When the weather begins to be at its best and summer evenings are lengthened by sunsets that seem to resist fading away behind the horizon the time to travel to the picturesque capital city of Spain, Madrid, is now. This summer season is the perfect excuse to explore and go on adventures under the Spanish sun and Madrid, with its manicured gardens and museums and galleries filled with European art one more beautiful than the next, is a must see travel destination.

However, while all is good and well dreaming, when it comes to planning, booking, and paying for your trip is when reality starts to sink in, but all is not lost. For many this can be an overwhelming task, but knowing you have industry experts like Spotahome that specialize in accommodation and apartments for rent in Madrid by month, makes things that much easier, and customizable to your liking. It’s a win-win, and you can soon be on your way to basking in magazine-worthy sunshine with a welcoming community in a city filled with rich history and a vibrant culture.

The big question though and rightly so is what is it all going to cost? We take a look at what to expect, on average, to pay across the different categories whilst living in the Spanish capital including amenities that suit a variety of budgets. Let’s jump right in and get you packing for your Spanish vacation filled with excuses to feast on endless tapas and crispy, deliciously sugar-coated churros.

You can never be over prepared

Covering as many bases as possible before heading off into the world for a month, either through research, asking around, or deep diving on review websites will be to your advantage. This way you are at least aware of what is to come, can be prepared for bumps in the road (or curve balls that life likes to throw at us just to keep us on our toes, am I right?) and you can have a plan in place to navigate the adventure that is your journey.

Finding the right accommodation is one of the biggest hurdles to cross, and when using top quality sites like Spotahome, the process will feel like a dream. Companies like this that make finding the right fit for you and your needs is what makes the difference between a dream holiday stay and a nightmare. They offer accommodation that suits every budget.

Not only do you have the option to view detailed images of potential properties, including videos, but the rental property description is intricate and gives insight into the premises as well as the neighbourhood you will be enjoying. Virtual tours give you peace of mind, and all you need to do is filter your specifics and leave the rest of the work up to them. You can expect to find prices ranging from anything between €1000 for a 1-bedroom furnished apartment up to, and depending on location and building amenities, €2000 – €4000 fully furnished 2-bedroom apartment with all bills included.

The finer details

Next you want to consider expected personal expenses such as transport, food, and leisure activities. Some buildings may have a gym on the premises for tenants which is a perk to get in an early morning workout ready to tackle the day, others have spacious gardens or outdoor areas for ground-floor apartments.

Eating out, understandably, will cost more than if you were to shop locally at the supermarkets and bring out your chef skills in the apartment. Simple, inexpensive restaurants average around €12 for a main course, but making the most of supermarkets will help save on the budget and could cost as little as €150 – €250 per month.

Ideally, a central accommodation option will help cut on travel costs, but even so, expect to pay around €1.50 for transport tickets such as the metro or bus, with an increase of €0.10 per station after 5 stations. A more suitable option would be considering a monthly pass if you plan to explore all over Madrid and travel frequently, or even opting to rent a cheeky scooter to hop onto and wiz around on is a great choice, and, you’ll soon feel like one of the locals.

A last consideration, and while it is a luxury it should still make the list (because we only live once), and that is leisure and pleasure activities. Spending money can be defined as much as we could answer how long is a piece of string, but think of handing over an average of €40-€50 for a good night out or top sightseeing locations.

Worth every penny (or should we say Euro)

Taking these tips and expectations on board offers a good foundation for an upcoming trip to the beautiful city of Madrid. While you can account for every single cent spent how and when, don’t forget you are in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, so book that perfect monthly rental spot and embrace Spain for all its beauty.