In the urban center of Valencia, just a few minutes from the Old town, Rusaffa, and Eixample, you’ll find a coliving that harvests the energy of the city and turns it into an inspiring experience for its visitors.

Connecting people from all over the world, Vivarium invites all who want to be inspired and go on a self-exploration through art, music, culture, and vibrant city life.

Living in a centric flat right outside all the city’s cultural spots is an amazing opportunity to explore and grow, but getting an instant friend group that you can share that with, is even more rewarding.

Vibrant cities attract vibrant people, and Vivarium wants to provide a space for those people to share their stories and ideas and make meaningful connections while living in one of the most urban cities in Spain.

A special thanks to a talented ex-coliver Erica for sharing her awesome photos of her experience in Vivarium. Check her Instagram page to view more of her work

How it all started

“Here’s what is exciting about sharing ideas with others: If you share a new idea with ten people, they get to hear it once and you get to hear it ten times.”

-Jim Rohn

1. When and why did you decide to open a coliving space of your own?

– We decided to open Vivarium in May 2021.

After years of solving challenges in the corporate world, launching crazy projects, and exploring the never-ending path of personal growth, Mar and I met in Madrid at the hardest moments of the covid-19 pandemic and discovered we had similar “operating systems”.

Surprisingly, we were equally passionate about long dialogues, meaningful relationships, and experimentation. So, we decided to create a project together where we could start bringing our ideas (about business, art, technology, relationships, education…) to life, and invite others to join us in the adventure.

Our first experiment involved only the two of us. We moved from Madrid to a small village in the north of Spain, to live together while working remotely for a tech company. The experience changed us. We discovered that a new way of life was possible and that it brought better results to our work.

With that experience in mind, we decided to open a space where people from all over the world could come to live, work, learn and create. A living lab where people could feel at home and connect with others in a different way while materializing new projects and solving challenges.

2. Have you ever had the opportunity to stay in some other coliving space or any type of shared accommodation before you decided to open your own place?

– Yes, when we moved to Asturias, we stayed at the Rural Freehouse, a coliving/entrepreneurs house in Somiedo, a small village in the mountains.

3. Do you remember your beginnings and what was the most difficult for you when you started the coliving?

– The most difficult part, both being the founders and hosts, was to find our “place” in the house and the experience.

To find a balance between taking care of the colivers and at the same time of ourselves, learning to give and also to receive. To accept reality as it emerged and not as we have imagined, and work from there to learn, grow and improve the experience step by step.

4. Is there something that you wished you knew when you started with coliving?

– The importance of having not-too-many but strong ground rules.

5. Have you had the opportunity to visit other coliving places since you opened yours?

– No, we haven’t.

6. What is the story behind you choosing Spain as the location for opening your coliving space?

– We just followed the opportunities that were emerging for us. That being said, after traveling to many countries, I find Spain one of the best locations for remote workers. The culture, the weather, the entrepreneurial and artistic scene, the infrastructure, nature, etc.

It’s a great country to live “a good life” (connect with nature, enjoy culture, have a healthy lifestyle) and at the same time keep growing professionally and finding new opportunities.

Vivarium Community

“Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.“

-M. Scott Peck

7. What is the profile of people who are most likely to stay at your place?

– We like to say that here, you find people like you that are not like you. It’s difficult to make a profile of our colivers as they are so diverse.

Mainly they are either remote workers or people that are at a moment of personal/professional change and looking to create meaningful connections and enjoy all the good things of Valencia.

8. What is the average age of people who are visiting your accommodation?

– Around 30 years old. The youngest was 25, and the oldest was 56.

9. How long do people usually stay at your place?

– Between 1 and 6 months.

10. Do your visitors have the tendency to return back to your place?

– We opened recently so we only had two people that returned to Vivarium. However, many colivers decided to extend their stay while being here.

11. Is there some trend where people from specific countries come to your place?

– No, people come from very diverse countries.

