In recent years coliving spaces are becoming very popular and are attracting more and more people. Travelers are slowly replacing standard types of accommodation with co-living options all around Europe.
Spain is not lacking in this either. In fact, it is one of the most progressive countries when it comes to the coliving movement.
That lets us wonder, what is the reason behind this? Why Spain is one of the pioneers in this field?
To explain that, first we need to take a deeper look into the Spanish culture.
Let’s dive in!
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Coliving culture in Spain
The first thing you realize when you come to Spain is that the flats are very big. It is common for apartments in Spain to be over 1000 square feet (or 100m2) with a lot of rooms and spacious shared areas.
The reason behind that is probably that traditionally in Spain big families used to live together under the same roof. It was not uncommon to see multiple generations living together in those big apartments. So it is not hard to understand why the coliving way of lifestyle fits into the Spanish culture.
How popular is coliving in Spain?
As we already mentioned, Spain is one of the most popular countries when it comes to coliving.
First, we have remote workers and digital nomads from Spain and other countries who are most likely to stay in this type of co-living accommodation during their nomadic journeys. They are usually looking for places to meet and hang out with people with similar mindsets.
Secondly, Spain is one of the most popular countries for all kinds of student exchanges. Many students from all across the world come to Spain to study every year. Even though in the start coliving places were leaning more towards travelers and young adults, now more and more students are choosing this as a solution for their accommodation during their schooling days in Spain.
Which cities in Spain are the most popular for coliving?
It is hard to choose just one specific part of Spain as a center of coliving because it is so popular throughout the whole country. Spain is a big and colorful country with many different regions and places that each one carries different experiences.
Some offer that crazy big-city party vibe, some act like retreats with surfing, beaches, and yoga classes, and some focus on nature and simple raw experiences. That’s why we’ll cover a couple of those that could proudly hold the title of centers of coliving in Spain.
Coliving Barcelona
Barcelona has always been one of the biggest cultural centers in the whole of Europe.
In addition to that, with its strong presence of hostels, it has already been established as one of the leaders when it comes to accommodation for working travelers.
With many people choosing Barcelona as a go-to place to spend their 20s and 30s, it is no wonder why there are so many coliving places in this Catalonian capital.
Barcelona is a vibrant and exciting city. It’s perfect to meet new people, try out new experiences and live your best life. Surrounded by cultural events, concerts, ambitious people, and a city that never sleeps, it can be a perfect next destination.
If you think you would thrive in Barcelona check our article on how you can experience it to the fullest while saving money, only by choosing coliving.
Coliving Canary Islands
A remote Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa is one of the most exotic locations in the world.
It attracts millions of tourists each year, according to statista.com, so it is a no-brainer why it is one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads all across the world. Its remote nature and beautiful beaches perfectly follow the idea of coliving.
For example, Tenerife gives you that small community vibe and an opportunity to reconnect with yourself. It’s great to slow your pace, and truly be a hedonist and enjoy every second of your day.
If this seems interesting to you and like a place you’d choose for your stay, feel free to check our newest article on why the Canary Islands are the most popular place for coliving and see if it truly matches your vibe.
Coliving in Valencia
In general, Valencia is one of the most modern cities in the whole Spain. It is filled with tons of opportunities for all groups of people.
On top of that, Valencia is one of the pioneers in the coliving movement in Spain. It is perfect for those who want to try out something new and experience coliving/coworking culture.
There are numerous coliving and coworking options all across the city, especially in Russafa and Eixample neighborhoods. Because of that, many people have already chosen Valencia as their new home.
And to be honest, we are also one of those people – or at least we are planning to be. During our last trip to Valencia, we decided to try out some of the coworking places. We wanted to see if they would be suitable for our lifestyle.
One of them, CoWorkup, stroke as a great place to work and to build community. That is especially important if you’re just moving to the city. The staff was super welcoming and invited us to their Friday hangouts. Sadly, we couldn’t go, but it was a nice thing of them. They were particularly open about wanting to make a community and connect.
Coliving in other parts of Spain
Besides Barcelona, the Canary Islands, and Valencia there are a few more coliving centers in Spain. Most of them are concentrated around larger cities like Seville and Madrid.
On top of that, there are also a lot of independent coliving places all across the country in rural locations.
Digital nomads often choose rural places because they offer an escape from everyday chaos in bigger cities. In addition, those places let them connect more with nature. Working on a laptop is often very tiring so a quiet environment provides a necessary balance to a healthy life.
The average price of coliving spaces in Spain
One of the main pillars of the coliving movement is to solve the problem of overpriced hotels and help travelers stay on their budget.
When it comes to Spain, it is hard to specify the exact price of coliving arrangements. The main reason for that is because it is a big country and standards vary from city to city.
However, based on our research and depending on the type of rooms you are looking for, prices of coliving spaces in Spain can be divided into two groups. Coliving spaces mostly consist of dorms of 4-10 bunk beds, but also have a few private rooms. So, usually, you will have the option to choose between sharing a room with other people or going with the more private option.
