How to find an apartment in Barcelona
Tips for finding an apartment in Barcelona
Start looking early
Barcelona's rental market moves fast. Good apartments disappear within days, sometimes hours. Start your search a couple of months before you need to move in — you'll need the time to figure out which neighborhoods work for you and to sort through listings.
Where to look online
Idealista is the biggest platform and where most locals search. Fotocasa and Enalquiler are also worth checking — each has slightly different listings.
Set up alerts. The best places go fast, and refreshing the page manually won't cut it.
Consider a temporary place first
If you're moving from abroad, don't try to lock down a permanent apartment before you arrive. It's nearly impossible to sign a lease without visiting in person, and you'll make better decisions once you know the city.
Airbnb works for a few weeks. Services like Barcelona Checkin or Coliveit offer furnished short-term stays. Use that time to walk around neighborhoods and figure out where you actually want to live.
Agencies: useful but not cheap
A real estate agency like VivaBCN can save you time, especially if you need a place quickly or don't speak Spanish. Expect to pay a fee, usually one month's rent. Whether that's worth it depends on how urgently you need to move.
Watch out for scams
Rental scams exist, especially targeting people who are new to the city. Red flags:
- They ask for money before you've seen the apartment
- The price is suspiciously low for the area
- They can't or won't do an in-person viewing
- The listing photos look too professional or too perfect
Never transfer money to someone you haven't met. If something feels off, it probably is.
Ask around
Word of mouth still works. If you know anyone in Barcelona — colleagues, friends of friends, people from expat groups — ask them. Some apartments never make it to listing sites because landlords prefer tenants recommended by someone they trust.
Have your documents ready
Landlords in Barcelona typically ask for:
- Proof of income (payslips or a work contract)
- ID or passport
- Sometimes a guarantor or several months' rent upfront
Having these ready means you can move fast when you find something.
Check if the price is fair
You probably don't know what a normal rent looks like for a given neighborhood. Our rent calculator lets you enter your apartment size, neighborhood, and monthly rent to see how it compares against official averages.
You can also explore average rent prices by district, or use our budget finder to see which neighborhoods match your price range.
Not sure which area to target? Our district guides cover every Barcelona neighborhood.
Check your rent now — Use the free rent calculator to see if your Barcelona rent is above or below average. Takes 30 seconds.