According to a recent report by Idealista, the average cost of renting housing in Spain increased by 8.5% over the past 12 months, with a quarter-on-quarter rise of 1.7%. By the end of December 2025, the average rent stood at €14.7 per square metre per month.
Supply Shortage and Stricter Rental Conditions
Idealista representatives highlight that the primary challenge facing the rental market is a significant shortage of available properties, which has intensified competition among prospective tenants. Property owners with available units receive numerous inquiries, allowing them to be selective. Preference is often given to tenants who provide greater security, which unfortunately excludes many families who can afford the already high rents.
Rental prices have begun to stabilize or decline in regions where they have reached their peak, whereas in areas without regulatory measures, rents continue to climb. Meanwhile, the supply of rental properties continues to diminish, and rental conditions are becoming increasingly stringent. This dynamic has created a competitive environment among tenants, dividing those who benefit from enforcement measures aimed at landlords and those who struggle to secure housing due to these same measures.
Rental Trends in Provincial Capitals
Rental costs increased in nearly all provincial capitals over the past year, with the exception of San Sebastián, where rents decreased by 0.5%.
The sharpest rent increases were recorded in:
- Ceuta (17.9%),
- Ciudad Real (15%),
- Zamora (14.3%),
- Lleida (14.2%),
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife (13.6%).
Among Spain’s major cities, the highest growth rates were observed in:
- Madrid (9.7%),
- Alicante (8.3%),
- Seville (7%),
- Valencia (6.4%),
- Palma (6.4%),
- Málaga (4.7%),
- Bilbao (3.1%),
- Barcelona (1.9%).
Barcelona remains the most expensive provincial capital for renting, with average rents at €23.8/m² per month, followed by:
- Madrid (€22.7),
- Palma (€18.3),
- San Sebastián (€17.9),
- Valencia (€15.9),
- Málaga (€15.8).
The lowest rental prices were found in Zamora (€7.6), Ciudad Real, Badajoz, and Lugo (all at €7.9).
Notably, 25 of the 50 provincial capitals analyzed reached record high rents this quarter, including Valencia, Málaga, and Bilbao.
Rental Market by Provinces and Autonomous Communities
Across Spanish provinces, average rents declined only in Girona, where they fell by 1.5% compared to 2024.
The most significant rent increases were seen in:
- Lleida (16.4%),
- Ciudad Real (14.8%),
- Guadalajara (14.8%),
- Burgos (12.5%),
- Segovia (12.4%).
In the Madrid province, rents rose by 10.4%, while in the province of Barcelona, the increase was 2.5%.
The provinces with the highest average rents are:
- Madrid (€20.8),
- Barcelona (€20.4),
- Balearic Islands (€19.1),
- Málaga (€16.6),
- Gipuzkoa (€16.4).
The most affordable provinces for renting include Jaén (€6.3), Ciudad Real, Zamora, and Badajoz (all at €7.1).
Regarding autonomous communities, rental prices increased across all regions over the past year. The strongest growth was recorded in:
- Castilla-La Mancha (11.7%),
- La Rioja (10.6%),
- Madrid (10.4%),
- Andalusia (9.9%),
- Aragon (9.9%),
- Valencian Community (9.7%),
- Castilla y León (9.5%).
The smallest increase was observed in Catalonia, at 3%.
Madrid leads as the autonomous community with the highest rents, averaging €20.8/m² per month, followed by:
- Balearic Islands (€19.1),
- Catalonia (€18.6),
- Canary Islands (€15.3).
The regions with the lowest rental prices are Extremadura (€7.3), Castilla-La Mancha (€8.2), and Murcia (€9).