Accomodation

Explore the vast array of housing resources.

MISTI TIP #1

How Much?

Students usually budget between €350-€650 euros a month for a shared apartment. Rents can depend on the city, location within the city and amenities offered (like air conditioning!)

MISTI TIP #2

Hosteling International (HI)

Spain has an extensive youth hostel network via Hosteling International. These are true youth hostels and are safe and inexpensive. It's a great option if you want to check out apartments in person before booking or to travel on the weekends.

MISTI TIP #3

Finding an Apartment

MIT-Spain will provide you with a list of websites (student housing, apartment shares). An updated list can be found below.

HOUSING F.A.Q

When can I start looking for housing?

You can start looking for housing as soon as you have a signed internship agreement. However, you may want to wait until the pre-departure sessions to make any final decisions. Students usually start looking for housing in April or May.

How do I search for housing?

MIT-Spain will provide you with a list of websites (student housing, apartment shares).

How much should I spend on housing?

Students usually pay between €350 and €650 euros for a room in a shared apartment. Costs may be more expensive in university housing, but this may include cleaning and meals.

What should I know about Spanish apartments?

Spanish apartments are often listed as “interior”vs “exterior”. This means that an interior apartment may have windows that directly face another building or interior courtyard while an exterior apartment faces the street. Interior apartments may be quieter and darker while exterior may have direct sunlight but will also be louder, especially on a busy street.
If smoking bothers you, make sure to find a non-smoking apartment.
Typically, there is a washer in the kitchen. The majority of Spanish apartments do not have a clothes dryer. Be prepared to hang your clothes to dry on a drying rack!

What is usually included in the rental?

Most rentals are fully-furnished with bedding, towels and a fully stocked kitchen. You will have to check to see if bills are included or are charged separately from the rental cost. Most rentals will not have air conditioning, if this is important for you, make sure to search places that list air conditioning.

Will the apartment have WIFI?

Most apartments have WIFI, but it may not be as fast as you are accustomed to!

How long is a typical commute?

A typical commute in Madrid or Barcelona is 30 minutes - 1 hour. If your host is outside of the city center, you want to make sure you are close to a train or metro station that is more direct to the host.

What if I arrive and the housing is different from what was advertised?

You will need to speak directly with the housing provider to try to resolve the issue. Alicia/MIT-Spain can step in to support you but cannot accept any responsibility for the issue. Take screen shots of the advertisements and keep all email correspondence with the provider.

***Notes about housing.

These are websites recommended by previous MIT-Spain Interns. MIT-Spain does not endorse any particular site, nor is MIT-Spain responsible for the rules imposed by these providers.

Be careful when booking housing. Make sure to read all the rules and policies prior to booking.

Housing Resources

All of Spain*

www.aluni.net (for students- apartment shares)

https://housinganywhere.com/ (for students – apartment shares)

https://www.spotahome.com/ (Short term rentals)

www.resa.es (student university housing)

www.idealista.com (general listings, sales, rentals)

www.loquo.com (general listings, sales, rentals)

www.airbnb.com (short term rentals)

https://www.easypiso.com/ (Shared apartments, roommate search)

Madrid summer