Move to Barcelona
Spain · Expat Guide for Tech Workers
Rent (1BR)
$1,200
Rent (2BR)
$1,700
Transport
$40/mo
Expat Community
5/5
🌟 Why Barcelona?
- ✓ Mediterranean lifestyle with beach, mountains, and vibrant culture
- ✓ Booming tech and startup scene in 22@ innovation district
- ✓ Affordable cost of living compared to Northern Europe
- ✓ Gaudi architecture, world-class food, and legendary nightlife
🏠 Best Neighborhoods
Eixample
Modernist architecture, central, grid layout, restaurants
$1,300/mo
Gracia
Village feel, plazas, independent shops, bohemian
$1,200/mo
Poblenou
Tech district (22@), beach access, converted factories
$1,300/mo
Sants
Local feel, affordable, near train station, markets
$1,000/mo
✈ Airport
BCN (Barcelona-El Prat)
☔ Weather
Mediterranean: hot summers (28C), mild winters (10C). 300+ sunny days. Beach season May-October.
🎓 Schools
Many options (Benjamin Franklin, ASB, others)
💻 Coworking
Abundant (Aticco, MOB, OneCoWork, Betahaus)
✅ First Week Checklist
- Get an NIE number at the police station (essential for everything)
- Get a T-casual card (10 trips) or T-usual monthly pass for TMB metro/bus
- Open a bank account with NIE (Openbank, BBVA, or CaixaBank)
- Do Empadronamiento (register at local town hall)
- Learn basic Spanish/Catalan and explore La Boqueria market
🏗 Top Industries
Tech/Startups
Tourism
Design
Biotech