Tips

Complete Budget Guide for Sharing a Flat in Spain

Equipo Roomio • January 30, 2024 • 8 min

Learn how to calculate and manage your budget when sharing a flat. Includes hidden costs and money-saving tips.

Sharing a flat is an excellent way to save money, but you need to plan your budget well. This guide will help you understand all the costs involved and how to manage them efficiently.

Initial Costs When Moving In

Before moving in, you’ll need to have money available for several upfront expenses.

Deposit

Generally equivalent to 1-2 months of rent. By law in Spain, the maximum deposit for a primary residence is 1 month (2 months for furnished flats in some regions).

Example: If the rent is 600 EUR/month, you’ll need 600-1,200 EUR for the deposit.

First Month’s Rent

The first month is usually paid in advance before moving in.

Agency Fees (If Applicable)

Some agencies charge a commission, usually equivalent to 1 month’s rent plus VAT (21%).

Important: Since 2019, the landlord must pay the agency commission, not the tenant. However, some agencies find ways to charge tenants for “advisory services.”

Moving Costs

Van rental: 50-150 EUR
Professional movers: 200-600 EUR depending on distance
Packing materials: 30-80 EUR

Estimated total initial cost: 1,500-3,000 EUR to get started

Fixed Monthly Expenses

These are the costs you’ll pay every single month.

Rent

The biggest expense. In Spain (2024):

Madrid city center: 400-700 EUR per room
Barcelona city center: 400-650 EUR per room
Valencia, Seville, Malaga: 250-450 EUR per room
Mid-sized cities: 200-350 EUR per room

Basic Utilities

Electricity:

2-person flat: 40-80 EUR/month total (20-40 EUR per person)
Varies greatly depending on heating/air conditioning use

Water:

25-50 EUR/month total (12-25 EUR per person)
Generally includes cold water, hot water, and sewage

Gas (if applicable):

30-60 EUR/month total (15-30 EUR per person)
For heating and hot water

Internet:

30-50 EUR/month total (15-25 EUR per person)
Fiber optic 300-600 Mb is standard

Community fees (if not included):

30-80 EUR/month total (15-40 EUR per person)
Covers cleaning of common areas, building maintenance

Typical Monthly Budget Per Person

Example in a mid-sized Spanish city:

Rent: 350 EUR
Electricity: 30 EUR
Water: 15 EUR
Gas: 20 EUR
Internet: 20 EUR
Community fees: 25 EUR

Total basic expenses: 460 EUR/month

Variable Monthly Expenses

These expenses fluctuate depending on your lifestyle.

Food

Basic grocery shopping: 150-250 EUR/month
Eating out occasionally: 50-150 EUR/month
Delivery/fast food: 30-100 EUR/month

Total food: 230-500 EUR/month

Transportation

Monthly public transport pass: 30-55 EUR
Fuel (if you have a car): 80-150 EUR/month
Bicycle/electric scooter: 0-30 EUR/month

Cleaning and Household Products

Cleaning supplies: 15-30 EUR/month
Toilet paper, paper towels: 10-20 EUR/month
Basic items (light bulbs, etc.): 5-15 EUR/month

Total household: 30-65 EUR/month

Other Expenses

Mobile phone: 10-30 EUR/month
Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.): 10-40 EUR/month
Gym: 0-50 EUR/month
Leisure and entertainment: 50-200 EUR/month

Hidden Costs You Should Consider

These costs surprise many new flatmates.

Replacement of Shared Items

Kitchen utensils that break: 20-50 EUR/year
Minor repairs: 30-100 EUR/year
Light bulbs, batteries: 20-40 EUR/year

Heating Season

In winter (November-March), electricity or gas bills can double.

Example: If you pay 30 EUR/month for electricity in summer, prepare for 60-80 EUR/month in winter.

Shared Streaming Services

Even though you share the account, someone has to pay for it initially. Rotate or split evenly.

Shared Groceries

If you share a basic pantry (oil, salt, spices), you need a system to divide these expenses.

