & Beauty salon

Madrid City Well-Known hair cut place Marco Aldany. Haircut price 10€.

Direccion: http://www.tiendeo.com/Tiendas/Madrid/marco-aldany

Price: 10€-45€

  1. Leisure Activities

There are lot of things you can do in Madrid apart from sightseeing. One possibility is to explore in Madrid city, the shopping paradise. If you prefer to relax, you can chill out in one of the many green oases of the city, which you can also use for sports. It is very hot during the summer, perfect weather to cool down in a swimming pool or would you like to discover the neighbouring cities in Spain?