Everything you should know before moving to Spain

Travelling in EU is very easy, but living in another country is a bit different than that. Before moving it´s important to investigate the new location thoroughly and write out all possible information pieces that you might need. For example the most important part is finding some place to live and a way to earn money to pay for the housing. At first it could be easier to live in an Airbnb or somewhere similar, but in time it gets too pricey.💸 So you´re gonna have to start looking for an apartment. Finding one might be easy part, but actually renting one is a bit trickier. First of all there are a lot of fake photos and users on real estate pages, so you´ll have to be really careful of the fake accounts and always check-out the apartment in real life. Or use agencies which help you with almost everything. 

Even when you find a beautiful apartment, there´s a possibility you won´t get it. If you´re renting alone then you have to have at least double the income comparing to the price of the rent. You´re gonna have to show your employment contract to insure the broker that you have that kind of money. Even then there´s a possibility you might not get chosen, but let´s hope for the best🤞That´s why many locals are renting with a group of friends. That way brokers are checking if the whole sum of the income is at least double. 

Some webpages for renting an apartment: 

1. https://www.idealista.com
2. https://www.fotocasa.es/es/
3. https://www.habitaclia.com
4. https://www.pisos.com/en/
5. https://www.yaencontre.com
6. https://www.milanuncios.com/inmobiliaria/

So to get an apartment you most definitely need some kind of an income. If you already don´t have a job in Spain then you might want to start looking for one. First you´re gonna need NIE (Número de identidad de extranjero) number which is a tax identification number in Spain. It´s linked to the residence, where the NIE appears on the residence card (tarjeta de residencia), and to social security in Spain. You can apply for it while still at home, when preparing for the move (which is easier and faster) or in Spain. Usually it takes like 2-4 weeks in my experience, but might be different for everybody depending on the situation. 

The cost of food is a lot different in Spain depending on where you´re moving from. For example for me as an Estonian the cost of food is at least double or even more at some cases. When I first visited Spain during my internship in Pineda de Mar I didn´t notice that huge of a difference because I was eating in the hotel where I was working. But now when everyday meals depend on my own purchases I can see that it´s not cheap at all. Two bags of food here that cost 50€ would´ve cost max 20-25€ back in Estonia. The weirdest part is that the fruits are like three times more expensive. The price of watermelon is the worst-in Estonia at summer you can get a watermelon with 0.30€/kg and here it´s like 3€/kg or more. So when you go out to buy some products it´s recommended to leave with a shopping list so that you don´t end up buying things you don´t need. 

Prices of the apartments are also a lot more expensive than what I´m used to. My three room apartment in Estonia cost 300€+utilities max 150€ per month. And it was one very beautiful place. My bf told me already then when we were living there that in Spain I would never get an apartment that good with this little rent. Similar apartment in Spain would cost like 1500€ per month which is surreal for me. Even now when we´re looking for a place the prices are frightening. People are asking 700-1100€ for one or two-room apartment and not all of them are good looking..😬 I can finally understand a bit why children here are living with their parents till they´re 30 or so. Some are renting with friends, but finding a place on your own is going to be very heavy on the wallet. The average income is here higher, but still.. When 80% of your income goes for paying for the apartment it makes you feel a bit frustrated. 

MORE COMING SOON 😊