Santiago Marín, known as Santi, was 22 when he bought a house in Fuensanta, a village of 285 residents in Albacete province. After working from the age of 16 and saving, he purchased the home for €40,000, a personal example of how a low purchase price can make ownership possible beyond Spain’s largest housing markets.
The difference in market scale is stark. In the National Statistics Institute’s 2026 edition of Urban Indicators, based on 2025 data, Calvià had the highest average home-sale price among the municipalities covered, at €981,485. In Madrid, average prices reached €10,952 per square metre in Recoletos, €9,624 in Castellana and €9,438 in Almagro. Those are municipality- and neighbourhood-level averages, not like-for-like comparisons with an individual rural home, but they illustrate the gap between markets.
Rental costs also vary sharply by region. INE-based figures reported by El Plural put average monthly habitual-rent expenditure at €870 in Madrid, €804 in the Balearic Islands, €744 in Catalonia and €736 in the Basque Country. Such pressures weigh particularly heavily on young people and other households with limited means, though a lower purchase price in a rural area does not by itself make relocation the right choice for every worker.
From Savings to Ownership
Santi began working at 16, taking jobs as a bricklayer, welder and tractor driver. By the time he found the house in Fuensanta, he had saved enough to cover half the purchase price. “I’ve worked since I was 16 and managed to save quite a bit,” he told El Español.
He paid half the €40,000 price from his savings and financed the remainder with a personal loan rather than a conventional mortgage. “It was cheap, and with my savings I paid half. Then, instead of a mortgage, I took a personal loan for the rest,” he said. The financing arrangement was possible in his case because the purchase price was comparatively low; it is not a guarantee that similar borrowing would suit every buyer.
Rural Life as an Option
Santi’s decision reflects a broader debate in Spain about the barriers young people face when trying to leave home and establish independent lives. “It seems like people think we can’t buy houses, but it is possible. Many of us just have the idea that we have to live in a big city,” he said. High urban rents helped persuade him to look elsewhere. “With rents the way they are, the best thing is to move to rural areas and buy your own place.”
Lower purchase prices can make rural ownership more attainable, but the comparison with city housing is not simply a matter of the sale price. Renovation, taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance and transport can all add to the cost. Local employment and access to services also matter, particularly for buyers whose work depends on construction, agriculture or other jobs available in the area.
The Real Cost: Renovation
Buying the house was only the first step. Santi has invested around €15,000 in renovations, doing much of the work himself while continuing to work full-time. His father, who also works in construction, occasionally helps. For the past six months, Santi has documented the change on TikTok, sharing the progress and challenges of restoring an old rural home.
His experience shows why a low purchase price is not the same as a low total cost. Many rural properties need large work before they are comfortable to live in. Practical skills and the ability to carry out some repairs can reduce expenses, but buyers still need to account for the condition of the property and the costs that come with owning it.
Changing Priorities
Santi’s story points to a shift in how some young Spaniards think about independence and property. City life remains attractive, but high housing costs are leading some people to consider smaller towns and villages as alternatives. His experience is a personal example, not a guarantee that rural relocation will work for everyone: affordability depends not only on the purchase price but also on income, employment and day-to-day needs.
Spain’s rural population has declined over decades, and renewed interest from younger residents could help sustain some communities. For now, Santi’s purchase illustrates how work, savings and a less expensive local market can combine to make homeownership attainable at a young age, even when the price of the house is only the beginning of the financial commitment.
