Teaching English in Barcelona - 2024 Accommodation Guide

One of the first questions English teachers moving to Barcelona ask themselves is “where will I live?”

Good accommodation in Barcelona is in demand. Prices have gone up a lot over recent years, making it harder than ever to find a good living space in the city.

But don’t worry! We’ve got some valuable information and expert insider advice to help you find a great place to live when moving to Barcelona to teach English.

And be sure to check out the last section of this guide for a great tip on how to find the best accommodation in Barcelona, in terms of value for money, safety and quality.

How much is it to rent a shared flat in Barcelona?

It depends on the area. Towards the centre of the city, expect to pay €450 a month to rent a small room. Average prices for an average sized room range from €500 to €650 a month.

Obviously, the further outside the centre of the city you are, the more affordable the accommodation. One of the great things about Barcelona is that public transport is cheap and good, which means living outside the centre is a good option.

How much does it cost to rent your own flat in Barcelona?

To rent a one bedroom flat in Barcelona is not cheap! Expect to pay at least €900 for a small studio flat, rising to over €1,000 for a more spacious one bedroom apartment. 

What are the best areas for accommodation in Barcelona?

Here are some of the most popular neighbourhoods, or barrios, in Barcelona:

Eixample

Barcelona’s sprawling grid-like district is a very popular place to live for English teachers in the city. There’s plenty of choice, transport links are great and it’s very close to the centre of the city.

El Raval

An edgy, artistic neighbourhood, Raval is packed full of quirky cafes, great restaurants and lots of art galleries and museums. It can be noisy and a little sketchy at night, but for those who want to be in a vibrant part of the city, it’s a great choice.

Gracia

Barcelona’s bohemian barrio, Gracia is a little way outside the city, but it has its own distinct vibe that sets it apart. Expect lots of cute cafes and art spaces, fantastic bars and a thriving arts scene, along with prices that are more expensive than most areas.

El Born

Near the centre, El Born is full of expats and it’s easy to see why. It’s one of the most picturesque areas of the city and the restaurants and bars are fantastic. Expect to pay a premium for everything in this area.

El Gótico

Like El Born, it’s very central and very picturesque, containing lots of Barcelona’s most famous monuments. Again, everything is pricey, and it’s not the quietest area.

Sants

A very ‘local’ area, a few kilometres outside the city centre, Sants generally has a good selection of affordable apartments. It’s a lot quieter than central areas, but has a lot of character.

Poble Sec

Another smaller barrio that’s quite tranquil most of the time, but comes alive whenever there’s a street festival. You’ll find lots of great bars and restaurants, together with affordable accommodation.

What are the best platforms for finding accommodation in Barcelona?

Idealista

Barcelona’s main resource for flat-finding in the city, Idealista has the widest range of properties and is favoured by locals and expats alike. Draw an outline on the map to pick your preferred neighbourhoods in Barcelona, set your filters and away you go!

Pros

• Huge range of apartments to choose from
• You can draw your own search area to pick the best areas
• The most used platform for locals and expats

Cons

• No private rentals listed, only agencies, who are often untrustworthy
• You can’t find info about housemates

Airbnb

Following a law change in 2021, Airbnb can now only cater for long term students in Barcelona. Yes it’s expensive, but you’ll find some excellent properties and the platform is known and trustworthy. 

Pros

• It’s a huge, well-trusted platform
• You can check out reviews of landlords before you commit

Cons

• No short term rentals
• Quite expensive

Spotahome

Favoured by students in Barcelona, Spotahome is a great alternative to the more established platforms. It allows you to take a tailored approach to shared living, adding parameters such as ‘perfect for students’ or ‘perfect for women’, as well as giving specific amenities.

Pros

• Large range of apartments across the city
• Excellent search filters allow you specify your preferences

Cons

• Not focused on housemates, so you don’t get much info on who you’ll be living with
• Not as renowned as other rental platforms and some users have found them untrustworthy

Badi

A local company Badi helps you find your ideal housemates. As well as the regular filters about the actual apartment, you can filter your search to male, female or non-binary, and read a short bio about the housemates.

Pros

• Excellent for younger people who want to choose their housemates

Cons

• Not a great deal of choice compared with Idealista and SpotaHome
• Prices can be quite expensive

Can I find accommodation through a TEFL school?

Absolutely! In fact, for those looking to teach English in Barcelona, finding accommodation through your TEFL school is your best option. 

Searching through the above platforms to find the ideal accommodation can be tough. That’s before you have to deal with agencies who, quite honestly, often take advantage of expats. Also, it’s getting harder to find value for money accommodation in the city. 

As a leading TEFL school in Barcelona, TEFL Iberia has an accommodation service that provides everything you need to settle in the city and find your feet. We tailor our service to the needs of our students. 

For just €750 for 4 weeks you’ll get a large private room in a modern flat, with all bills included. So, that’s electricity, gas, water and WiFi completely covered. 

Once you finish your 4 week course, you may have the option to extend at a lower rate, depending on availability.

You’ll be sharing with two to three other people, usually students, and your apartment will be close to the centre of the city, no more than 30 minutes from our campus.

Expect lots of study space and a shared bathroom and kitchen. And best of all, no having to deal with Spanish bureaucracy or shady landlords or agencies.

Well… perhaps best of all, you’ll be living and studying in one of the best cities in the world!
Want to know more about living and studying at TEFL Iberia? Find out more information on our accommodation service, check out our range of courses, and take a step closer to working and living in Spain!