About Madrid Madrid is the capital city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is estimated to be around 6.5 million. It is the third-largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third-largest in the European Union, after London and Paris.
The Madrid urban agglomeration has the third-largest GDP in the European Union and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, environment, media, fashion, science, culture, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world’s major global cities. Due to its economic output, high standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial centre of Southern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. Madrid is the 17th most livable city in the world according to Monocle magazine´s 2014 index.
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Living in Madrid Cost of Living Overall, the cost of living in Spain is not expensive. Nevertheless since gaining the Euro currency, prices have risen. As the capital of Spain Madrid has a higher cost of living than other areas of the country, but this is balanced out with higher salaries.
Accommodation tends to be what the majority of your salary is spent on. Gastos (household expenses) are not usually included in the rent and typically consist of water, electrity and internet. Prices vary depending on the type of accomodation you live in. Normally, a deposit of between 1-3 months rent has to be paid when renting an apartment, and if you choose to use an agency to find a flat, a non refundable deposit is also required. Shared flats are very popular in Spain and provide an easy way to meet new people! Transportation costs depend on the area you live. Madrid has a very good metro system that links the whole city as well as a network of bikes that you can rent to get around.
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Living in Madrid Food is relatively cheap if you buy at local supermarket chains and eating out doesn´t have to be expensive lunchtime ´menus´ are very popular due to their value for money.
Transportation Restaurants Other Sports And Leisure Rent Per Month Clothing and Shoes Markets Utilities (Monthly)
Opening Hours Shops in Madrid open at 9 or 10am and close between 8 and 10pm, and most of them don’t close over lunch. Some – especially those far from the city centre – close from 2 to 4 or 5pm. In Madrid, shops don’t have restricted opening hours.
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Living in Madrid Local regulations governing shopping days and times grant retailers freedom to close or remain open. Shops and businesses situated in tourist areas, mostly Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía, will be open even on Sunday and bank holidays. To have lunch at a restaurant, it is advisable to arrive before 3.30pm, or before 11pm for dinner. Nevertheless, you can find that some kitchens are open later than this. If you don’t, you can always opt for tapas, as tapas bars and restaurants have more flexible hours.
Electrical Adaptors The electricity supply in Spain is 220V. Plugs have two round pins and an additional ground pin. A standard travel adaptor plug will enable you to use appliances from abroad.
VAT & Tipping In many establishments, service is included in the price. However, this isn’t the case in hotels and restaurants, where ‘IVA NO INCLUIDO’ (VAT NOT INCLUDED) is usually written next to the price. This means that you should add around 10% as a tip. It is up to you whether you want to tip or not, but if you’re happy with the service, you may want to leave one.
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Education in Madrid Finding a School in Madrid Expat families will find an impressive number of private schools with bilingual or fully English curricula. State schools in Madrid are mostly attended by local children. These institutions can be good options for young expat children learning to adjust to life in Spain, but it can prove a challenging option for older students, as classes are taught in Spanish. Apart from state schools, many Madrileùos send their students to private Catholic schools, which are subsidised by the government. Tuition is much less expensive for these entities than for European private schools. However, subsidised schools also teach the Spanish curricula in Spanish, and can be equally challenging for newly arrived expat children. Still, there are plenty of international schools that uphold the teaching language and curriculum of a foreign country (i.e. American, British, German, etc.). All of these institutions are registered with their nation’s embassy. Many international schools have waiting lists, and expat families are encouraged to enroll their children well before the school year begins.
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Education in Madrid Education System Education in Spain for children is compulsory from the ages of six to 16, with primary education (primaria) lasting six years, followed by four years of compulsory secondary education (E.S.O.) - at the end of which a Certificate of Education is given. Term dates will vary from one region to another and will also be affected by what a child is studying, their level and their particular school. The school year is divided into three terms with a long summer holiday break of almost three months: -
Winter term (September to December). Spring term (January to Easter). Summer term (After Easter to late June).
Education Levels: Kindergarten
(0 – 3 yrs)
Pre-Scholar/Infantil
(3 – 6 yrs)
Primary
(6 – 12yrs) Compulsory
E.S.O.
(12 – 16yrs) Compulsory
Bachillerato/ Ciclos Formativos de Grado Superior
(18 – 21 + yrs)
Ciclos Formativos de Grado Superior
(18 – 21 + yrs)
University (Grados 4 yrs)
(18 – 21 + yrs) 9
Transport in Madrid Metro 282 Madrid metro stations extend to the far reaches of the Spanish capital and nearby communities. 11 lines serve the city centre, and additional lines connect central Madrid with its southern and eastern suburbs. It is Europe's second-largest metro system. The Metro runs from 06:00 to 01:30 with a 5-minute waiting period between trains at rush hour, and a 15-minute wait after 23:00. A single one-zone ticket costs 1.50€, and a 10-trip ticket costs 12.20€.
