The median monthly rent of a furnished studio in the four cities is 1,200 € in Valencia, 1,250 € in Madrid, 1,485 € in Barcelona, and 1,600 € in Málaga (Flexsirent observatory, October 2026). A total of 2,795 furnished homes were read in these four cities in October 2026.
Rent of a furnished studio and one-bedroom flat
The following data is based on advertised monthly prices of furnished homes on 4 rental sites, read on 12 October 2026, with listings read again on 16 October 2026 (Flexsirent observatory, October 2026).
| City | Median rent of a studio | Median rent of a one-bedroom flat | Furnished homes read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valencia | 1,200 € | 1,546 € | 626 |
| Madrid | 1,250 € | 1,900 € | 726 |
| Barcelona | 1,485 € | 1,755 € | 703 |
| Málaga | 1,600 € | 1,871 € | 740 |
The share of furnished studios advertised with the bills included is 63% in Valencia, 59% in Madrid, 76% in Barcelona, and 77% in Málaga (Flexsirent observatory, October 2026).
The rental contract
A stay of 1 to 11 months for a monthly rental is arranged with a temporada contract, which is a lease for a use other than permanent housing that states the temporary cause, such as work or studies (Ley 29/1994 (LAU), article 3). The legal deposit (fianza) in a temporada contract is 2 months' rent (LAU, article 36).
Documents
NIE
The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is the identification number of a foreigner in Spain, which is needed to work, to pay taxes, and for most official paperwork (Real Decreto 557/2011, article 206). While landlords and banks often ask for it, a rental contract can also be signed with a passport (Real Decreto 557/2011, article 206). It is applied for at a police station or foreigners' office in Spain, or at a Spanish consulate abroad (Real Decreto 557/2011, article 206).
Empadronamiento
The empadronamiento is the registration at the town hall (ayuntamiento) of the municipality where a person lives, and everyone who lives in Spain must register (Ley 7/1985, articles 15 and 16). This is done with the rental contract and is asked for to obtain the public health card and for many procedures (Ley 7/1985, articles 15 and 16).
Citizens of the European Union
Citizens of the European Union who stay in Spain more than 3 months must ask to be entered in the Registro Central de Extranjeros (Real Decreto 240/2007, article 7). They must obtain a registration certificate, known as the certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión (Real Decreto 240/2007, article 7).
Citizens of other countries
Citizens of countries outside the European Union need a visa that depends on the reason for the stay, such as work, studies, remote work, or non-lucrative residence (Ley Orgánica 4/2000; for international remote work, Ley 28/2022). The Spanish consulate specifies what is required for these applications (Ley Orgánica 4/2000).
First steps
- Sign the temporada contract.
- Register at the town hall (empadronamiento) with the contract.
- Apply for the NIE if it was not obtained before.
- For a citizen of the European Union staying more than 3 months, obtain the registration certificate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a furnished studio cost in Madrid?
The median monthly rent for a furnished studio in Madrid is 1,250 € (Flexsirent observatory, October 2026).
How much is the deposit in a temporada contract?
The legal deposit in a temporada contract is 2 months' rent (LAU, article 36).
When do EU citizens have to register in Spain?
EU citizens must ask for a registration certificate if they stay in Spain for more than 3 months (Real Decreto 240/2007, article 7).
Are bills included in the rent?
Whether bills are included depends on each listing and its contract (Flexsirent observatory, October 2026).
Prices published by rental portals operating in Spain, October 2026.