Studying Spanish in Spain will cost more than studying anywhere else. Not only will the courses be more expensive, but accommodations, food, entertainment and transportation. Barcelona is a beautiful city full of Gothic buildings and history. Barcelona also has beaches within the city and a famous nightlife that usually doesn't begin until 11 pm or later. This party atmosphere can be counter-productive to your reason for going. Many schools in Barcelona offer language-only programs, language and culture programs as well as housing options. Housing through the school is convenient, but often more expensive than if you were to find housing on your own. As of February 2011 the cost of a two week course offering four hours of instruction per day range between $350 and $450.
Sucre is a small town in southern Bolivia that is quiet during the week and pretty lively on weekends, making it a good place to study and socialize. It has been declared a cultural heritage site by UNESCO. Sucre is surrounded by rugged landscape and indigenous communities. As of February 2011 the cost of 20 hours of lessons per week is about $130, and lessons plus a home stay costs about $215 per week. It is possible to stay at a local hostel in a private room for $5 per day and to secure private language lessons for $5 per hour. Food in the market is inexpensive as are restaurants. A very good single pizza costs about $2.50.
Buenos Aires, like Barcelona, is a beautiful city full of culture, good restaurants and a very active, late-starting nightlife. If you enjoy late nights, try to find afternoon classes. Buenos Aires is full of tourists and students from all over the world, making it an exciting place to study and meet others interested in learning Spanish. Because Buenos Aires is the home of Tango, many schools offer language and dance classes. Classes start at about $140 per week for 20 hours of classes. Most also offer accommodations, but it is less expensive to find them on your own or opt for a nearby hostel.
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of a big city and learn in a quiet, secluded beach town, Samara Beach may be the perfect place for you. It's located in a palm-lined, coral reef bay with five kilometers of white sand beach. The town is surrounded by forests teeming with wildlife. The school here, located on the beach, offers small classes and daily Latin dance classes. As of February 2011, 20 hours per week of classes start at $300 and with home stay, it costs about $450.