Renting a furnished apartment for one to eleven months in Spain works through a temporada contract, a lease for temporary housing that states why you need it, such as work or studies (Ley 29/1994, de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU), artículo 3). Before signing, you should know the median rent for your city and home type, what deposit the law requires, and what paperwork you may need to register your stay.

How Much Do Monthly Rentals Cost by City and Home Type

Costs for apartments to rent vary by location and size. The following data reflects advertised monthly prices from the Flexsirent observatory (October 2026).

Madrid

For those looking to rent a flat in Madrid, a one-bedroom flat has a median rent of 1,900 € (half of the listings between 1,470 € and 2,370 €) from 119 listings, with 69% including bills. A flat with two bedrooms or more shows a median rent of 2,780 € (half of the listings between 2,208 € and 3,589 €) from 138 listings, with 77% including bills. Studios have a median rent of 1,250 € (half of the listings between 950 € and 1,665 €) based on 81 listings, and 59% include bills. A room in a shared flat has a median rent of 625 € (half of the listings between 538 € and 735 €) across 375 listings, with 43% including bills (Flexsirent observatory).

Barcelona

In Barcelona, a one-bedroom rental apartment for rent has a median monthly rent of 1,755 € (half of the listings between 1,500 € and 2,498 €) from 62 listings, with 75% including bills. For a flat with two bedrooms or more, the median is 2,475 € (half of the listings between 1,838 € and 3,113 €) from 96 listings, and 47% include bills. Studios show a median rent of 1,460 € (half of the listings between 1,095 € and 1,985 €) across 76 listings, with 77% including bills. A room in a shared flat has a median rent of 733 € (half of the listings between 620 € and 891 €) based on 456 listings, with 51% including bills (Flexsirent observatory).

Valencia

In Valencia, the median rent for a one-bedroom flat is 1,546 € (half of the listings between 1,300 € and 2,084 €) from 83 listings, with 68% including bills. A flat with two bedrooms or more has a median rent of 2,060 € (half of the listings between 1,650 € and 2,600 €) across 173 listings, and 85% include bills. Studios have a median rent of 1,200 € (half of the listings between 1,000 € and 1,560 €) from 37 listings, with 63% including bills. A room in a shared flat has a median rent of 430 € (half of the listings between 375 € and 518 €) across 318 listings, with 46% including bills (Flexsirent observatory).

Málaga

In Málaga, a one-bedroom flat has a median advertised monthly rent of 1,871 € (half of the listings between 1,490 € and 2,651 €) from 162 listings, with 81% including bills. For a flat with two bedrooms or more, the median is 2,350 € (half of the listings between 1,600 € and 3,582 €) across 234 listings, and 65% including bills. Studios show a median rent of 1,600 € (half of the listings between 975 € and 2,100 €) from 79 listings, with 78% including bills. A room in a shared flat has a median rent of 650 € (half of the listings between 500 € and 823 €) from 230 listings, with 62% including bills (Flexsirent observatory).

What the Rental Contract Must Say

A mid-term rental is legally a temporada contract, which is a lease for a use other than permanent housing and must state the temporary cause of the stay, such as work or studies (Ley 29/1994, de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU), artículo 3). The legal deposit (fianza) for a temporada contract is two months' rent, whereas a permanent home contract requires one month (Ley 29/1994 (LAU), artículo 36). When reviewing a rental contract, verify that the temporary reason for your stay is explicitly listed. Ensure the deposit matches these legal requirements.

Key Paperwork and Registration for Your Stay

Registration requirements depend on nationality and stay length. EU citizens staying in Spain more than three months must apply to be entered in the Registro Central de Extranjeros for a registration certificate (Real Decreto 240/2007, artículo 7). Everyone who lives in Spain must complete empadronamiento, the registration at the town hall (ayuntamiento) of the municipality where they live (Ley 7/1985, Reguladora de las Bases del Régimen Local, artículos 15 y 16). This is required for the public health card and other procedures. Additionally, the NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is the identification number for foreigners needed for work, taxes, and most official paperwork (Real Decreto 557/2011 (Reglamento de Extranjería), artículo 206). While landlords often ask for the NIE, a rental contract can also be signed with a passport.

For non-EU citizens, visa requirements depend on the reason for the stay, such as studies, work, or non-lucrative residence (Ley Orgánica 4/2000 y, para el teletrabajo internacional, Ley 28/2022). Those performing international remote work may apply for a digital nomad visa if they work for companies located outside Spain (Ley 14/2013, artículos 62.3 y 74 bis a 74 quinquies). Eligibility requires a university or business-school degree, vocational training, or at least three years of professional experience. Applicants must have a professional relationship of at least the last three months with a company outside Spain active for at least one year and prove the work can be done remotely. They also need authorized health insurance in Spain, no criminal record in Spain or residence countries for the last two years, and sufficient economic resources. This visa lasts up to one year, after which a residence permit for international remote work can be requested for up to three years, renewable for two-year periods.

Payment Methods and Banking

Payments of 1,000 € or more cannot be made in cash when one party is a business or professional (Ley 11/2021, artículo decimoctavo). The cash limit is 10,000 € when the payer is a non-resident individual not acting professionally. For those with a payment account in the EU, payment providers must accept SEPA transfers regardless of which Member State the account is in (Reglamento (UE) 260/2012, artículo 9.2). The charges for a cross-border payment in euros must be the same as those for an equivalent national payment (Reglamento (UE) 2021/1230, artículo 3.1). Non-EU residents with legal residence have the right to open a basic payment account with credit institutions in each Member State (Directiva (UE) 2014/92, artículo 16, apartados 2 y 4).

Frequently asked questions

What is a temporada contract and why is it used for monthly rentals?

It is a lease for a use other than permanent housing that states a temporary cause for the stay, such as work or studies (Ley 29/1994, de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU), artículo 3).

How much deposit must a tenant pay for a monthly rental in Spain?

The legal deposit for a temporada contract is two months' rent (Ley 29/1994 (LAU), artículo 36).

Do I need to register at the town hall when renting an apartment for a few months?

Yes, everyone who lives in Spain must register at the town hall of their municipality through empadronamiento (Ley 7/1985, Reguladora de las Bases del Régimen Local, artículos 15 y 16).

Non-EU citizens need a visa based on their reason for stay, such as the digital nomad visa for international remote work (Ley Orgánica 4/2000; Ley 14/2013).