Moving to Madrid in 2023 an Expat Guide

Moving to Madrid in 2023 an expat guide is the best resource to find out about this vibrant city. When you decide to become an expat, you’re embarking on a truly awesome adventure.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century we Brits began colonizing America. In the eighteenth century we landed in Australia and ran screaming from the scary wildlife. By the early nineteenth century we were sipping Darjeeling tea in India. The anticipation for a new life in an exotic place must have been palpable for our forebears. They packed up their belongings and braced themselves for a long voyage out at sea to a strange, new world.

Stone’s throw

Luckily, in modern times, we don’t have to endure months long expeditions to move to another country. Europe is now only a stone’s throw away.

Unlike our ancestors, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll get everything abroad, because Indalo Transport have that covered. We specialize in removals from UK to Spain, especially moving to Madrid in 2023. This reassures you that your belongings are safe, sound and fully insured. The team genuinely love helping expats move to Spain.

Below, you’ll find a handy guide, part of our series of guides about the villages, towns, cities, provinces and regions of Spain.

We hope that Moving to Madrid in 2023 an expat guide helps you prepare for a move to Madrid.

(All links in this article open in a new tab of your browser, so you don’t lose your place!)

So you’re thinking of moving to Madrid — Nice choice!

Madrid is the capital city of Spain and it’s also the largest city of the country, with nearly 3.2 million inhabitants. It is an elegant city, filled with beautiful boulevards and expansive, manicured parks. Additionally, there are fashionable shopping areas, historical quarters and rich repositories of European art.

Its landmarks include the Royal Palace, the Temple of Debod and the Almundena Cathedral. Sportwise, there is the Bernabeu stadium and for shopping the popular El Rastro market. Moreover, there are botanical gardens, a zoo, an aquarium and a plethora of art and history museums.

A typical Spanish market stall

Madrid is an international commercial hub and political capital that still has deep Spanish roots. Expats needn’t worry about the pressures of a high-speed lifestyle that they may have experienced in the big cities of the UK. This city is the place to go if you’re looking to further your career with an excellent quality of life.

Madrid is the best city to find a job in the country as it plays host to an array of large multinational corporations with direct foreign investment. However, the average salary in Madrid, is generally inferior to other major European cities. However, the cost of food, eating out and drinking is also significantly lower than it would be elsewhere.

A typical Spanish apartment block

When you’re moving to Madrid in 2023, it can be quite hard to find accomodation in Madrid. This is because the process of buying and renting is different from the UK. The main thing to do is research the area you would like to live, as prices and quality can vary dramatically.

Negotiation

Negotiation is key to making a deal quickly and efficiently with estate agents in Spain. If you can demonstrate that you have a strong understanding of the local market, you shouldn’t get stung on the deal.

Once you’re settled however, you’ll find that Madrid is a melting pot of cultures. Nearly a fifth the inhabitants of Madrid have immigrated from abroad. The city’s healthcare system is considered to be one of the best in Europe. There are also an impressive number of private schools with a bilingual or full English curriculum.

The only downside of Madrid is that it is not a coastal city, like Barcelona or Valencia. Therefore you won’t be able to chill out at the seaside, unless you travel nearly two hours by train to the East coast. As Madrid is quite high up, winters are cold compared to other parts of the country.

The summers in Madrid can also get very hot. During July and August the temperature will rarely drop below 30 degrees. Even in winter, Madrid has about three times more sun than in the Northern half of Europe.

Indalo Transport’s Top 2 things you need to do to prepare for your move to Madrid.

1. Book your removal to Madrid from the UK

When you’ve gone through all your belongings and worked out what to take with you to Madrid, contact several removals companies for quotes. After you’ve got your quotes, do a little background research into the firms you’ve contacted. Make sure to check out their customer reviews to see if they’re really as good as they say they are.

Check to see if the company is fully insured and have a look in to whether they offer a packing service if that is something you want. Once you’ve decided, book with your chosen removals company as soon as possible, to make sure they can collect the removal when you need.
Whilst you’re here, why not have a look at the services we offer, and our glowing customer reviews. Maybe we’ll be your first choice of getting your things safely to Spain from the UK. We have been helping clients just you since 2013. We also take care of full customs management for you, and we make sure you get Transfer of Residence relief if you’re entitled.

2. Make sure you use our free essential moving checklist 2023

When you’re sure you will be moving to Madrid, download our free Moving Checklist here. This will make sure you don’t miss anything important before you leave. It covers all the steps you’ll need to carry out before your move to Madrid in 2023.

It is broken down into 3 Months before the move, 2 months before the move, 1 month and what to do on moving day.

I hope this moving to Madrid in 2023 an expat guide has helped with your plans and given you some useful guidance.