Housing rental prices have increased 8.8% in Catalonia over the last year, with the average monthly price per square metre (in second-hand dwellings) rising to 14.4 euros, from its December 2016 level of 13.3 euros, according to a study published by real estate website Idealista. According to the report, rental prices have increased in all four Catalan provinces but they fell in the city of Barcelona. The most pronounced growth was produced in Tarragona province with an 18.8% increase, to place the monthly price per square metre at 7.2 euros; this was followed by Girona with a rise of 12.9% to reach 8.2 euros per square metre; the figure for Lleida grew by 8.7% to 5.6 euros; and Barcelona province showed an increase of 3.5% continuing as the most expensive part of Catalonia with a price of 15.8 euros per square metre. However, in the city of Barcelona the price of rental housing fell 2.4% to a monthly figure of 17.5 euros per square metre.
Twelve months ago, rental prices in Barcelona city were at the level of 17.9 euros per square metre and by September 2017 had climbed to 18.3 euros. During the fourth quarter there was a 4.6% fall to the 17.5 euros recorded in December by Idealista. The most expensive districts currently are Sant Martí (19.2 euros per square metre) and Ciutat Vella (18.9 euros) while the least expensive are Nou Barris (12.3 euros) and Horta Guinardó (13.3 euros). In the Spanish state as a whole, according to Idealista, monthly rental prices finished the year at a level of 9.7 euros per square metre, an increase of 18.8%.