Barcelona, Spain
An expat in Barcelona talks about the cost of living in Barcelona, finding an apartment that's pet friendly, learning the language and more.
Barcelona
Certain spices are not available or easily found like chili powder for Mexican cooking, and flavor extracts like root beer or caramel. Their caramel is different, more of a caramelized, burnt flavor. Cold medicines have to be purchased in a Pharmacy after speaking with the Pharmacist, though many US prescription medications do not require a doctor visit. Clothing is very inexpensive here, it is just a matter of finding the stores which is not difficult. Their equivalent of WalMart or Target is Carrefour Hipermercados, though there are better options for clothing.
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In addition to what was mentioned previously, get a local mobile phone number as soon as possible. It seemed we got a faster response when we gave our facilitator's number. We used the local real estate websites like Fotocasa and Idealista for our searches. And to reiterate from others, PREPARE/RESEARCH - there is so much info on sites like this one; PACK ONLY THE ESSENTIALS (prescriptions and enough clothes to layer for warmth when necessary) - don't incumber yourself with STUFF - you are doing this to have new experiences and make new memories; and LEARN THE BASICS OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE - people will respond so much better if you try to communicate in their native tongue and usually will revert to English because they want to practice.
It is fairly common for many expats to want to live close to Ciutat Vella in the large area called Eixample which is just west of the old city. Most buildings here are from about a 100 years old or newer and are around 8 stories high, generally with elevators which can be very small. Many businesses will have someone who speaks English, which is less likely farther out.
We chose an apartment that is somewhat central, near Plaza Espana on Avenida Paralelo which is the border for the Sant Antoni, Poble Sec, and Fira/Montjuic neighborhoods. It is very convenient yet still far enough from the crowds of tourists, though it is still somewhat noisy. We have pets so that tended to shrink the list of available rentals, otherwise it is a very pet-friendly. We preferred a building with an elevator and/or a low floor because our dogs are elderly. Ours has both except our first floor apartment is actually 3 flights up. From the ground floor "planta 0" there is first the "entresuelo", then the "principal", and only then "primero." All buildings have at least a ground floor above which they start numbering. As air-conditioning addicts places so equipped are somewhat less common. Since our Spanish language skills are limited we found a local facilitator to assist us.
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It is cheaper here than many large cities in the US, yet choice ultimately depends on your budget and needs. Prices may be lower the farther you go from Ciutat Vella, plus you will still have metro access. You can get a good sized apartment with 2 or more bedrooms and at least one bathroom for between 1000-1500 euros per month. Utilities and internet/TV are generally cheaper too.
Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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Barcelona Index
An index of all of our site's Barcelona information.
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region where some citizens are fighting for their independence from Spain. Barcelona is a beautiful city that's rich in history and architecture with a thriving nightlife scene.
Spain Forum
Talk with other digital nomads and expats in Spain on our Spain forum - meet people, get advice and help others.
Contribute
Help others in Spain by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Spain.
Expats in Spain offer advice about healthcare, hospital visits, emergency rooms visits, finding a doctor and buying health insurance in Spain.
Expats in Spain have a lot of opinions as to the best places to live in Spain. It all comes down to preferences, resources and where you are in life.
Expats in Spain discuss the pros and cons of living in Spain. Topics discussed include lower cost of living, taxation on worldwide income, friendliness of Spaniards, LGBT community, slower pace of life and more.
Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
GET A QUOTE
Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
GET A QUOTE
Barcelona Index
An index of all of our site's Barcelona information.
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region where some citizens are fighting for their independence from Spain. Barcelona is a beautiful city that's rich in history and architecture with a thriving nightlife scene.
Spain Forum
Talk with other digital nomads and expats in Spain on our Spain forum - meet people, get advice and help others.
Contribute
Help others in Spain by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Spain.
Expats in Spain offer advice about healthcare, hospital visits, emergency rooms visits, finding a doctor and buying health insurance in Spain.
Expats in Spain have a lot of opinions as to the best places to live in Spain. It all comes down to preferences, resources and where you are in life.
Expats Living in Spain offer their advice for others making the move to the nation on the Iberian peninsula. From what to bring, to learning Spanish, culture shock and more, read on to learn how to settle into your new life as an expat in Spain.
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