Moving to Madrid
The Spanish capital, Madrid, is a dream place for people who intend to celebrate the inseparable elements of human history, like art, music, literature, sculptures and even religion.
Madrid is developing every year from the perspectives of urbanisation and sustainable development. The capital city, Madrid was recently ranked the best city in Europe for expats, making it an excellent place to emigrate to. Moreover, Madrid welcomes every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation, culture, or religion. Although the history of Madrid is as old as the history of religions, the Spanish capital is still a city with utmost dynamism, filled with young and energetic people enjoying all the culture it has to offer.
Continue reading as we outline what you need to consider before moving to Madrid and what it is like to live here.
CLIMATE
The climate of Madrid is relatively continental, with quite chilly winters and warm, sunny summers. Influenced by the local steppe climate, there is little rainfall throughout the year. The average annual temperature is 14.5 °C (58.0 °F) in Madrid. The annual rainfall is around 415 mm | 16.3 inches per year.
NIE NUMBERS
The NIE number is equivalent to your regular identification number. In Spain, it is required for almost everything, including buying a property, opening a new bank account and working in Spain.
If you are planning to stay in Madrid for three months or more, you must get a Spanish NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero). To request a NIE, you are required to visit the Comisaria General de Extranjeria in your local area.
LIVING COST
On the whole, Madrid is an affordable capital city, particularly when compared to London. In general, the cost of living in Madrid is relatively low, but there are lavish lifestyles you can seek if your pocket allows. The average lifestyle is attainable even if you do not have a high-income job.
Here is a breakdown of the general costs of living in Madrid, which will vary dependent on your lifestyle:
- Between €1.100 € to €1.500 for a student-style lifestyle.
- Between €1.500 to €1.700 for a comfortable lifestyle.
- Between €1.600 to €2.000 for a professional lifestyle.
- Between €2.000 to €4.100 for a family-style lifestyle.
- It can cost more than €4.100 for a lavish lifestyle.
There are day-to-day expenses you need to consider:
- Electricity, gas, heating, water: €95 – €130
- Internet: €30 – €40
- Fitness club, monthly: €40
- Tennis Court (1 hour, weekend): €10-13
- Cinema, International release: €9
- Cell Phone: €10 – €50, depending on coverage
- Medical Insurance: €40+, depending on coverage
ACCOMMODATION
Unlike the capital cities of various other European countries such as London, Madrid offers huge perks for those who are buying a property rather than renting it, making it often the more affordable option long-term.
Having said that, it is incredibly tough to find housing in Madrid, since the procedures and laws of buying and renting a house are completely different from the UK.
You need to be well versed in searching for the best property and have the skills to negotiate for the best price to land a perfect deal. This can be overwhelming for new expats to navigate, so to avoid problems you should consider engaging the services of a lawyer.
OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT IN MADRID
Unfortunately, in Spain you do not have the option to register with well-known UK banks, such as Barclays and NatWest, as they are not affiliated to the country. When you move to Madrid, you should therefore open a new bank account with a respectable Spanish bank, such as Caixabank or Bancsabadell.
You can find the step-by-step procedures to open a bank account on their websites, but you must have an NIE number in order to register for a bank account in Spain.
HEALTHCARE
The healthcare system in Spain is one of the best in Europe. You can get accessible and cheap healthcare in Spain once you obtain your NIE number and become a resident of Madrid.
If you’re searching for local hospitals in Madrid, then visit the gov.uk website for an extensive list of hospitals in Madrid.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The public transport in Madrid is effective, low-cost and the options are plentiful, including the commuter rail service (Carcanius Madrid), the Madrid Metro, buses, taxis and rentable e-bikes.
The fare for Metro de Madrid is only €1.5-€2 (£1.29 – £1.72) and a 10-trip ticket costs only €12.20 (£10.49). Likewise, travel between cities is even more affordable. Additionally, if you book your tickets in advance, the prices are even less.
Alongside trains, buses are also a great way to get around, as the bus routes are spread all over the country and, like most places, bus travel is generally cheaper than travelling by train.
REMOVALS TO MADRID
If your decision about moving to Madrid has been taken, then contact Matthew James Global Relocations to arrange your move. We offer end-to-end relocations to Madrid from the UK and anywhere else in Europe.
As always, the cost of your move will vary according to the overall distance, mode of transport, the number of belongings you have, and if you wish to take out additional insurance with us. Contact Matthew James now for a quick, free, no-obligation quote.