In November 2025, Spain’s rental housing market once again showed impressive growth. The average rental price nationwide reached €14.6 per square meter per month, up 9.9% from the previous year. Over the past three months, rents rose by 0.3%, and compared to October, by 0.6%. These figures underscore a clear trend: rental housing is becoming increasingly unaffordable for most Spaniards.
Almost all major cities in the country reported price increases, with only San Sebastián surprising by recording a decrease—rents there fell by 0.2% over the year. In the other 51 provincial capitals, rental costs went up, in some cases quite significantly. Ceuta posted the most dramatic surge, with landlords raising rates by 18.7%. Following Ceuta are Segovia with a 16.3% increase, Santa Cruz de Tenerife at 15.3%, and both Ciudad Real and Guadalajara at 14.6%.
Price Increase Geography
In Madrid, rents rose by 11.3%, in Alicante by 8.7%, and in Palma and Sevilla by 7.3%. Valencia saw prices go up by 6.4%, Bilbao by 3.5%, and both Barcelona and Málaga by 3.4%. Barcelona remains the most expensive city for renters at €24 per square meter. Madrid follows closely at €22.8, with Palma rounding out the top three at €18.2. In San Sebastián, rent averages €17.8, in Valencia €15.6, in Málaga €15.5, and in Bilbao €15.2. The most affordable options can be found in Zamora at €7.6, and in Ciudad Real and Lugo at €7.8.
Looking at the provinces, Madrid once again leads with €21 per square meter. It is followed by Barcelona (€20.6), Baleares (€19.1), Málaga (€16.6), Guipúzcoa (€16.3), Las Palmas (€15.4), and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (€14.8). The lowest prices are found in Jaén (€6.4) and Ciudad Real (€7).
Regions and trends
Rental prices have risen in all of Spain’s autonomous communities. The Community of Madrid leads with an increase of 12.4%, followed by Castilla-La Mancha (11.6%) and Andalucía (10.7%). In Comunitat Valenciana, rents grew by 9.8%, in La Rioja by 9.4%, in Murcia by 9.3%, in Baleares by 9.1%, in Castilla y León by 8.7%, and in Aragón by 8.5%. Below 8% are Canarias (7.4%), Asturias (6.9%), Cataluña (4.9%), Euskadi (4.2%), and Navarra (4.1%). The slowest growth was in Extremadura (2.9%) and in Cantabria and Galicia, both at 4%.
The most expensive regions for renters are Madrid (€21), Baleares (€19.1), Cataluña (€18.7), Canarias (€15.1), and Euskadi (€14.8). At the opposite end are Extremadura (€7.2) and Castilla-La Mancha (€8.1).
Methodology and specifics
The rental price index is based solely on current listings published on the largest classifieds platform. In 2023, a new methodology was implemented to exclude anomalies and duplicate properties, as well as listings that have attracted little interest over time. Calculations include both apartments and houses (chalets), with final prices determined using the median of all valid listings in each region.
The analysis covers not only Spain, but also Italy and Portugal. The market is assessed using both internal platform data and open sources, allowing for the most accurate picture for real estate professionals, investors, and analysts.
Leaders and outsiders
In 2025, the highest price jumps were recorded in Ceuta, Segovia, and Tenerife. At the same time, cities like Huesca, Girona, Pamplona, and A Coruña showed minimal growth. In the province of Cáceres, rents even dropped by 2.5%—a rare exception amid general price increases.
Barcelona and Madrid remain the most expensive cities, despite growth rates being lower here than in some lesser-known locations. Meanwhile, rents in smaller cities and provinces remain relatively affordable, though even there prices are on the rise.
In case you didn’t know, idealista is the largest proptech platform on the real estate market in Spain, Italy, and Portugal. The company specializes in collecting, analyzing, and providing data on prices, trends, and investment opportunities. The service is widely used by market professionals, investors, and individuals to make decisions on buying, renting, or investing in real estate. In 2023, idealista rolled out an updated analytical methodology, increasing the accuracy and relevance of its published data. The company also offers tools for property valuation, finding the best deals, and monitoring market trends.
