room rental in Barcelona
 

I posted this under the expat link first but wanted to post it here being that this area gets more visits...hope that's okay:surrender:...I'm applying for my student visa in a couple of weeks and then will be off to BCN for a year. I have to have an address (place of stay) listed on my visa application and so am looking at places to stay for the year. My question is this...is 400 euro a month unreasonable (the room I'm looking at is a nice size with lots of light because I'll get claustrophobic otherwise)? And if so, what are the chances of me getting something cheaper and just as nice if I just contract for a month and then after the month look for something? My concern with that is that if I wait until I get there (and of course all the other university students!) in September, there won't be anything cheaper or even available and them I'm screwed....what do you all think? Has anyone stayed there for that long and also...is a budget of about 700-750 US dollars a month unreasonable (I'm vegetarian and will have to be cooking all my meals)? Thanks! :cheers:

400€ is not bad. In madrid, I've seen rooms for rent for just under 300e to almost 1,000€ a month. 350-450€ being the average. It looks like Barcelona' and Madrids prices are about the same.

This is the best Spain website for property rentals- Idealista.com (link will go to the english version).
You can get a good idea of the rents there.

Also, the Craigslist of Spain is Loquo.com

Be careful for scammers who will ask you to western union money before hand.

If you are in communication with someone who is advertising a flat or an email is listed, google the email and any phone numbers.

I was interested in a room and happened to google the email and it came up on a list of scammers.

Here's a growing list of scammers offering rentals worldwide. Read the comments on the bottom to get a feel of the verbiage they use.

Here be dragons: Chicanery, cons and scams: Scammails U - Z 2009

Good luck!

Hey thanks for those links
 

HEY THANKS FOR THOSE LINKS. I STARTED A BIT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THE RENTAL PRICES IN BARCELONA EXPENSIVE ALMOST LIKE THE REST OF EUROPE. My daughter wants to go to Europe next year and stay in Barcelona for a few months or more. After being shocked at the rental rates and the 40% unemployment among the 20somethings and an overall 18% unemployment rate I was wondering how wise is her decision. I will definitely check those sites out and I was thinking maybe Spain is like the Philippines in regards to rentals.The BEST local priced rents are never advertised but just posted on some 4 Rent sign with a cell / mobile # hanging outside visible from the street. Any more feedback would be appreciated. Ciao for now, Bill ( in Dali, Yunnan province, China at the moment )