Based on that, you can expect the following:
- Bed in a shared dormitory: Between $600 and $1200 per month
- Private (single) room: Between $1200 and $2500 per month
Even though these prices do not seem like a cheaper option at first glance, they often come with a lot more than just a place to sleep. So, to really put it all on paper, you need to take into consideration everything else that is included.
What else is included in that price?
The purpose of coliving is not just to provide cheaper accommodation, it is much more beyond that. This concept was built from the idea to deliver a space where visitors can meet other travelers, hang out and share ideas.
On top of that, these accommodation provide their visitors with a working space, which is another big thing that differentiates them from regular hostels. It is hard to imagine coliving without coworking.
That is why one of the first things that a coliving place needs to provide is an environment suitable for work.
Some of the amenities that can be found in many co-living accommodations in Spain are fast WiFi, meeting rooms, Skype rooms, projectors, etc. Everything that is necessary for digital nomads to continue their jobs without any problems.
Secondly, a coliving provides you a place to relax from your work, and not to feel like you are stuck in a cubical. That is why there are usually a lot of chill-out areas and outdoor spaces that can help you with that. Again, these features come from the needs of digital workers, and a need for that healthy balance between the digital and the real world is a top priority.
Finally, coliving places usually try to retain the authentic local feel by providing visitors with an opportunity to try some local food at reasonable prices.
Additional features you can get depending on coliving space
Coliving spaces can have only the basics like sleeping areas, workspaces, and shared areas to cook, relax and hang out. But often they can have extra options that bring even more value.
In fact, it’s a well-established practice for these places to provide extra activities included in the price. Usually, it is some kind of physical recreation that you can practice while staying there, such as yoga, swimming, biking, surfing, etc.
On the other hand, some try to go one step further by organizing some unusual and unique coliving activities that you can experience while staying there.
Coliving places in Spain that we’re planning to visit in 2023
Coliving Valencia – WayCo (Valencia)
The Coliving Valencia provides you with a 2-in-1 solution. Their offer includes both coliving and coworking options. During our most recent stay in Spain, we had an opportunity to experience working in one of their two coworking spaces (Wayco Abastos).
Their space was fully equipped with everything necessary for remote work, from isolated Skype rooms, different sizes of meeting rooms, fast internet, and lots of desks. You can choose between a flexible and fixed desk, as you can in most coworking spaces. On top of everything, it is really quiet and people respect that, which can be important for most people.
They also have a kitchen and a dining room where you can leave your food and share a meal with others. They also have free coffee, tea, and water for every visitor.
Besides that, they provide you with accommodation. To be more precise, boutique apartments, in some of the best neighborhoods in Valencia. Since we are planning to return to Valencia by the end of this year, we are definitely going to check their coliving spaces, too.
Sun and Co. (Xabia)
Located in Xàbia, a small coastal town in the province of Alicante, Valencia, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Sun and Co. is one of the first coliving places in this part of Europe.
It is a 19th-century house renovated with the purpose of creating space for digital nomads and other travelers alike to gather, hang out, and share ideas with people that nurture similar values.
Nine Coliving (Tenerife)
Nine Coliving is one of the many co-living spaces in beautiful Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. Based in the historic center of La Orotava, surrounded by the astonishing nature of this touristic paradise, it provides an oasis for digital workers.
Once again, it is situated in an old house restored to satisfy the needs of modern travelers. It is a perfect place for digital nomads who are looking to meet people with similar backgrounds, learn some new things, and charge their batteries in Tenerife.
Sende (Senderiz)
Sende is a countryside coworking and coliving space in northern Spain. Stationed in a small village Senderiz in the Galicia region with less than 20 inhabitants.
Protected by a range of mountains from all stresses that can be created by city life. This place consists of a few old Galician houses transformed into functional areas for coliving and coworking.
This place provides a feeling of community and gives you the opportunity to reconnect with yourself, nature, and others like yourself.
How to find coliving places in Spain?
Booking platforms for co-living spaces are definitely the easiest way to start searching, especially if you are new to this. They provide you with numerous options all in one place. Two places to start this search are Coliving.com and Anyplace.
What is the best platform for finding coliving spaces?
There are a couple of places online where you can discover places for your next trip. We would recommend Coliving.com. It is the most popular platform for finding coliving spaces online. On top of that, they have the biggest base of coliving accommodation in the world.
Why should you use Coliving.com to find a coliving place for your next trip?
First of all, each listing on the Coliving.com website is rich with all necessary information describing every single aspect of accommodation.
In addition to that, there is also information about the neighborhood and tips for local opportunities for each place listed. It is convenient to have all the information in one place because it can help you with your decision.
If you are new to this and are just looking where to start your search, we think Coliving.com is definitely the best place online to book your coliving accommodation. Because of that, we decided to partner up with Coliving.com and to offer you a 2.5% discount on your first month’s booking if you decide to book through our link.
We hope that will help you start your new adventure!
In addition, as affiliate partners, we will receive a small commission for any purchases made through our link.
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Secure yourself the best coliving experience
- SafetyWing – The best travel insurance for digital nomads and remote workers. It is perfect for all people who want to experience a coliving way of lifestyle.
- italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.
