A student room in Madrid costs €689 a month on average, according to the consumer group OCU, with big differences between neighbourhoods. The Complutense University (UCM) runs five colegios mayores for 2026-27 at about €1,082 a month for UCM students. This guide sets out the verified prices, the colegio process and what to check before renting.
Details come from the UCM and OCU, checked on 20 October 2026. Confirm them for your intake before you pay.
UCM colegios mayores, 2026-27
The five colegios mayores are Antonio de Nebrija, Diego de Covarrubias, Santa María de Europa, Teresa de Jesús and Ximénez de Cisneros. You can apply to all five, ranked by preference. Prices include VAT.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Place reservation | €450, deducted from the first invoice |
| Monthly fee, students enrolled at the UCM | €1,081.70 |
| Monthly fee, students not enrolled at the UCM | €1,159.44 |
| First invoice | Two monthly fees (first and last month), minus the reservation |
You choose one stay period: 1 September 2026 to 31 May 2027, or 15 September 2026 to 15 June 2027. The page does not give an annual total.
| Step (2026-27) | New students | Renewals |
|---|---|---|
| Call published | 24 April 2026 | 24 April 2026 |
| Applications | 22 May to 17 June 2026 | 8 to 15 May 2026 |
| Provisional list | From 19 June 2026 | From 29 May 2026 |
| Final list | From 30 June 2026 | From 17 June 2026 |
| Accept your place | By 7 July 2026 | By 23 June 2026 |
These dates have passed for 2026-27. New students also had an extraordinary application period, but the page does not give its dates, so check the UCM page for your intake.
Renting a room: what OCU found
OCU analysed 6,580 room adverts on Idealista published up to 31 August 2026 across Madrid and Barcelona (press release of 11 September 2026). The average student room in Madrid costs €689 a month. Rents rose between 17 and 33 percent since 2023 in the neighbourhoods with comparable data.
| Madrid area | Average monthly room rent |
|---|---|
| Universidad | €759 |
| Nuevos Ministerios-Ríos Rosas | €757 |
| Argüelles | €751 |
| Vista Alegre | €509 |
| Abrantes | €483 |
| Águilas | €459 |
OCU’s advice: compare neighbourhoods, since prices can differ by up to €3,600 a year, check the number of flatmates, bills and contract terms, and look in less central areas. It found that sharing an 80 square metre flat between three can cost from €347 to €938 each, which may beat a single room in some areas. These are advertised prices, not what every room costs.
Colegio mayor or a rented room?
| Question | UCM colegio mayor | Rented room |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | €1,081.70 (UCM students) | €689 average advertised in Madrid |
| Upfront | €450 reservation, then two months in the first invoice | Ask what deposit applies and get it in writing |
| Period | September to May, or mid-September to mid-June | Set by your contract, so read the term |
I have not listed private residences or ranked neighbourhoods beyond OCU’s published averages, because I could not verify other prices or area details against reliable sources. View any room in person or on a live video call, and never pay before you have a written contract. For other Spanish cities, see our guides to Barcelona, Valencia and Granada, or browse all student accommodation in Spain.
FAQs about student accommodation in Madrid
How much does a student room cost in Madrid?
OCU puts the average advertised room at €689 a month, from €459 in Águilas to €759 in Universidad.
How much is a UCM colegio mayor?
€1,081.70 a month for UCM students and €1,159.44 for others in 2026-27, plus a €450 reservation that comes off the first invoice.
Can I apply to more than one colegio?
Yes. You can apply to all five, ranked by preference.
How can I lower my housing costs?
OCU suggests looking in less central areas and comparing shared flats, since three people sharing a flat can pay less each than for a single room.
Sources
- Universidad Complutense: colegios mayores 2026-2027
- OCU: student room prices in Madrid and Barcelona, 2026
All checked 20 October 2026.
