Job Discussion Forums

[Moore]

In answer to Ozburns question in another thread, prices for a room in a shared flat are between 300 (if you�re very lucky or it�s a sh*tty room) and 400 for something a bit more civilised. Basic bills run at about 20-ish a month in a shared flat . Usually you�ll need one month�s deposit and a lot of persistence. Try staying at Los Amigos hostel (the one in Opera) while you�re looking as you can meet lots of people there and cook too, it�s about 16 a night I think. Look for rooms in Segundamano (a small ads paper), get up early and start calling around 9 am. Don�t forget to emphasize you�re an Ozzy/Brit/American etc. You can probably forget about a flat on a teacher�s wage, but 700 seems to be the starting price.

[foss]

The centre is generally a rip off, but then again the southern parts of town (where I'm based, paying rather less) can be dull for those who are new and don't know anyone else around.

True about slipping in "soy profesor de ingl�s" in the first sentence when you call in a foreign accent; landlords (and flatmates) can be rather set in their ways.

Warning:
If you look in Segundamano you might see boxed adverts offering flats at ludicrously low prices; don't bother with those, they're invariably agencies who have the cheek to ask for an upfront payment before you look at the "flat". You pay up and arrange a time to see the "flat" but then (surprise, surprise) it's been "rented out" by the time you turn up!

[Moore]

Foss is right, the very centre is a ripoff and is not the safest place at night (after 3 am that is): I live in Rios Rosas, seven metro stops north of the centre - the area around Canal and Chamberi, just below Cuatro Caminos and Nuevos Ministerios (where lots of the business work is)- its a great locat�on for all the metro lines and the airport.
Avoid living north of Cuatro Caminos as there�s a lot of delinquency around there, but apart from that I haven�t heard of anywhere particularly dangerous to be in and anyway danger can always be avoided by shelling out for a taxi after 3 am, they�re never all that expensive here.

[lozwich]

[Moore]

The agency thing does exist here, but is not an obligatory step: the Segundamano newpaper I mentioned has pages of ads daily for flats, so why pay one more month�s rent? The provinces of any country are often a whole different kettle of fish though - I had the same thing in Toulouse in southern France as there just weren�t the small ads papers around to look in. You will spend a small fortune on mobile phone calls to find the right place though, and the paper�s not desperately cheap at 2 euros seventy a pop either...

[OzBurn]

Seven hundred E's for a flat? Ouch.

Of course, I suppose Madrid is the most expensive city in the country, with the exception of Barcelona.

[shevek]

I got a room in a place in Barrio Pilar for �300 a month. I�ve heard it�s not the most interesting neigborhood, but it�s close to my school and it includes a shower and the kitchen and breakfast and utilities. Do you people who live in Madrid know if this sounds decent. I have to make the deposit tomorrow and I think I am going to. I would appreciate advice.

[Moore]

Barrio pilar�s ok I think:it�s up in the north of Madrid: quiet, residential. A bit far from the centre, but not too bad - about 30 minutes by metro from Sol (centre), or maybe 10 or 12 euros in a taxi. If it gets you down you can always move to somewhere more central after Christmas when lots of foreign students finish their short courses and more rooms become vacant. In any case you�ll definitely be living in an authentic Madrileno neighbourhood!

[shevek]

Cool. Thanks for telling me. I am now paying online for it.

[SEndrigo]

If youre looking for a cheaper location in Madrid not too far from the centre, why not check out VALLECAS?

Take the metro blue line !

I used to live off of Gran Via but then moved to Vallecas, a mere 15 minute metro ride away and cut my rent in HALF !

I am not saying this is always possible, but you can be certain that Vallecas is going to be cheaper