Light Rail and Parla Tram Open since 2007, Madrid's light rail or Metro Ligero has four lines connecting the city centre with outlying neighbourhoods, and has the sightseeing advantage of being mostly above ground. The light rail tickets for ML2 and ML3 cost 2€ or 12.20€ for a 10-trip pass. A trip on Parla Tram's circular route costs €1.30€ or 8.50€ for a 10trip pass.
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Bus Madrid’s standard red EMT buses run regular routes between 06:30 and 22:30 and búho (owl) routes originating in Plaza de la Cibeles from midnight to 06:00. The frequency of buses can vary, but it is displayed at most bus stops. In addition to regular night routes, on Fridays, Saturdays and the night before public holidays, the búho-metro route also offers transport between metro stops from 00:45 and 05:45.
Cycling Madrid has a public bike rental service (BiciMad). Prices for not residents are: 2€ for the first hour and 4€ for the next 30min. They have an electric motor which helps with the any uphill areas.
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Paperwork in Madrid Registration Process and NIE Number (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros) The NIE is a number that identifies you as a foreign citizen legally allowed to work in Spain and it is compulsory for your professional and financial activities. The NIE must be obtained in your first 3 months of being in Spain and you can do so by following the steps below:
1. Make an appointment online. 2. Download, print and fill in the relevant EX18 form. (Extra copies of the most up to date forms are available at the Foreigners´ Office). 3. Together with this form you will need to take your passport, two photocopies of it, a photocopy of your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and either a job contract or employment certificate
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Paperwork in Madrid with the company´s contact details and address. You must also include a document proving that you will have sufficient economic means to support yourself during your time in Spain as well as relevant health insurance.
4. Go to the Foreigners´Office (Comisaría General de Extranjería) on Avenida Padre Piquer, 18 (Metro Campamento, line 10) at the scheduled date and time – keep in mind that it is best to arrive early.
5. If your application is successful, your EX18 will be returned to you along with a payment form. The fee of 10,30€ can be paid at any major bank or post office – you can ask to be directed to the nearest one at your appointment.
6. Once you have paid the fee and received proof of payment, return to the Foreigners´ Office to get your NIE. This normally is in the form of a card (TIE) or a single sheet of paper containing your personal details and NIE number. Note that this document cannot be used as identification but is necessary when opening a bank account and getting a Social Security number. For more information about getting your NIE, click here.
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Paperwork in Madrid Important Paperwork Once you have your NIE, there are a few other things to do: Spanish Social Security Number (NĂşmero de la Seguridad Social) By paying taxes each month you are protected by social security in Spain. Once you have your job in Spain and Social Security number (which must be applied for by yourself) your employer will register you through the system and taxes will be taken from your monthly wage. Social security in Spain provides many important benefits such as retirement and unemployment benefits, maternity leave, sick pay and free healthcare. Nevertheless the amount of retirement and unemployment benefits receivable is affected by how much you have been taxed throughout your time working in Spain. There are various Social Security offices around the city where you can obtain your number, all you need to do is bring your NIE and ID card/Passport. The locations of the offices can be found (in Spanish) if you click here.
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Paperwork in Madrid Local Registration (Empadronamiento) To become an ´official´ member of your community you must get empadronado, which means registering in the municipality in which you live. Once registered you are entitled to many social benefits during your time in Spain, including a access to a personal doctor, having voting rights, being able to send your children to study at the local school and various other discounts. Registering also helps your community as government funds are allocated based on how many people live in each area. You must make an appointment for the office of your municipality and bring with you your passport, NIE and proof that you are living in the area (housing contract or signed document from your landlord) and you will be asked to fill in a form. The volante de empadronamiento is free, but it is possible you will be charged if you ask for an official certificado de empadronamiento, however the volante is usually sufficient for local bureaucratic procedures.
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Paperwork in Madrid Opening a Bank Account Three important topics should be considered: at what level does the bank operate, rates and opening hours. Spanish banks are either local, national or international and it is best to choose a bank with a large presence in your area as many charge for withdrawing money if you do not have an account with them. Bank rates, such as commission rates change a great deal from bank to bank and can sometimes catch you out. Make yourself aware of opening times as in Spain banks are usually closed from 2pm and at the weekend, with a minority having extended hours. Make sure you bring the following documents with you to open an account: 竏単assport 竏誰IE number and certificate 竏単roof of occupation / status (work contract) 竏単roof of address (housing contract, utility bill)
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