IMO..........
In these troubled times that is a good salary !

 

First things first. You need to decide if you will want your own flat or if you are willing to share.

Then you need to decide what part of Barcelona you want to live in. The cost wii vary greatly depending on your location.

Then you simply go on to the recommended websites and search for your criteria.

As this will be your single biggest payment each month then you need to nail this down before you think about or look at anything else.

Then you will see what cash you're left with and take it from there.

Your last sentence is slightly confusing. Are you saying no car, no gym, no cell phone (you american?) and no health insurance ?

Or just no car but you want the rest ?

 

Congratulations on the job offer!
As far as I know, Barcelona isn't the cheapest of places to live, so I would suggest a flat share to begin with.
As has been said, the salary itself sounds very good to me for a starting point for Spain in these difficult times.

 

yes, I'd agree - Barcelona is reputedly very expensive

I'd probably work on the assumption that living costs overall will be similar to those in London, if only because phone & internet costs are so much higher!!

If the OP has a job with a contract though, no health insurance will be necessary - if there's no contract, personally I wouldn't chance it, even as a 23 yr old single male, if only because of the proof of income & healthcare requirement for residency

 

If it any help my daughter gets a similar salary in London and affords to pay £680 pm accommodation (own bedroom in 2 bed flat incl £80 for elec etc) + iPhone + tube. At the end of the month (after food/going out) she has nothing left but generally not overdrawn.

 

of course we don't know what the position is so can't comment specifically on if €22k is good for the actual position but it is in general a good salary for an entry position - grad or no grad these days and ESPECIALLY here in Spain where there are people queuing to the next country and back for jobs

As said your contract means you will get state healthcare so unless you really want private health cover you don't have to pay out extra for that

Go for it and well done!

 

What are the benefits of private healthcare in comparison to state health care?

 

Just wondering if it might be better for you to learn Catalan rather than Castellano, given that you'll be in Barcelona...

 

Nope. It's not used anywhere else and they can speak fluent Castellano there. So if he moves on to other countries he'll have Spanish language in the bag.

 

Hello! Congratulations on the job offer
I would advise against living in Ciutat Vella. It's very nice, but also has a lot of pickpockets. I don't have personal experience of this, but my friend who lived in BCN for 5 years advised us against living there. Having been to this area, I would agree - it's very nice, but also very touristy. We have a 76 square metre flat in Guinardo for 795€ per month. I know this is more than you want to pay, but we also came across smaller flats for less. If you want to be near the beach, Barceloneta seems nice - flats/studios will be small but good location. Poblenou is also near the beach but don't know that area.
As for the language, I would say still learn Castellano. So far, everyone has been happy to speak this rather than Catalan. I think it's good to understand some Catalan as some signs are only in Catalan, but if you're going to learn one "properly", I'd say it should be Castellano.
If you have any other questions about the city, fire away and I'll do my best to help It's a great place and we don't find it that expensive, but we have moved from London!

 

If you want to be near the beach, Barceloneta seems nice - flats/studios will be small but good location. Poblenou is also near the beach but don't know that area.

Isn´t Barceloneta part of Cuitat Vella or is it a separate neighborhood.
How is Barceloneta? What are the demographics of the residents?

Catalan/ Spanish, Expats, Immigrants?

Poblenou is near La Mar Bella right? and also close to La Barceloneta?

 

whereas I have found the opposite. I have (and friends) been seen faster with private with various things AND they have always been able to speak English although I appreciate this may not be guaranteed in certain areas.

The state system say they will have a translator service but the Carlos Haya in Malaga have just withdrawn their translator service apparently

 

P.S. I meant to say, I personally wouldn't want to live in Barceloneta as the streets are very narrow and properties generally smaller; I prefer being slightly further out and having more space. It's a very personal thing though, so just have a look round

 

Hi,

I don´t mind living small. I´m young, single, male.

Which other areas can you recommend, I never been to Barca, so I´m not familiar.

My criteria

* price max 500-600 for studio 1 bedroom apartment
* 10 to 15 min walk from the beach, city centre
* safe, clean, good neighborhood

Cheeers

 

Eixample is the best area to live for expats. Barceloneta is nice, but has a crime problem and is a little cut off from the rest of the city. Also, many flats are of poor quality. Sure it's great in summer but in winter I wouldn't like living there.

Learn castellano, catalan is present in Barcelona but mainly in Gracia and the better off areas above the Diagonal.

22 k is a good salary for a graduate.

600 per month I think is possible for a one bed apartment, even two bed, given how bad the economy is.

Sharing is a good option, get to know the city before getting a flat. I am an expert on Barcelona, ask me any other questions you like.

 

Isn´t Barceloneta part of Cuitat Vella or is it a separate neighborhood.
How is Barceloneta? What are the demographics of the residents?

- Barceloneta is a separate neighbourhood. In general it is quite poor. Lots of poorer catalans live in social housing here. Also, a lot of poor immigrants, many older run down buildings. Some younger north europeans also live here but a the area is home to some of the muggers and pickpockets who plague Barcelona so you need to be careful. I would live in a street which faced right onto the sea or Passeig de Bourbon but if you have to take a lot of twists and turns along narrow streets to get home (in the "interior" of Barceloneta), you will not feel safe. People expected this area to become gentrified a few years ago but it hasn't happened (despite a luxury hotel being built there).

Catalan/ Spanish, Expats, Immigrants? - learn Spanish first.

Poblenou is near La Mar Bella right? and also close to La Barceloneta?
Yes on both.

Poblenou has a lot of nice new apartment blocks but some streets are run down. You can find both luxury apartments and Roma gypsy camps in this neighbourhood so you need to know exactly where you are moving to.

 

Barcelona is a great city and I would encourage you to move there but this blog will tell you why you should be careful in some (mainly central) areas - Robbed In Barcelona | I know someone who got robbed in Barcelona

 

i dream of 22k euros. Im supporting 3 people / house / 2 cars on 11k.

so yes, for double that? on your own? you´ll have a porsche and a penthouse.

 

no porsche or penthouse in Barcelona on that salary. You would be pushed to afford any kind of car for that.

 

Mike Kelly, nice to see someone else living in BCN I guess we discussed Barceoneta as the OP said he wanted to be near the beach. I wouldn't say Eixample is the only area he should look at though - as I said before, he really just needs to come over and have a look

I haven't found any more Catalan in Gracia and better off areas - it's interesting that you say that. I've found it everywhere, but definitely agree that Castellano is the one to learn. As I love languages, I'm enjoying picking up some Catalan words along the way (speaking French and some Spanish already helps!)

The crime thing is pretty scary. I guess you just have to be careful, as in any other big city...