Usually, we have one or two colivers from Spain, and the rest are from every corner of the world.

12. What additional activities are included for people who stay at your coliving?

– We have an organic approach to community building, so every week can be different and we don’t have a fixed set of activities included.

However, we like to keep some rituals, like our weekly family dinners or Tuesday’s wine&learn (skillshares).

Apart from that, it is very common that either the colivers or we as hosts propose to have a lunch/dinner together in the city, a day trip to nature, a concert, an expo…

13. Do you have some special offers for startups and group bookings?

– No, we only offer special prices to couples or long-term bookings.

About the Coliving Movement

”The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.”

-Dean Ornish

14. Do you think that coliving is only dedicated to a specific group of people such as freelancers, digital nomads, and startups, or do you think there is a possibility to gain popularity beyond that group of people?

– I think it is possible. These profiles, as I see it, are the early adopters, as they are the ones that feel most pressingly the needs that coliving solves (bonding/community, flexibility, continuous learning, etc.)

I believe it will gain popularity with other collectives, people, for example, that are looking for a coliving experience long term in their own city and so on.

However, to appeal to other groups, probably the offering will need to evolve and adapt to the particular needs of these groups.

15. Do you think that coliving cannot exist without coworking?

– It can exist without coworking. In my opinion, coliving is about the experience of living in a community. It doesn’t necessarily need to be linked to work.

16. One of the main selling points for coliving is the possibility to meet new people, share experiences and maybe even develop new partnerships. Is that really the situation?

– From our experience, the first two happen frequently and naturally, but the third one is more challenging. It is never easy to find partners for a project and it doesn’t happen automatically by just being in a coliving space.

Here you might find more “density” of talent, people with complementary skills, or at a personal/professional moment ideal for these partnerships, but it’s still difficult to create trust and commitment for a partnership.

We are still trying to figure out how to facilitate this.

17. Do you have some examples where people who had the opportunity to meet at your place later managed to develop successful partnerships or relationships?

– Yes, some of our colivers have kept in touch, met in other cities/countries, and explored the possibility of creating businesses together…

We always feel very happy when they send us pictures together some months after leaving Vivarium or when they thank us for the connections they made here.

Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that! You will find more than 3500 native speakers waiting to help you with your Spanish.

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The post Vivarium: Urban nook for the city-loving nomads in the center of vibrant Valencia appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

Even in bigger cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, or the coastal ones, the average cost of living is somewhat lower compared with mid-range cities in France or the UK.

According to Numbeo, a website that allows people to enter the average costs of everyday things in their countries, the average cost of living in Spain is 14 – 30% lower than in the United Kingdom. This is not unusual because the average salary is also 55% higher in the UK than in Spain.

We can see a similar situation between Spain and France (up to 40% lower cost of living in Spain), somewhat more significant differences between Spain and Germany (up to 60%), and drastically bigger between Spain and Scandinavia (up to 100% lower average living costs in Spain).

Compared to the United States, the average cost of living in Spain is as high as 85% cheaper than in the US.

For example, grocery prices are about 55% higher in the US than in Spain, while rent prices are 85% higher in the US. According to Numbeo, the average monthly salary in Spain is 134% lower than in the US.

The average monthly cost of living in Spain

The average monthly cost of living in Spain is around €900 for one person. A couple can easily live for €1500 a month.

It all depends on the region. The priciest cities are Bilbao, Barcelona, and Madrid. The prices go up with rent, restaurants, and touristic attractions.

Spain is the home of some of the famous clothing distributors such as Zara and Bershka. Subsequently, the clothing cost is more affordable in Spain (at least if you buy in these places).

The lowest cost of living in Spain is in Andalusia, and the priciest is in Madrid and Barcelona.

