| Cost of Living | Work in Spain |
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In general Spain is not an expensive country to live in, but prices have risen since the introduction of the Euro. Cost of living in Barcelona is above average but still in balance with the wages. Accommodation eats up the biggest slice of your salary. In addition to rent, you have to pay gastos (expenses) such as water, electricityand internet. These can be as much as 100 euros a month per person, depending on the type of accommodation. While renting an apartment or a studio you are expected to pay 1-3 months' deposit. If you go through an agency, their fee will usually be a month's rent and is not refundable. This is why so many people live in shared flats. Transportation costs vary depending on where you live. If you don't need to buy the monthly public transport card, an eco-friendly option is to use public bicycles, bicing, with an annual fee of 44 euros. The network of stations is wide and covers central Barcelona. Metro is also a convenient way of travelling and with travel passes the price of a single journey drops well below one euro. Food is relatively cheap if you buy at normal supermarket chains (Mercadona, Caprabo-Eroski, Condis, Dia, Carrefour, Alcampo). Eating out does not drive you into bankruptcy. All links necessary are provided in the Knowledge Bank section. |