🇪🇸
Granada
Spain
Free tapas, Alhambra views and a true student town.
🇪🇸
Madrid
Spain
Spain's capital — museums, parks and endless nights.
Estimated monthly student budget
🇪🇸 Granada
€700–950 / month
Estimated monthly student budget
🇪🇸 Madrid
€1,050–1,400 / month
Best for
🇪🇸 Granada
- Students with a tight budget
- Those looking for a very social Erasmus experience
- People who want to meet international students easily
Best for
🇪🇸 Madrid
- Students looking for a large international city
- Those who want to travel frequently around Europe
- People interested in academic and professional opportunities
Category profile
How each city tends to feel across the things students care about — different, not better or worse.
🇪🇸 Granada
🇪🇸 Madrid
Very Affordable
Cost of Living
Expensive
Very High
Nightlife
Very High
Very Good
Weather
Very Good
Moderate
Travel Opportunities
Excellent
Outstanding
Student Life
Very Active
Comfortable
Housing
Tight
Strong
University Reputation
Top-Tier
Student insights
🇪🇸 Granada
- One of the lowest costs of living in Spain
- Exceptional Erasmus atmosphere
- Very easy to make international friends
Student insights
🇪🇸 Madrid
- Exceptional nightlife
- Outstanding national and international connections
- Highly prestigious universities
Student voice — 🇪🇸 Granada
“I did Erasmus in Granada and it was the best experience of my life.”
Student voice — 🇪🇸 Madrid
“Madrid is a city that never sleeps.”
🇪🇸 Granada
Pros
- One of the lowest costs of living in Spain
- Exceptional Erasmus atmosphere
- Very easy to make international friends
- Excellent value for money in accommodation
- Strong university identity
Cons
- Fewer international connections than other major cities
- More limited job market for students
- No beach within the city
- Winters can be colder than expected
- Less cultural and professional offer than Madrid or Barcelona
🇪🇸 Madrid
Pros
- Exceptional nightlife
- Outstanding national and international connections
- Highly prestigious universities
- Wide cultural and leisure offer
- Great networking and career opportunities
Cons
- Very expensive rent
- High cost of living by Spanish standards
- Large, sometimes overwhelming city
- Longer daily commutes than in mid-sized cities
- Less sense of student community than in more compact destinations
Have you studied in one of these cities?
Share your experience and help future students make better Erasmus decisions.