Cost of living for interns in Spain — real monthly budgets, city by city.

The figures below assume a shared apartment (single room), cooking most meals at home, a monthly transport pass, private health insurance for non-EU citizens, and moderate going-out (2 weekend nights, occasional weekday dinner out). They do not include one-off arrival costs (rent deposit, flights, visa) — budget €800–€1,500 extra for those.

Rent accounts for 45–55% of the average intern's monthly spend, and it's where most first-time renters overpay. Three rules save the most money: (1) arrive in the first two weeks of the month, when landlord vacancies are highest, (2) never sign for more than one month upfront until you've seen the flat in person, and (3) avoid Idealista listings above €800/month for a single room — those are targeted at expat professionals and the same neighbourhood has €500 options if you look in Spanish on Fotocasa, Badi and local Facebook groups.

Deposit is legally capped at one month's rent (Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos, Art. 36), plus one month as fianza held by the regional housing authority. Agency fees for tenants were abolished nationally in June 2023 — if a landlord or agency asks you for a comisión, that's illegal and you should walk away.

Spain's under-26 transport passes are one of the best-kept secrets in student finance. Madrid's Abono Joven at €8.50/month covers unlimited metro, bus and cercanías across the entire Comunidad de Madrid — including the airport. Barcelona's T-jove (€40 for 90 days) covers TMB, FGC and cercanías in the metropolitan area. Both require a physical card, which you apply for in advance (Madrid: online at tarjetatransportepublico.es; Barcelona: at any TMB customer service point).

Spain remains one of the cheapest EU countries for food, and the culture around cheap, high-quality lunches (menú del día) means you can eat well without cooking. A weekly grocery shop for one person at Mercadona or Lidl runs €35–€50. The neighbourhood menú del día — three courses, bread, drink and coffee — costs €12–€15 in most cities and is a Spanish institution worth using at least twice a week.