Barcelona's average rent hits €1,153 amid ongoing rent caps

Rents across Catalonia continued to climb in the third quarter of 2025, with the average monthly price rising 2.5% to €876.83, according to new figures released by the Catalan Land Institute (Incasòl).

That is up from €854.70 in the previous quarter and 0.9% higher than the first quarter of 2024, the last period before rent caps were rolled out under Spain's national housing law.

In Barcelona city, the average monthly rent reached €1,153.11, a 1.5% increase from the previous quarter. 

Still, prices remain 3.3% below the €1,193.50 average recorded before the cap took effect.

The Catalan government argues the latest quarterly increase is built into the system.

Under the current framework, new leases are tied to previous contract prices plus accumulated inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Because many of those earlier contracts were signed five to seven years ago, today's rents reflect price movements from that period, adjusted for inflation.

Officials described the quarterly variation as "consistent" with the pricing mechanism, saying it shows moderation rather than overheating.

In officially designated "stressed" housing areas, where rent controls apply, the average price stood at €894.78, up 2.7% from the previous quarter. 

In municipalities outside those zones, where caps do not apply, the average rent was significantly lower at €617.41.

While rents edged up, rental activity remained below pre-cap levels.

A total of 26,962 contracts were signed across Catalonia between July and September, a 2% increase from the previous quarter. 

But that is well short of the 34,495 contracts signed in the first quarter of 2024, before rent caps and the designation of stressed markets took hold.

Tarragona dips, Barcelona leads in costs

By province, Tarragona was the only one where rents slightly slipped. The average monthly rent fell by €1.39 to €595.05.

Barcelona province remained the most expensive, with rents averaging €969.32, up 2.47% from the previous quarter.

Girona followed at €696.30, a 4.11% increase, while Lleida had the sharpest percentage jump, 5.66%, bringing its average to €530.70.

At the municipal level, the highest average rent was recorded in Vilablareix in the Province of Girona, where tenants paid €1,627.78 per month on average.