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Moving to Madrid without Having a Personal Meltdown

street in park in madrid
Written by Daniella

Moving to a new city can be a long and complicated process, and you have to take many things into account. Relocating is always stressful, it takes a lot of paperwork and you need to be able to adapt to a new environment quickly.

Today, this article by ShMadrid focuses on helping you make life changes as you move to a new place. We share with you how to move to Madrid without having a complete meltdown.

Related article: Moving To Madrid

Tips for moving to Madrid

Take it step by step and keep your calm

big building complex in madrid

Photo via Pixabay

If you will be moving to the city without making any previous arrangements (apartment, work, etc.), then you will need to have a little patience. Finding an apartment can be a bit complicated on such short notice, so be prepared for this and don’t panic.

It might take a little while for apartments to become available again, but as always, perseverance certainly pays off.

As for getting a job, besides updating your resume and posting it online, you could also apply for a job directly. Sooner or later you will find work in Madrid that suits you.

Search for your favourite neighbourhood in the city

Finding out what your favourite part of the city is, is important when moving to Madrid. If you don’t know any of the districts or its neighbourhoods and its characteristics, then you will likely be disappointed.

So do a little research and spend some time getting to know Madrid’s neighbourhoods, before you decide what area is perfect for your stay. If you are a university student, for example, some areas in the city might be more qualified than others.

Some zones are more multicultural than others, other areas are perfect for party lovers or people who enjoy shopping, and then there are those who would rather prefer a quiet neighbourhood.

Discover the city’s public transport options

You should always investigate the time and money you will spend on travelling between your home and your work or the city centre. It all depends on the area you choose, if prices are affordable or more expensive.

You will find all the information you need at the Consorcio de Transportes. And if you don’t want to take the bus or metro, you can always take a taxi, or use Uber or Cabify as a means of transport.

Or, if you prefer to be completely independant, open your account with car2go or emov (for a car) or rent or buy a bike and use that to travel within the city. Your options are endless and the last one also keeps you fit.

The cost of living and prices to consider

As you may expect, real estate in large cities is more expensive than in the rest of the country. But to be honest, if you have trouble making ends meet to pay for your apartment, then you should surely check your daily expenses, as they also add up considerably.

Rental prices are still on the rise, and according to Fitch ratings España, it is estimated that prices in the Spanish capital will increase with 10% this year and 9% in 2020.

Related article: Moving Services in Madrid

Accommodation: To Rent or To Buy?

old building and museum in madrid

Photo via Pixabay

When you plan on moving, it is only logic that you need a place to live. Whether you plan on buying or renting, you should investigate the real estate market before packing up and loading up the truck.

For example, if you want to rent a property, what are monthly prices in the area? Do you have enough budget? It is easy to find rental prices online, and you can even specify the area, but be sure to call in advance for specific real estate advertisements, to see if you can really afford one of them.

If you plan on moving to Madrid and buying a house, is that financially even possible? Can you pay for the type of property you have in mind? You can get an idea on average property prices by checking out each of the districts on the City Hall’s website.

Administrative preparations

You can take care of some of your administrative tasks before you actually move, like changing the name or address for certain services or subscriptions: insurance, banking, getting registered officially to access public services…

And last but not least: don’t forget to inform your friends and family where you are going to live. This is as easy as sending them a message on Facebook or sending an email.

What is your best advice when moving to Madrid?

About the author

Daniella

Daniella loves to write and translate. Her bucket list is filled with beautiful places she still needs to visit.

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