Barcelona Is the Only Major Spanish Capital Where Rents Are Falling — Down 7.6% in a Year

Barcelona has become the only major Spanish regional capital where rental prices have fallen. According to Idealista's April report, prices have dropped by 7.6% to €22 per square metre. Catalonia as a whole has become the only autonomous community with falling rental rates — down 8.6% over the past year — while the province of Barcelona has seen a fall of 8.5%.

Besides Barcelona, only Tarragona recorded a slight decrease, minus 0.4%. The national average for rent stands at €15 per square metre, with annual growth of 5.2% — the most moderate increase since the summer of 2022.

The key factor behind the drop in Barcelona prices is the regulation of the rental market. March marked two years since restrictions on rental rates were introduced in areas with a housing shortage. The cap now applies to 271 municipalities across Catalonia, including Barcelona.

Madrid remains Spain's most expensive city for rent. In the capital, the average rate has reached €23.30 per square metre, with annual growth of 8.6%. It is followed by Barcelona (€22), Palma (€19.10), San Sebastián (€18.70), Valencia (€16.40), Málaga (€16.30), and Bilbao (€15.90). The most affordable rents among regional capitals are in Zamora (€7.90) and Ourense (€8).

At the provincial level, Madrid remains the most expensive at €21.20 per square metre, followed by the Balearic Islands (€19.80), Barcelona (€18.60), Málaga (€17), and Gipuzkoa (€16.60). The most affordable provinces are Jaén (€6.90), Ciudad Real and Zamora (both €7.30).

Among large cities, the steepest rent increases have been in Pontevedra — up 14%, Ciudad Real — up 13.4%, and Toledo — up 12.1%. In Palma, the rise was 10.4%, in Alicante, 8.7%, and in Seville, 6.7%. In Valencia, Málaga, and Bilbao, the increase ranged from 5.2% to 5.8%.

By autonomous community, rent rose most sharply in Castilla-La Mancha — up 11.6%, the Community of Madrid — up 9%, and Aragón — up 8.9%. The Valencian Community recorded growth of 8.1%, against a national average of 5.2%. The most expensive rents are in the Community of Madrid (€21.20), the Balearic Islands (€19.80), and Catalonia (€17.10), despite the overall decrease there. The most affordable are in Extremadura (€7.50) and Castilla-La Mancha (€8.60).