In case you are looking to move to Spain in recent future, we think it might be helpful for you to read an article from our dear friend Gabi from The Lithuanian Abroad. She has written a perfect article about what things you know before moving to Spain. She covers what her experience was like in Madrid, while here at Travel & Tapas, we concentrate more on Southern Spain and Valencia.

Andalusia is the most affordable place in Spain, so many students choose to go there to study. Not only it is cheap, but it has some of the most famous Spanish touristic attractions, and some of the most famous Spanish cities are located in Andalusia.

So, let’s see what the cost is of living in Andalusia.

Cost of living in Southern Spain

The expenses of living in Andalusia are by far the lowest in Spain. Even in big cities such as Seville and Granada, the living cost doesn’t exceed 1000 euros per month.

The average cost of groceries for two people would be around 100-150 euros per week.

Don’t forget that the Spanish people love dining out, and the average cost of a meal is between 8 and 12 dollars. The prices of tapas and drinks vary, but you can easily dine out for 10 euros.

For more on restaurant prices, check out our Tapas 101 article.

Let’s see which big cities are the cheapest to live in, and what is the average cost of living in them.

The average cost of living in Seville, Spain

The average cost of living in Seville for a month is around 900 euros.

Most of that budget goes on the accommodation that is approximately about 500-600 euros per month. Of course, this is for a one-bedroom apartment. If a couple splits it, it costs 250-300 euros each.

One drink in a club costs 6-8 euros, and a meal in a restaurant is around 10 euros.

Sevilla restaurant prices

For one month of “living like a local” in Seville, you wouldn’t need more than 900 euros.

Seville is the capital of Andalusia and one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. It attracts a lot of tourists and could easily be more expensive than it is.

One downside of Seville is that it is not on the coast. The nearest coastal towns to Seville are Huelva and Cadiz. They are approximately an hour, an hour, and a half away from Seville. A one-way ticket from Seville to one of these places is around 10 euros, but you can also find BlaBla car or Amovens rides for 5 per person.

If you want to stay in Seville for a month, a budget of 900 euros will get you a great life. You will even be able to treat yourself once in a while and visit beaches outside the city. Just skip one dinner in a restaurant, eat at home, and use those 10 euros for a round ticket to the beach.

Other than that, Seville has a wild nightlife and loads of things to do. If you are thinking about going for a month or two, but doing all the touristic stuff, and not living like a local, then bring extra 200 euros, and you will live like a king.

Student accommodation Seville, Spain

Students usually share an apartment with two or three other people. That is why there are a lot of students that rent individual rooms, rather than whole apartments. 

The usual cost of a room in a shared apartment in Seville is around 300 euros per month. This price sometimes also includes utilities. Maybe this sounds a lot to you, and maybe cheap, depending on where you are from, but it is a good deal.

One suggestion from a former international student in Andalusia, who shared an apartment with other students:

Don’t think of that money as the money for your room; you are actually renting the whole apartment, just sharing it with other people. I know a lot of people who limit their selves to their room, simply because they rented a private room instead of an apartment.

During my student days in Jaen, I spent most of the time in the living room and the kitchen, and I never felt like I was paying only for only a bedroom. It depends on how you look at it. So, relax, and think of it as if you pay 300 euros for an 80sq meter apartment (and most likely, a pool), and you don’t need to pay the bills.

Now, that sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it?!

The average cost of living in Malaga, Spain

The average cost of living in Malaga is around 1000 euros per month for one person.

It all depends if the person lives alone or with a roommate. Typically, sharing an apartment will save you 300 to 350 euros per month.

One-bedroom apartments are usually more costly compared to those with 3 or 4 separate bedrooms. This is usual in most countries around the world.

According to Numbeo, a single person needs around 650 euros without rent in Malaga. Now, if you don’t want to share an apartment, that will probably sum up to 1250 euros per month. But most of the apartments for 2 or 3 people cost between 650 and 800 euros, so by splitting the rent and the bill, you won’t be paying more than 260-300 euros per month.

