According to a report published by Idealista, the average cost of renting housing in Spain rose by 8.5% over the past 12 months and by 1.7% quarter-on-quarter. As of the end of December 2025, it stood at €14.7 per square metre per month.
Supply shortage and tougher conditions
According to Idealista representatives, “the biggest problem the rental market is facing right now is, just like in the case of rising prices, a lack of available supply, which is causing extremely strong competition. Owners of the few available properties receive a huge number of enquiries about their homes, and the choice among potential tenants is enormous. And, of course, property owners always give preference to those who offer them greater security. This means that many families who could afford to pay these already very high rents are also excluded from the pool of potential tenants.”
As for rental rates, it is already clear that they are falling in the regions where they have reached their ceiling, while in places where no measures have been taken they continue to rise. At the same time, supply continues to shrink and conditions continue to tighten. As a result, the market is in a situation of competition among tenants: those who benefit from enforcement measures against owners, and those who cannot find housing as a result of these measures.
Rental trends in provincial capitals
In all provincial capitals, the cost of renting is higher than a year earlier, except in San Sebastián, where it fell by 0.5%.
It rose most sharply in Ceuta – by 17.9%, followed by:
- Ciudad Real (15%),
- Zamora (14.3%),
- Lleida (14.2%)
- and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (13.6%).
Among the major markets, the strongest growth was seen in:
- Madrid (9.7%),
- Alicante (8.3%),
- Seville (7%),
- Valencia (6.4%),
- Palma (6.4%),
- Málaga (4.7%),
- Bilbao (3.1%)
- and Barcelona (1.9%).
Barcelona is the most expensive capital for renting – €23.8/m2 per month, ahead of:
- Madrid (€22.7),
- Palma (€18.3),
- San Sebastián (€17.9),
- Valencia (€15.9)
- and Málaga (€15.8).
The lowest rental rates are found in:
- Zamora (€7.6),
- Ciudad Real,
- Badajoz
- and Lugo (all at €7.9).
25 of the 50 Spanish capitals included in the analysis reached record highs this quarter; among them Valencia, Málaga and Bilbao.
Situation by provinces and autonomous communities
Among Spanish provinces, average rent fell compared with 2024 only in Girona – by 1.5%.
The most significant increases were recorded in:
- Lleida (16.4%),
- Ciudad Real (14.8%),
- Guadalajara (14.8%),
- Burgos (12.5%)
- and Segovia (12.4%).
In Madrid, rents rose by 10.4%, and in the province of Barcelona – by 2.5%.
The ranking of provinces with the most expensive rents is led by:
- Madrid (€20.8),
- Barcelona (€20.4),
- the Balearic Islands (€19.1),
- Málaga (€16.6)
- and Gipuzkoa (€16.4).
The cheapest places to rent in Spain are:
- Jaén (€6.3),
- Ciudad Real,
- Zamora
- and Badajoz (all at €7.1).
As for autonomous communities, over the past 12 months rent has risen in all of them, and most strongly in:
- Castilla-La Mancha (11.7%),
- La Rioja (10.6%),
- Madrid (10.4%),
- Andalusia (9.9%),
- Aragon (9.9%),
- the Valencian Community (9.7%)
- and Castilla y León (9.5%).
The smallest increase was recorded in Catalonia – 3%.
Madrid is the autonomous community with the highest rents, reaching €20.8/m2 per month. Next come:
- the Balearic Islands (€19.1),
- Catalonia (€18.6)
- and the Canary Islands (€15.3/m2).
The cheapest rents are in:
- Extremadura (€7.3),
- Castilla-La Mancha (€8.2)
- and Murcia (€9).
