Tips and ideas for finding a cheap apartment in Barcelona
How to find cheap accommodation in Barcelona
We’ll give you practical advice for saving money and find a cheap place to stay in Barcelona. The first general tip is to book in advance, but I’m sure you have questions based on what type of accommodation you’re looking for:
Long term rental in Barcelona: In which part of the city are the cheapest flats? What is the best solution for accommodation if you’re coming to study?
Holiday rentals in Barcelona: What months are the accommodation half price? Which are the cheapest neighbourhoods?
At the end of this article, discover the results of a survey we took using 850 foreigners living in Barcelona for at least 3 months. They reveal the best, least touristy neighbourhoods in Barcelona.
Save on accommodation = Reserve in advance
If you are looking for holiday flat in high season you should book in advance. For example, in February, Barcelona hosts one of the most important events of the year: The Mobile World Congress. The people who reserve at the last minute pay two or three times more than those who booked in advance.
If you are looking for a low cost monthly rental we advise you to book in advance for other reasons. There are two options when searching for monthly rentals: reserve before you get here or come to Barcelona to visit the apartments. Reserving it from home will allow you to:
Save money: the accommodations that are the best value for money are reserved first.
Save time: after visiting various flats, nobody can guarantee that you will be able to rent the one you like. When an apartment is available, visits are organised and the owner chooses the tenant profile they like the most.
Booking in advance means that you need to have full confidence in the agency to avoid being scammed. Our office is located in the centre of Barcelona. All the apartments are verified by us and we guarantee that the apartment is handed over in perfect condition. In addition, our customers have access to a 24hr assistance service for emergencies.
How to find the best budget monthly rental?
The cheapest monthly rentals
The low cost monthly apartments are the smallest and they are normally found in the historical centre of Barcelona: the Gothic Quarter, Born, Raval, Barceloneta and Poble Sec. In these neighbourhoods, the majority of the apartments are between 30 and 45 m² and the price fluctuates between 750 and 1000 euros per month not including bills. These are studios or apartments with one or two bedrooms. This is an ideal solution for one or two people.
The cheapest solution for students
The classic form of student housing is to rent a bedroom monthly in a shared flat. This option has two downsides:
It’s not economical: the cost of rent for one bedroom is between 400 and 500 € per month.
It’s risky: sharing with people you don’t know can become problematic.
The safest and most low cost option is the monthly rental of an apartment. It’s cheaper to rent an accommodation with 3 or 4 bedrooms with other students or a studio apartment in Barcelona than to rent 3 or 4 bedrooms separately.
How to find low cost holiday flats?
50% less in low season
The low season in Barcelona lasts for four months between November to February, excluding Christmas and New Year. In general, the same holiday apartments cost almost double during the four months in high season than during the four months in the low season. In winter, you can get much cheaper flights and the temperatures in the city almost never go below 8ºC.
The touristy neighbourhoods are expensive
One of the best ways to find low-cost accommodation in Barcelona is the leave the touristy centre of the city. It’s best to look in less touristy, more residential neighbourhoods.
Public transport in the city of Barcelona is fast, efficient and easy to use. On the one hand, you will have to spend more time getting to your apartment, but on the other hand you will enjoy paying less and a quiet atmosphere with green areas and less tourists. If you like to walk, you can even go on foot and discover hidden gems away from the tourist routes.
Sleep cheap: hotel or apartment?
It is well-known that staying in a holiday accommodation is a cheaper option than staying in a hotel. The more people staying in the apartment, the cheaper it is per person. You are also able to cook in apartments and save on restaurants. The holiday accommodations are generally much more spacious than hotels and allows you to feel at home whilst on holiday.
Discover the best locations to stay in Barcelona!
At OK Apartment Barcelona, we have conducted a survey on 850 foreigners who have been living in Barcelona for at least 3 months and asked:
Which is the best area to stay in Barcelona?
You will find the results, a graph and various videos of the best areas to stay in Barcelona. The best neighbourhoods are not the most touristy. The results are: Gracia (18%), Poblenou (10%), Sarrià – Sant Gervasi (9%), Born – Sant Pere (9%) and Eixample [Right (8%) and Left (8%)].
