Finding student accommodation in Barcelona has become a daunting challenge. According to Idealista, the city now has the most expensive shared rooms in Spain, with rents averaging €570 a month. Some central neighbourhoods see prices approaching €1,000.
Students describe dealing with exorbitant agency fees, scams, and poor-quality offers. Spyros and Michaela, a Greek couple, currently pay nearly €700 for a shared room in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, with cleaning included. Tunisian student Soulayma recounts paying almost €600 for a room far from campus, often without promised services.
Agencies frequently add “extra services” such as contract management or cleaning, charging fees equivalent to one month’s rent, despite legal restrictions. In many cases, this bypasses Spain’s rental regulations.
The crisis has also fuelled the rise of coliving spaces, where multiple tenants share rooms or small flats, marketed as student-friendly but priced beyond the reach of many. With around 6,000 shared rooms currently listed, supply has grown, but affordability remains out of reach for many students.
Tenant unions argue the system exploits young people and international students, who face limited alternatives and are vulnerable to scams. As the academic year begins, the housing shortage is once again under sharp focus.