Real Monthly Budget Calculation

Let’s do a complete example for a mid-sized Spanish city:

Fixed Expenses:

Rent: 350 EUR
Utilities (electricity, water, gas, internet, community fees): 110 EUR
Mobile phone: 20 EUR

Variable Expenses:

Food: 300 EUR
Transportation: 40 EUR
Household products: 40 EUR
Leisure: 100 EUR
Subscriptions: 20 EUR

Monthly total: 980 EUR

Recommendation: Keep a buffer of 100-150 EUR/month for unexpected expenses.

Budget by Salary Range

Minimum Wage (1,080 EUR/month in 2024)

Difficult but possible:

Rent + utilities: maximum 500 EUR (46% of salary)
Remaining for living: 580 EUR
Reality: Very tight, you’ll probably need family support or extra work

Average Young Salary (1,200-1,500 EUR/month)

Tight:

Rent + utilities: 500-600 EUR (40-42% of salary)
Remaining for living: 700-900 EUR
Reality: You can live comfortably if you’re careful

Comfortable Salary (1,800+ EUR/month)

Comfortable:

Rent + utilities: 700-800 EUR (35-40% of salary)
Remaining for living: 1,000-1,100 EUR
Reality: You can save and enjoy life

On Utilities

Use power strips with switches to disconnect devices on standby
LEDs in all light bulbs (75% savings vs incandescent)
Short showers and turn off the tap while brushing teeth
Wash clothes with cold water when possible
Adjust the thermostat: each degree less in winter = 7% less expense

Potential savings: 20-40 EUR/month

On Food

Buy at local markets for fruits and vegetables
Plan weekly menus to avoid waste
Batch cook and freeze portions
Store-brand products for basics
Share a basic pantry with your roommate

Potential savings: 50-100 EUR/month

On Transportation

Bicycle or walk for short distances
Youth pass if you qualify (significant discounts)
Share a car for big shopping trips
Car-sharing apps for occasional trips

Potential savings: 30-80 EUR/month

Useful Apps for Managing Shared Expenses

For Splitting Expenses

Splitwise (Free)

Automatically splits expenses
Calculates who owes whom
Payment reminders

Settle Up (Free)

Similar to Splitwise
Simpler interface
Ideal for recurring expenses

Tricount (Free)

Perfect for shared trips and events
Can include multiple roommates

For Personal Budgeting

Fintonic (Free)

Syncs with your bank
Automatically categorizes expenses
Unusual spending alerts

Mint (Free with ads)

Budget by categories
Savings goals
Monthly reports

Payment System Between Roommates

Option 1: Direct Individual Payment

Each person pays their services directly. Works if each bill is under a different name.

Advantages: Total clarity, no debts Disadvantages: Complicated to organize

Option 2: Shared Account

Both contribute monthly to a shared account that pays for everything.

Advantages: Simple, fully automatic Disadvantages: Requires a lot of trust

Option 3: One Pays, Then Split

One person pays all the bills and the other transfers their half.

Advantages: Simple, works with Bizum/bank transfer Disadvantages: One person must advance everything

Option 4: Splitting Apps

Use Splitwise or another app; each person pays randomly, and the app balances it out.

Advantages: Flexible, fair Disadvantages: Requires discipline from both

Warning Signs in Money Management

With Your Roommate

Constantly delays payments
Doesn’t record shared expenses
Excessively uses resources without compensating
Avoids talking about money
Lacks transparency with expenses

With the Landlord

Raises rent without advance notice
Charges “extra” for services that should be included
Doesn’t return the deposit without valid reason
Doesn’t make necessary repairs

Long-Term Financial Planning

Emergency Fund

Try to save at least 3 months of rent + utilities as an emergency fund.

Example: If you pay 500 EUR/month, save 1,500 EUR

Monthly Savings

Even 50-100 EUR/month adds up significantly.

50 EUR/month = 600 EUR/year
100 EUR/month = 1,200 EUR/year

Independence Goal

If you’re sharing out of financial necessity, set a goal for when you’ll be able to live alone or in better conditions.

Downloadable Budget Template

Create a spreadsheet with:

Income:

Net monthly salary
Extra income