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The total monthly cost of renting in the Costa Blanca area (primarily Alicante and San Vicente del Raspeig) typically includes several components. Base rent is the main figure, ranging from around 350 EUR/month for a shared room near the Universidad de Alicante campus to over 1,000 EUR/month for a self-contained flat in central Alicante (source: Idealista, Erasmus Play, 2024–2025 listings).
Utility charges (suministros) — electricity, water, gas, and internet — are usually not included in the base rent for long-term contracts and can add approximately 80–150 EUR/month depending on usage and season.
Security deposit (fianza): Under Spanish law (Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos, LAU), the legal deposit for a residential lease is capped at one month's rent. Landlords may additionally request up to two months of supplementary guarantee (garantía adicional), but the total cannot legally exceed three months' rent (source: Ley de Vivienda 2023, BOE).
Agency fees (honorarios de agencia): Since the Ley de Vivienda 2023, if the landlord owns ten or more residential properties, the landlord must pay all agency fees. For private landlords, agency fees may still be charged to the tenant, typically equivalent to one month's rent (source: Ley de Vivienda 2023).
Home insurance (seguro de hogar): Not legally mandatory for tenants, but some landlords require proof of contents insurance. Policies typically cost 100–200 EUR/year.
Local tax (IBI): The Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles is a municipal property tax paid by the landlord; it is not normally passed on to the tenant unless explicitly stated in the contract.
Costa Blanca student rental in brief: Shared rooms near the Universidad de Alicante campus in San Vicente del Raspeig start from around 330 EUR/month; private studios in central Alicante reach up to 1,000 EUR/month. Spanish law caps the security deposit at one month's rent. You will need a NIE and must complete empadronamiento after signing your lease. Start your search at least two months before the academic year begins.
Finding long-term student accommodation in the Costa Blanca requires understanding the local rental market, Spanish tenancy law, and the specific geography of the region's university towns. Whether you are enrolling at the Universidad de Alicante in San Vicente del Raspeig or at the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, securing a rental contract well in advance — ideally two to three months before the academic year begins — is strongly recommended, as demand for student housing peaks in September. The most popular platforms for finding long-term rentals in the region include Idealista, Fotocasa, and Spotahome, as well as the official accommodation services offered by both universities. Understanding the difference between a standard residential lease (contrato de arrendamiento de vivienda) and a seasonal contract (contrato de temporada) is essential to protect your rights as a tenant under Spanish law.
The Costa Blanca, centred on the city of Alicante and its surrounding municipalities, is a well-established destination for international students thanks to the presence of the Universidad de Alicante (UA) in San Vicente del Raspeig and the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (UMH) with campuses across the region. Long-term rental options range from shared rooms in student flats near the UA campus from around 330 EUR/month to self-contained apartments in central Alicante up to 1,000 EUR/month. Spanish rental law — governed by the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU) and updated by the Ley de Vivienda 2023 — provides strong tenant protections, including a legal cap on the security deposit (fianza) at one month's rent. International students must obtain a NIE and complete empadronamiento (municipal registration) to access local services and sign a rental contract. The region's mild Mediterranean climate, affordable cost of living compared to Madrid or Barcelona, and strong Erasmus network make it a popular choice for students from across Europe and beyond.
Finding long-term student accommodation in the Costa Blanca requires understanding the local rental market, Spanish tenancy law, and the specific geography of the region's university towns. Whether you are enrolling at the Universidad de Alicante in San Vicente del Raspeig or at the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, securing a rental contract well in advance — ideally two to three months before the academic year begins — is strongly recommended, as demand for student housing peaks in September. The most popular platforms for finding long-term rentals in the region include Idealista, Fotocasa, and Spotahome, as well as the official accommodation services offered by both universities. Understanding the difference between a standard residential lease (contrato de arrendamiento de vivienda) and a seasonal contract (contrato de temporada) is essential to protect your rights as a tenant under Spanish law.
Living costs in the Costa Blanca are generally more affordable than in Madrid or Barcelona, making the region attractive for international students on a limited budget. In San Vicente del Raspeig, the university town adjacent to Alicante, shared student flats are the most cost-effective option, with rooms starting from around 330 EUR/month (source: Idealista, 2024–2025). In Alicante city centre, a full apartment for one student typically costs between 800 EUR/month and 1,000 EUR/month. Students who choose to live near Playa de San Juan, a popular beach neighbourhood well connected to the UA campus by tram, can find mid-range options between 600 EUR/month and 900 EUR/month. Always confirm whether utilities are included in the advertised rent, as this significantly affects the real monthly budget.
One of the most frequent mistakes made by international students renting in the Costa Blanca is signing a contrato de temporada (seasonal lease) instead of a standard long-term residential contract. Some landlords offer seasonal contracts to avoid the tenant protections guaranteed by the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU), which covers standard residential leases of at least one year. A seasonal contract offers fewer legal protections and can be terminated more easily by the landlord.
Other common errors include:
Aim for San Vicente del Raspeig, the town of the UA campus, where shared student flats and affordable rents are concentrated. Alicante Centro, Playa de San Juan and Ensanche-Diputación are linked to the campus by bus or tram. For the UMH, look around Elche.
A local Home Finder searches and views on your behalf, with photos or video, while you are still abroad.
There is no single rule: landlords mainly look at your NIE and proof of funds. On top of the legal deposit of one month's rent, they may ask for up to two months of additional guarantee, so three months at most to pay upfront.
A Home Finder prepares the application with you and backs your candidacy with the landlord.
Start at least two months before you arrive. In San Vicente del Raspeig and central Alicante, the market is very competitive in August and September.
Also allow time for the NIE, which most landlords and letting agents require before signing, then for the empadronamiento once the lease is signed.
Expect from 330 EUR/month for a room in a shared flat near the campus, 600 to 900 EUR/month around Playa de San Juan and up to 1,000 EUR/month for a whole flat in central Alicante.
Add 80 to 150 EUR/month for bills. The legal deposit is one month's rent, plus up to two months of additional guarantee.
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