Where to live in Barcelona as a student: neighbourhoods by campus
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The best place to live in Barcelona as a student is a neighbourhood with a direct line to your campus. For UB's Diagonal campus and UPC, look at Les Corts or Sants on metro line L3. For UPF, try Poblenou or El Clot. For UAB, pick anywhere near a station on the FGC S2 line, such as Gràcia or Sant Gervasi. Average rent on new contracts in Barcelona was €1,137 a month in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Catalan government.
Start with your campus
Before you look at flats, check which building your classes are in:
- UB: Philology and Mathematics are in the Historic Building on Plaça Universitat, with Philosophy and Geography and History in the Raval building nearby. Law, Economics and the science faculties are on the Diagonal campus. Medicine is next to the Hospital Clínic, and Education is at Mundet (L3).
- UPF: the Ciutadella campus (Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica, L4) and the Poblenou campus (Glòries, L1). A tram links the two.
- UAB: the campus is in Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), about 20 km from the centre. Take FGC line S2 to Universitat Autònoma or Rodalies to Cerdanyola Universitat, then a free bus to your faculty.
- UPC: Campus Nord and the Diagonal buildings share the area around Palau Reial and Zona Universitària with UB (L3 and tram).
UAB lists every route on its official getting there page.
Neighbourhoods by campus
The rent column is the average monthly rent on new contracts for whole flats signed between January and March 2026. It is not the price of a room.
| Neighbourhood | District | Nearby campus | Transport | Average rent (Q1 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Corts | Les Corts | UB Diagonal, UPC Campus Nord | L3 (Les Corts, Maria Cristina), tram | €1,202 |
| Sants | Sants-Montjuïc | UB Diagonal, UPC | L3 direct to Palau Reial, L5 | €1,003 |
| Sant Antoni | Eixample | UB Plaça Universitat and Raval | L2 Sant Antoni, L1 and L2 Universitat | €1,128 |
| Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample | Eixample | UB Medicine (Clínic) | L5 Hospital Clínic, L1 Rocafort | €1,168 |
| Vila de Gràcia | Gràcia | UAB, UB Plaça Universitat | FGC Gràcia (S2), L3 Fontana | €1,103 |
| Sant Gervasi-la Bonanova | Sarrià-Sant Gervasi | UAB, UPC Campus Nord | FGC Sant Gervasi and La Bonanova (S2) | €1,547 |
| El Poblenou | Sant Martí | UPF Poblenou and Ciutadella | L4 Poblenou and Llacuna | €1,192 |
| El Clot | Sant Martí | UPF Poblenou | L1 and L2 Clot, L1 Glòries | €994 |
| La Vall d'Hebron | Horta-Guinardó | UB Mundet | L3 Mundet and Vall d'Hebron | €985 |
| El Raval | Ciutat Vella | UB Plaça Universitat and Raval | L1 and L2 Universitat, L3 Liceu | €899 |
Source: the Generalitat housing portal's rent statistics by district and neighbourhood, based on deposits lodged with Incasòl. Figures rounded to the nearest euro.
If you're at UAB, live near an S2 station. The line starts at Plaça Catalunya and calls at every station in the city from Provença to Sarrià. On weekdays outside peak hours a train comes every 10 minutes on average, according to FGC's Barcelona-Vallès service page. Rodalies is less handy for now. Since November 2025 the R7 between Cerdanyola del Vallès and Cerdanyola Universitat has been replaced by a bus during engineering works, as the Rodalies notice explains.
The T-jove gives you 90 days of unlimited travel across all zones, which makes a longer commute easier to live with.
What the official figures say
In the first quarter of 2026, Nou Barris was the cheapest district (€817) and Sarrià-Sant Gervasi the most expensive (€1,600). A year earlier the city average was €1,087. There are no official statistics for room prices, so we don't quote any.
Your rights as a tenant
Barcelona has been a "stressed housing market area" since 16 March 2024. According to the Incasòl FAQ (in Spanish), rent caps also cover temporary contracts for study and room rentals signed from 1 January 2026. As of the date this guide was updated:
- Legal deposit (fianza): one month's rent. That includes rooms and temporary contracts for study.
- Who lodges it: the landlord, with Incasòl, within two months. For rooms it has been compulsory on contracts signed since 14 July 2026.
- Getting it back: the landlord has one month from the day you hand back the keys.
- Extra guarantees: no more than two months' rent.
- Agency and contract fees: paid by the landlord.
- Rooms: the rents for all the rooms together can't exceed the cap for the whole flat.
The last three points come from the city council's rental FAQ. For advice on your own contract, the Barcelona Housing Offices give information and legal advice. It's best to book an appointment.
Before you pay anything
The Catalan Cybersecurity Agency lists the warning signs of rental fraud on its fake listings page:
- A price far below everything else in the area.
- A landlord who is travelling or abroad and can't show you the flat.
- Pressure to pay a reservation fee quickly.
- A request to move the chat to a messaging app.
Don't send money or a copy of your passport before you've seen the flat. Pay only by methods that leave a record.
Registering on the padró
Once you've signed, register on the padró. A contract in your name lasting at least three months is enough. If not, you'll need written authorisation from the landlord or the main tenant. Our Erasmus paperwork guide walks you through it.
FAQ
What are the best places to live in Barcelona for students?
It depends on your campus. Les Corts and Sants suit UB Diagonal and UPC, Poblenou and El Clot suit UPF, and Gràcia or Sant Gervasi suit UAB thanks to the FGC S2 line.
How much is rent in Barcelona per month?
New contracts for whole flats averaged €1,137 a month in the first quarter of 2026, according to official figures. There is no official data on room prices.
How much is the rental deposit in Barcelona?
One month's rent, rooms included. Extra guarantees are capped at two months' rent.
Can I register on the padró if I rent a room?
Yes. With a room contract in your name, you show that contract. If not, you need written authorisation from the landlord or the main tenant.
How do I get to UAB from Barcelona?
Take the FGC S2 from Plaça Catalunya to Universitat Autònoma. A free bus runs from the station to the campus buildings.