The prices of food and drinks in Malaga, Spain

The prices of food and beverage in Malaga are the same as in Seville.

Restaurant prices are around 10 euros (in the inexpensive restaurants), and 15-18 euros in the more expensive ones.

Una copa (a drink like gin and tonic or similar) costs around 7 euros. Some clubs charge 12-15 euros for the entrance. On the bright side, with the entrance ticket, you also get one “copa”.

I will also tell you that they don’t spare their drinks, so if you order gin and tonic, you will most likely get 2-3 fingers of gin, and of course, a whole bottle of tonic water. Two drinks and you are more than tipsy!

Burgers, pizzas, and fast food cost between 5 and 8 euros.

The gym costs around 30 euros, but there are also various free outdoor options for training and physical activity. Many parks are built for recreation and equipped with running trails, football and basketball fields, sports machines, etc. Spanish people really love physical activity, and the cities are built around that.

Student accommodation Malaga, Spain

Student accommodation in Malaga costs up to 300 euros in a private room in a shared apartment. The utilities are also included in this price.

There are options for students to live in the accommodation provided by the university, but those options always cost a bit more than a shared apartment. For example, in the Residence Campus Malaga, it is stated that the standard monthly price for a room with a bathroom is 763 euros.

Of course, some students choose to stay in the accommodation provided by the campuses to be closer to the Uni. If you are unable to find a near place, you may spend 3-4 euros daily for transport, and have a complicated return to your home.

The average cost of living in Valencia, Spain

The average cost of living in Valencia, Spain is 1000 euros per month.

The budget of 1000 euros is estimated to be just enough for one person to live a full, easygoing life without any bigger sacrifices. This includes renting an apartment for one person, living alone, buying groceries for one, eating out at least a couple of times per week, going out on the weekends, visiting public pools, the beach, the cinema, etc.

Restaurants and nightclubs in Valencia are somewhat more expensive than in Andalusia.

According to Numbeo, the average meal price in Valencia is around 10% more expensive than in Seville (the capital of Andalusia). In the city center the average meal for one person will be around 15 euros, and drinks in nightclubs around 10 euros.

Basic utilities in Valencia for a 2-bedroom apartment are around 120 euros, which really is not that expensive if you share it with other people.

Without rent, one person needs around 550 euros per month.

A local gym costs around 30 euros per month, but Valencia also has gorgeous parks where you can easily train and run.

Student accommodation Valencia, Spain

Students usually rent a room in a shared apartment, which costs around 250 euros per month. With this price comes the room and the shared spaces such as the kitchen, living area, bathroom, etc. This price also usually includes utilities because most of the landlords choose to pay the bills by themselves. With a shared apartment, students can easily live with 600-700 euros per month.

There are also university accommodation options for students. University rooms are modern, nice, and close to the campus, but they cost a bit more. This type of accommodation costs around 600 euros per month.

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The cost of Studying in Spain

Every year, over 60,000 students worldwide choose Spain as their studying destination. But why?

Spain has many opportunities for international students and is one of the leading countries in Erasmus programs. Even though most students coming through Erasmus receive scholarships, there are still a lot of young people that decide to enroll in higher education programs in Spain as full-righted students.

Two main reasons may be behind this decision. First, Spain has a wide range of programs and careers for students to choose from, and second – Spain has one of the lowest university tuition fees in Europe.

Public universities in Spain offer amazing programs and deliver quality knowledge and practices during studies.

On this, I can confirm firsthand. Besides that, they are very affordable.

Bachelor’s studies in public universities in Spain cost approximately between 800 and 2500 euros per year.

Master’s studies cost about 1500-3000 euros in total, for the students who are enrolling the first time. The prices go up if you are applying the second, third or fourth time.

In Spain, prices are defined by credits. The fees for a Master’s degree go from 10 to 25 euros per credit, which then adds to 600-1500 euros per year, or 1200-3000 euros in total for two years.

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