Barcelona is becoming a very expensive city to live in. Rent prices in the city are flirting with 1,200 euros per month on average.
In areas with rental tensions, the government has decided to apply a price freeze since March 16. We will have to wait to see whether rents fall or not. The subject is crucial because the average price of rents in Barcelona is still exploding in the first quarter: 1,193.41 euros per month on average. An increase of 9.7% compared to the same period in 2023. The surge in prices, with a rent that will exceed 1,200 per month, seems to know no limits.
Map of rental prices in Barcelona
Price per month in euros
Rent prices increase in Barcelona
In the first quarter of this year, 9,826 leases were signed in Barcelona. Most of them in the Eixample district (1,897). The district with the fewest leases signed is Les Corts (381). These statistics reflect a contraction in rental contracts of 9.77% compared to the same period in 2013.
In terms of price per square meter, Barceloneta is the top spot with 21.63 euros, followed by Vila Olímpica del Poblenou (21.36 euros/m2) and Sarrià (20.69).
Map of the price of rent increases by neighborhood in Barcelona
Corona around Barcelona explodes
The chic suburb of Barcelona is also experiencing a sharp rise in prices. As in Barcelona, impossible to stay for less than 1000 euros. Sant Cugat del Vallès, a kind of Neuilly sur Seine, is the most expensive municipality in Catalonia, with an average of 1,419.06 per month. Just behind comes the city of Shakira, Sant Just Desvern, at 1,231.07 per month, followed by Tiana (1,154.95), Castelldefels (1,148.98), Sant Joan Despí (1,22.71), Gavà (1,083.41) , Montgat (1,058.25), Esplugues de Llobregat (1,033.40) and finally Begues (1,018.72).
The scourge of evictions
In Spain, there is no winter truce, or protections against sudden evictions. As a result, evictions of the very elderly, single mothers with young children, or seriously ill tenants are commonplace in the country, particularly in a big city like Barcelona.
Just yesterday, Monday, two sisters committed suicide at number 248 of Las Navas de Tolosa Street, in the Navas district of Barcelona, a few hours before their eviction. The two women, aged 64 and 54, rushed into the inner courtyard, after leaving a note next to the court document ordering a first attempt at eviction for non-payment of rent.
The Mossos d’Esquadra arrived at the scene and it was established that it was a double suicide. According to sources from the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia, this is a procedure opened due to expiration of the deadline and non-payment. In May 2023, the property owner sued one of the tenants, requesting her eviction for non-payment of rent from March 2021, with a debt of more than 9,000 euros, according to judicial sources.
