International students from non-EU/EEA countries or Switzerland need a student visa to study in Spain. Applicants will need to provide information such as details of the study program, proof of medical insurance, proof of funds, and information about where you will be living. The student visa is typically valid for the duration of your course and allows students to work for up to 20 hours a week. With a student visa, your family members can also join you during your studies in Spain.

To work in Spain post-graduation, you need a Spanish Work Visa (unless you are an EU passport holder). Different types of work visas are available, such as Long-Term Work Visas, Seasonal Work Visas, Au Pair Visas, and the EU Blue Card.

Spain has a number of national banks that also offer English-speaking services. The main Spanish banks are Banco Santander, BBVA, Caixabank, Bankia, and Banco de Sabadell. International students have to wait until they are in the country before opening a bank account. Documents required for opening a bank account in Spain include proof of ID, proof of address, and your Spanish NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero). The cost of having a bank account in Spain includes maintenance fees (typically EUR€8/month or more), ATM fees, and transfer fees.

Available payment methods in Spain include cash (which remains the most frequent type of payment), debit cards, credit cards, direct debits, online and mobile payments, cheques, and international money transfers.

Spain offers high-quality, accessible healthcare services. In fact, Spain has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. When it comes to health insurance in Spain, EU citizens are automatically entitled to free, basic healthcare in Spain. To show proof of health insurance coverage, EU students can obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the public health authority of their home country before traveling to Spain. The EHIC is free and valid in all EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Non-EU citizens must secure private health insurance before arriving in Spain, with a maximum coverage amount of EUR€30,000. Non-EU international students will also need to submit a medical certificate showing proof of good health in order to obtain a student visa.

Universities in Spain generally provide student accommodation in the form of student resident halls (Colegios Mayores) or student apartments. Other types of student housing in Spain include host families, studio apartment rentals, apartments and flats, and shared apartments with roommates.

The cost of accommodation varies by location in Spain. Barcelona and Madrid are more expensive than other cities in the country. The average monthly rental cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Barcelona is around EUR€850. In Madrid, it is around EUR€1,000 per month. You should also take other factors into consideration, such as rental deposits, utilities,  and application fees.

Spain has several public transportation options, including trains and metro systems, buses, taxis and ride-sharing services, and long-distance coaches. Renfe is Spain’s national railway company, serving over 510 million passengers every year. You can expect to spend between EUR€40-50 per month on public transportation (though this varies per city). Students (aged between 14 and 25) can make use of the +Renfe Joven 50 Card, which offers 25-50% discounts for mid- to long-distance trips. The +Renfe Joven 50 Card costs EUR€50 and is valid for one year.

Some cities even offer bike-sharing schemes, providing a fun and sustainable way to get around. In Madrid, for example, you can hire a BiciMAD electric bike for EUR€2 for the first hour (and €4 thereafter). In Barcelona, Bicing supplies standard and electric bikes, costing €0.35-0.55 for the first half-hour.

The Big Mac Index was invented by The Economist in 1986 as an informal way of measuring the purchasing power parity (PPP) between two currencies. The price of a Big Mac in Spain is EUR€4 (equivalent to US$4.22 and JP¥541). For US$50, you can buy 11 Big Macs.

Tuition fees at public universities range between EUR€200-€4,000, while tuition fees at private universities cost up to €30,000. Compared to other countries in Europe, Spain has a relatively low cost of living. Students should expect to spend between EUR€900 and €1,200 per month.