05/09/2026
This one is for you if you’ve been in Spain for a while and you’re finally thinking: “Okay… I think I’m ready to live alone.”
Because finding your own flat in Spain? One of the real horror stories nobody warns you about.
PS: This happened back in 2021, so Barcelona rental prices may have gotten even worse since then — but I wanted to share how I managed to find my first flat and finally live alone!
I was 28 when I realized I was officially tired of living with other people.
I finally had a contrato indefinido, a decent salary, and for the first time, I thought: okay, I think I can afford a little life upgrade: I can finally LIVE ALONE.
Before getting my own place, I had already lived in 3 different flats:
My first one was through Spotahome. I was paying around €450/month + bills for a room, so when two of my Vietnamese classmates-turned-sisters told me they had a small room available for €280 ALL IN, I ran. 😂
Then COVID happened, the landlord decided to sell the flat, and I had to look for another place.
Thankfully, a churchmate told me about a Filipino woman renting out rooms.
So I ended up paying €280 for a room WITH A WINDOW and she offered to cook for my meals for another €50.
So basically, €330 for a room + food = BOARDING HOUSE ERA fr 🇵🇭
(People still don’t believe me when I tell them this happened. My biggest doubter? My European boyfriend 😂)
After about a year, though, I realized…
I actually wanted to learn how to live independently.
Not have someone cook for me.
Not have someone clean up after me.
Not constantly coordinate with flatmates.
Just… my own space, my own routine, my own life.
So I started hunting for my first flat in Barcelona.
And OH BOY …
Barcelona’s rental market was already brutal (mind you, this was 5 years ago)
I was on Idealista day and night. I also checked Spotahome and ShBarcelona and basically every platform I could find.
But the prices?
You could easily see a tiny, questionable-looking apartment for €1,000+ and there would STILL be a line of people fighting to get it.
Meanwhile, €500 could get you a room with 4-5 flatmates.
And there was another problem: income requirements.
A lot of landlords/agencies wanted your rent to be around a third of your salary, and many preferred couples or two people signing the contract.
So even though I finally had a stable job and a decent salary, finding a place alone wasn’t easy.
I searched for almost two months.
And then… my ex-workmate casually told me that her workmate was moving out of her flat.
She gave me the contact.
I went to see it.
And somehow…
I GOT IT. 🥹
€600/month + bills.
It was tiny — around 20m² — but it was mine.
And it was in Gòtico.
At that point in my life, I was single, working, building my career, figuring out adulthood in Spain…and honestly?
I was THRIVING.
That tiny 20m² apartment represented so much more than just having my own address.
It was the first time I could say:
“I made it. I can take care of myself.”
And looking back, I’m actually glad I went through all those shared-flat experiences first.
Because when you eventually get your own place in Spain, you appreciate the peace SO much more.
So if you’re already in Spain and you’re thinking about moving from house sharing → living independently, just know: It IS possible.
But you need patience, a stable income, your documents ready, and honestly… a lot of luck of finding the right contact at the right time.
My first flat wasn’t fancy. But it was mine. And I’ll never forget that feeling. 🇪🇸
