The average price of renting commercial spaces in Barcelona rose to €1,570 per month in 2025, the highest figure in history, according to the municipal survey of the sector. Ciutat Vella leads the rents, with €28.3 per square metre.
The cost of renting a commercial space in Barcelona continues to soar. The latest municipal survey of the sector, corresponding to 2025, places the average rent at €1,570 per month, the highest since data collection began. The price per square metre is set at €19.6, a slight increase compared to 2024 — when the rise was about €200 in just one year — but it maintains the upward trend.
The rise in rents has become the sixth most pressing issue affecting the economic activity of the Catalan capital, according to the merchants themselves. This context has led Mayor Jaume Collboni and part of the opposition to propose regulating commercial rent prices.
The Ciutat Vella district is the most expensive, at €28.3 per square metre, double that of peripheral neighbourhoods such as Horta-Guinardó or Nou Barris. It is followed by Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, with an average of €26.3/m2. These figures reflect the gap between the city centre and its outskirts.
The survey, conducted on a sample of nearly 2,500 businesses from all segments, reveals that 75.4% of the premises are rented, compared to 16.1% owned and 8.3% under municipal concession. Among non-food businesses, the proportion of owners doubles the average.
By sector, personal equipment shops are the most sought after, with an average of €25.6/m2, far exceeding the €17 paid for food premises. The slight increase in the share of franchises — which already account for 7.1% of those surveyed — indicates that the rising cost of properties makes it difficult for small entrepreneurs to enter the market.
In light of this situation, the municipal group of the PSC brought a proposal to the plenary session of the Barcelona City Council urging the Spanish Government to amend the Urban Leasing Law (LAU). The initiative, approved with votes from PSC, Barcelona en Comú, and ERC, and opposed by Junts, PP, and Vox, calls for specific instruments to “regulate or moderate rent increases” and price containment measures in the areas under the most pressure.
The Idealista report places the rental yield of commercial spaces in the city at 8%, well above the 5.2% attributed to housing. This figure explains the investment interest in this segment but also jeopardises small businesses.
For merchants in Barcelona, the escalation of rents represents an additional burden in a context of economic uncertainty. The city council is betting on legislative measures to contain prices, although the measure still needs to be specified at the state level.
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