Barcelona's cost of living has steadily increased year after year. Though it is much more expensive than most other cities in Spain, it is still reasonable compared to many other European cities.
Use the Cost of Living calculator to help estimate costs.
Research, research, and introspection should define your pre-accommodation search. Familiarize yourself with the different areas and find where you want to live. Read blogs from the area, find official resources, visit the different areas. Ask yourself questions like:
How big a place do you want? A studio? A three room flat?
Where do you want to live? Somewhere close to your work? In the trendiest part of town? East or West?
What's your price range?
With answers to these important questions you can begin to think of a specific place.
Short-term accommodation can help you and your family get situated after the move without having to make any permanent decisions quite yet. They also offer the opportunity to get to know the area and your needs before picking permanent accommodations.
To find the perfect short-term rental, go to Subrent.
A flatshare is usually a great value and can provide an expat with an opportunity to get to know a new Barcelona with a local. A room in the center costs about 400€.
An important trait in any roommate situation is having boundaries and a clear understanding of what each roommate requires. To protect yourself against potential problems, make sure to have a contract that explicitly states rights and responsibilities.
Hostels are the cheapest option and can be a great place to meet other people and enjoy the boisterous environment. On the other hand, the prominence of Barcelona's club scene may mean that people are here to party rather than sleep.
Update 19/06/2012
Looking for cheap accommodation in Barcelona isn’t easy and can be time consuming. Fortunately the times of browsing innumerable adverts, making hundreds of phone calls and visiting dozen of houses belong to the past: with Uniplaces now you can look for your room comfortably sitting at home. You can pick a room in a shared home with other expats, a studio flat if you want more privacy, or you can team up with other friends and rent an entire apartment just for yourselves.
The booking system is very simple and doesn’t require any visit: all can be done in advance thanks to the detailed descriptions and photos of the rooms and you can secure your room before even getting there. Moreover the Uniplaces team will be available for any questions and help.
30/03/2015