Independent guides to living and studying in Europe
City Cards · Community of Madrid · Madrid
City Card No. 10 · SPAIN
Madrid
Spain’s capital, and its biggest job market.
GUIDE FOR MOVING TO SPAIN
1-bed, central
€1,100–1,700 a month
Single person budget
€1,700–2,000 a month
Better value
Outer districts like Vallecas, Carabanchel
Summer
Regularly over 40°C
The short version
If you need to find work in Spain rather than bring it, Madrid is the answer.
Multinational head offices, finance and consulting, and the largest concentration of English-using employers in the country. The university system is the broadest in Spain.
Connectivity is exceptional: fast trains reach most of Spain in a few hours, and Barajas flies almost everywhere, including direct to the Gulf and South Asia.
Madrid suits you if
- You need to find work in Spain
- You want city life, culture and connections over sea views
- You are willing to learn Spanish properly
Look elsewhere if
- The coast is the point of moving (the Costa Blanca or Valencia)
- Extreme summer heat without the sea would wear you down
- You want a slower pace
Money
What living here costs
| Item | Typical cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Flat of 60 m² | €1,400 a month |
| Family flat of 90 m² | €2,110 a month |
| One-bed flat, central | €1,100–1,700 a month |
| One-bed flat, outer districts | €750–1,050 a month |
| Family three-bed | €1,500–2,400 a month |
| Student shared room | €450–700 a month |
| Utilities and internet | €130–190 a month |
| Transport | €20 a month under 26, about €55 standard |
| International school fees | €6,000–16,000 per child a year |
Flat sizes use asking rents on idealista for September 2026 (Madrid €23.4 per m²; Spain average €15.1). Signed rents are often a little lower, and furnished, sea-view or new-build homes cost more. Other figures are indicative ranges for planning, not quotes.
The commuter belt saving: Las Rozas, Pozuelo, Majadahonda and Alcobendas are 20 to 30 minutes out, hold most international schools, and offer houses with gardens.
The trade-off
No coast, and a genuinely fierce summer.
The nearest beach is a four-hour drive and the city empties in August. Winters are dry and sunny, and healthcare is among the strongest in Spain.
Guides for this area
Spain Move Kit €12.99
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