Choosing a city to study in Spain isn’t just a matter of ticking a box on a form. It’s about deciding where you’re going to live, how much you’re going to spend each month, and what sort of university experience you’re going to have over the next few years. And yet, almost everyone makes that decision with very little actual information and a lot of ‘I’ve heard that…’.
The good thing is that most mistakes are the same: people tend to get the same things wrong. Whether you’re deciding between Madrid, Granada, Salamanca, Murcia, Zaragoza, Valencia or Seville, this article isn’t about telling you which is ‘the best’, but about helping you avoid making a blunder when choosing a city.
1. Choose solely based on price
The most common mistake: looking at two or three figures, thinking “this city is cheaper” and making your decision based on that alone. The problem is that a city might be cheaper in terms of accommodation, but offer an experience very different from what you were looking for: less of a buzz, more travelling around, little connection with your university, or simply a lifestyle that doesn’t suit you.
Price is important, of course. Your budget has a significant impact on where you can live. But it shouldn’t be the only factor. There’s a world of difference between living ‘cheaply but counting down the days until you leave’ and living somewhere that really suits you. For the price to make sense, it must always be accompanied by the question: ‘What sort of city am I getting for this money?’
If you’d like to see how living costs vary between Madrid, Granada, Salamanca, Murcia, Zaragoza, Seville and Valencia, take a look at our guide to ‘how much it costs to live as a student in Spain, by city’.
2. Not looking at the distance to the campus
Another classic: falling in love with photos of the city centre, booking accommodation, and then realising it takes an hour to get to class every day. On paper it seems bearable; in practice, after a couple of weeks of early mornings, changing buses and getting home late, it starts to take its toll.
The location of your accommodation isn’t just a minor detail, it’s central to your daily routine. It matters how long it takes you to get to and from university, but also what’s nearby: supermarkets, libraries, places to study, and spots to unwind. A ‘cheap’ hall of residence that forces you to spend extra time and money on transport can end up being a worse option than one that’s a bit more expensive but better located
3. Thinking all cities offer the same student experience
Another very common mistake is to assume that the term ‘university town’ means the same thing everywhere. But it doesn’t. Studying in Madrid isn’t the same as studying in Valencia; living in Granada isn’t the same as living in Murcia or Seville. The size is different, the pace is different, and the way you experience university life is very different.w
In large cities such as Madrid, life is spread across many neighbourhoods, universities, cultural activities and opportunities. It’s ideal if that energy motivates you and you don’t mind travelling further. In cities that are 100% university-based, such as Granada or Salamanca, everything is much more concentrated: there’s a very strong sense of a ‘university bubble’, you bump into students almost everywhere, and life revolves around the campus.
If you’d like to find out more about the best university towns, have a look at the following article: “10 must-know university cities in Spain”
4. Choosing a city without asking yourself how you want to live
There’s one question that almost nobody asks themselves before choosing a city, and which completely changes the decision: ‘How do I see myself living my day-to-day life?’. Not ‘what am I going to study?’, but what you want your daily routine to be like, from the moment you wake up until you go to bed.
Some people need a big city, with lots of different things to do, plenty of new people every week, more noise and more hustle and bustle. Others prefer a smaller, more manageable city, where you can do almost everything on foot, the atmosphere is very intimate and you feel ‘at home’ very quickly.
If you’re the sort of person who enjoys the good sort of chaos found in a major capital city, you’ll probably feel more at home in Madrid. If you see yourself more in a city where university life is everything and there’s a strong sense of community, you’ll likely be more drawn to cities such as Granada or Salamanca. Murcia and Zaragoza tend to be ideal for those looking for a happy medium: large cities, but not huge; lively, but without the overwhelming feel of a massive capital.
5. Not comparing properly the types of accommodation
People often choose a city without having a clear idea of their accommodation yet: a hall of residence, a shared flat, co-living, staying with a host family… And that’s a problem because the type of accommodation has a huge impact on your experience and your actual budget.
It’s not the same arriving in a new city and already having accommodation with a dining room, people in the same situation as you, activities and support, as it is moving straight into a flat with people you don’t know and having to build everything up from scratch. Nor is it the same paying a price that includes utilities, cleaning and some meals, as it is having to add up all those costs separately.
6. Underestimate the impact of scholarships
There’s another aspect that many people leave until last: grants. Sometimes you rule out a city because ‘I can’t afford it’, when in fact you might be eligible for study grants, accommodation grants or specific financial assistance that could completely change your budget.
Rather than choosing a city first and thinking about scholarships afterwards, it makes sense to do it the other way round: find out what financial support options are available to you and, based on that information, narrow down or broaden your list of cities. This is particularly important for international students who come from home on a very tight budget.
FAQs
What weighs more: the city or the university?
Both are important. The university shapes your education, but the city determines your daily routine, your expenses and your social life. Ideally, you should strike a balance: a good university in a city where you can really see yourself living for several years.
How to know if a city is too expensive for me?
The most practical approach is to work out the figures for two categories: accommodation and food. If, when you add those two together, you’re already at the limit of your budget even before adding transport and leisure, that city is likely to be too tight on your budget. In paragraph 1 of this article, you’ll find a link to a table with the figures already worked out.
What do I do if I like two cities equally?
When you’re torn between two options, look at the finer details: compare the monthly budget, how you’d get to class, what each city has to offer, and how you imagine your day-to-day life there. Usually, when you visualise your actual routine, one of the two starts to feel a bit more like the right fit than the other.
If I have good transport, is the distance to my campus really that important?
Good transport helps, but the distance still makes a difference. Spending an hour each way every day ends up affecting your free time, how tired you feel and, ultimately, your expenses too. If you have a choice, living relatively close to campus is always a plus.
Does a student residence or shared flat affect my experience?
Yes, because not all cities offer the same options or at the same price. In some, a student residence might be the best way to settle in quickly; in others, a shared flat might be the most sensible option. That’s why it makes sense to consider both the city and the type of accommodation at the same time.
Is it best to start in a big city or a small city?
It depends on your personality. If you’re motivated by a constant stream of plans, a busy lifestyle and big cities, you’ll feel at home in places like Madrid. If you prefer somewhere more intimate, manageable and with a very vibrant atmosphere, cities like Granada or Salamanca tend to suit you better.
