Info about Madrid Spain?

I have been offered a job in Spain.
I need to know some basic things about Madrid Spain.
1. How much are the taxes?
2. How good is the the public transport? and tentative cost?
3. How much would a 1 bedroom appt. cost?
4. Is English widely understood?
5. Is Indian food/ Restaurants available?
6. Are there English schools for Kids?
7. Would it be easy for me to bring my parents along?
8. anything else that you might wanna share.
I would really appreciate any help.

1. I can't help you with that as I'm only 19 - my parents take care of that! Sorry!

2. The public transport is very good. I pay 1.25 euro for the train (3 zones) and 1 euro for the metro. It can get very crowded at peek times (usually around 8:30am - 10:00am and 4:00pm - 6:00pm) but other than that it is very reliable and a quick way to get around.

3. That really depends on the location and the type of apartment, but on average you're looking at about 300 euros per week. The cost of living here is quite steep.

4. English is more widely understood/spoken by the younger generation, but in saying that, the level spoken is not very high (which is definitely understandable as english isn't their native language). Most people know the basics, though.

5. There are one or two Indian restaurants that I have seen advertised, but they are definitely not everywhere. You can buy ingredients to make Indian food in the supermarket, though as they stock Pataks etc. here - it's what I do!

6. Yes. There are quite a few British and American schools located mainly in the suburbs, and there are also a few international schools.

7. Sure!

8. If you don't speak any spanish at the moment, I highly recommend taking a few courses before getting here - just to teach you the basics. It will definitely come in handy and the spanish will appreciate the effort.


Hope that helps :)

2. The public transport is good, the underground is faster than the bus, and practically there are undeground in each square. A travel cost 1 euro, a ticket of 10 travels cost over 6.50, and the abono (ticket for a month) cost 26 euros if you are minor than 21 years, and 40 euros if you are mayor than 21.

4. In the young people yes, the elder people don't understand english. Generally the people understand english, but in diferents leves.

5. Yes, there are indian food, but there are more chinese food and burguers. You can eat in bars for a few money too.

6. Yes there are. There are bilingual schools too.

1- No idea, im young and taxes are payed by ma perents
2- The public transport is marvellous, Madrid is like a chaos, and the best way to translate is the public transport, is not very puntual, but all people know it, so you dont have problems with that.
3- 300 euros ist the medium price
4- more o less, anyway try to lear Spanish, you are in Spain, and the native language is Spanish not english!!!!
5- yes, all kind of restaurants
6- yes
7-i think so
8- Well i live in Madrid, and i was not worn here, but i think is the most tolerant city in Spain. I dont know if you are New Zealander, Indian or what... but you are not going to have problems.... Theres a lot of places to have fun and ppl love it... theres a thing (ilegal thing) called botellon, but all ppl do it... you must try it.
Also you must try Beer and Wine and the tapas with the drinks
And you must seen the devil statue in the Retiro Park.

Ana

2) Very good- you can either take the metro or the bus, or if you live out of town, make sure you are connected by the Cercanias
3) Roughly EUR700. Could be more could be less depending on location. You could find a cheaper one if you choose to live in the outskirts of Madrid.
4) Unfortunately English is not spoken everywhere. For your comfort, its best you make an effort to learn Spanish.
5) There's one in the Lavapies area
6) There are English schools for kids, but tend to private, therefore, pricier.