Cost of living for students in Spain — a 2026 monthly budget breakdown

The Erasmus+ grant looks generous on paper. Then you land in Madrid, pay your first month's rent, buy a metro card, do one grocery run, and watch €600 disappear in eight days. Welcome to budgeting in Spain.

Here's what living in Spain as a student actually costs in 2026 — broken down by category and city, with the hidden costs that nobody warns you about.

The headline numbers

Realistic total monthly spend for a student living moderately (cooks at home most nights, goes out twice a week, takes one weekend trip per month):

• Granada, Salamanca: €750–€950
• Valencia, Sevilla, Málaga: €850–€1,050
• Bilbao: €900–€1,150
• Madrid, Barcelona: €1,050–€1,400

If you're on the Erasmus+ grant (typically €350–€600/month depending on your country of origin), you'll need to top up between €300 and €800 from savings or family. Plan for the upper end — running out of money in month 6 is a classic Erasmus mistake.

Rent + bills

This is your biggest expense by far. Realistic ranges for a room in shared student housing:

• Madrid: €500–€750
• Barcelona: €500–€800
• Bilbao: €380–€520
• Málaga: €380–€520
• Valencia: €350–€480
• Sevilla: €330–€450
• Salamanca: €300–€420
• Granada: €280–€400

Bills add €40–€80 per month on top, unless explicitly included. Some landlords advertise "all-inclusive" then exclude electricity, which spikes in winter — ask exactly what's covered before you sign.

Groceries

If you cook at home most nights, expect €130–€180/month at Spanish supermarkets:

• Mercadona: the default; good quality, mid-priced
• Lidl, Aldi: cheapest, fewer brands
• Dia: small format, useful for the daily missing-item run
• Carrefour, Alcampo: big shops, useful once a month for bulk basics
• Local fruit/vegetable shops: often cheaper than supermarkets for fresh produce

Skip the corner shops near tourist areas — they're 30% more expensive for the same products.

Eating out

This is the line where Erasmus budgets quietly explode. Reference prices:

• Coffee: €1.20–€2 at a normal local bar, €3.50 at a hipster café
• Caña (small beer): €1.50–€3 depending on city and area
• Wine glass: €2–€4
• Menú del día (full lunch): €11–€14 in most cities, €13–€17 in Madrid/Barcelona
• Tapas evening (3 small dishes + drinks): €15–€25 per person
• Dinner out: €18–€30 per person
• Club entry + first drink: €15–€25

A realistic eating-out budget for a student going out twice a week: €120–€200/month.

Transport

Spain has aggressive youth discounts on public transport. Use them.

• Madrid: Abono Joven, €20/month unlimited for under-26s (the best deal in Europe)
• Barcelona: T-jove, ~€40 for 90 days for under-25s
• Valencia: Bono Joven, around €30/month
• Sevilla: monthly pass ~€36, but the city is walkable
• Granada: bus pass €22, but again, you'll walk everywhere
• Bilbao: Barik card with student discount, ~€30–€40/month

Trains between cities: Renfe's Joven 50% discount card (€50/year) pays for itself after two trips. Look at iryo and Ouigo for low-cost AVE alternatives.

Phone

Get a Spanish SIM the first week. Roaming from your home country burns through €100/month for nothing.

Cheapest options for students:

• Lowi, Pepephone, Simyo: €8–€15/month for plenty of data
• O2 / Yoigo: mainstream, €15–€20/month
• Vodafone, Movistar, Orange: the premium tier, only worth it if you also want home internet bundled

The hidden costs nobody warns you about

These don't fit in a category but they hit hard:

1. The deposit you may not get back. Budget mentally as if your fianza is gone — that way recovering it is a bonus, not a crisis.
2. The "free" Erasmus events that aren't free. ESN trips, the welcome party, the language exchange that becomes a tapas dinner. €30 here, €40 there, €200/month gone.
3. Friends visiting. Someone will visit. They'll want to do everything. Budget €100–€200 per visit.
4. The flights home. Christmas alone can be €250–€500 round-trip depending on your country. Spring break too.
5. Health stuff. Bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you're EU. For non-EU students, private student insurance is €30–€60/month.
6. The "starter pack" first week. Sheets, towels, pots, basic kitchen. Easy €120 if you didn't ship anything.

A realistic monthly budget — Valencia example

To make it concrete, here's a realistic Valencia budget for a moderately-spending Erasmus student:

• Room (shared flat, Russafa): €420
• Bills: €55
• Groceries: €160
• Eating out + bars: €140
• Public transport: €30
• Phone: €12
• Gym (optional): €30
• Going out (clubs, events): €60
• Weekend trip / surprise spending: €100
• Buffer: €60

Total: €1,067/month

In Granada the same lifestyle is around €820. In Madrid it's €1,280. Adjust accordingly.

How to make it cheaper

If your budget is tight, the highest-leverage moves:

• Pick the right city. A Granada budget is 35% lower than a Madrid budget for the same student lifestyle.
• Cook lunch on weekdays. Skipping the €13 menú 4×/week saves €200/month.
• Get the youth transport card. Always.
• **Drink at the botellón before going out.** It's a national institution for a reason.
• Travel by Ouigo/iryo or BlaBlaCar instead of flights. Spain's intercity network is incredible.
• Buy second-hand on Wallapop. Furniture, bikes, books — the same stuff that costs €80 new costs €20 there.

Erasmus in Spain isn't cheap, but it's not the catastrophe some forum posts make it sound. With realistic planning you can have a great year on €1,000/month outside the two capitals.

If you're still in the room-hunting phase, check verified rooms by city on GoMate — every listing shows what's actually included in the price, no surprises.