Note
Rental yields by city in Spain: how to compare
Quick answer
We print no yield for any Spanish city, because we found no official, current series. To compare cities, collect agreed rents rather than asking rents, real prices from the registry or the notary, local rules and demand, and test each against empty months and costs.
Applies toBuyers comparing Spanish cities or towns for rental income.
On this page: 10 sections
§ 1Why no league table
A table of rental yields by city is easy to produce and hard to trust. Rents in advertisements are asking rents, prices in portals are asking prices, and averages hide differences between districts and types of home. We found no official, current series of yields by city that we could cite, so we print none. This page belongs to the chapter in more on rental yields.
§ 2What drives the figure
Price and rent come from different markets. Prices follow buyers, including foreigners and second-home buyers, and rents follow local incomes and supply of homes to let. Places with high prices can have low yields because rents do not rise as fast, and cheaper places can have higher yields with more vacancy. Tourism changes both, where it is allowed.
§ 3Collect real data
Ask at least three local agents for the rents of recent leases for the type of home you are considering, and for how long homes stay empty. Ask the administrator of a block what owners get. For prices, the official statistics explained in the market-and-rules section show trends, and the registry and the notaries publish data on sales. We did not read the regional series, so we print none.
§ 4Check the rules
The rules differ by place. Some areas are declared stressed residential markets, where rent rules differ. Regions and municipalities set their own tourist rental rules, and the regional pages in the holiday rentals chapter explain what we could read. Ask the town hall and your lawyer what applies where you are buying.
§ 5Demand and tenants
Who will rent? A university town, a business city and a resort have different tenants and different seasons. Check transport, employment, services and plans for new housing.
§ 6Use the same method
Use more on calculating a yield to compute a gross yield, then more on net yield after tax to compute a net one. Apply the same cautious assumptions for each place, including the same vacancy and the same costs. A fair comparison is more useful than a precise number.
§ 7Account for the cost of entry
Taxes on purchase differ by region, as the costs section explains. A place with a higher purchase tax needs a higher yield to give the same result.
§ 8Treat results as ranges
Because inputs are uncertain, use a range of values and see how the outcome moves. If the plan works only at the top of the range, treat it with caution.
§ 9Decide
Shortlist two or three places, visit, talk to locals and check the papers of a specific home before you decide.
§ 10Districts matter
Within a city, rents and prices vary by district and by street. A city average hides this. Compare specific districts and specific types of home, and visit them.
FAQRelated questions
Which Spanish city has the best yield?
We cannot say, and we print no ranking. Published lists mix asking rents with listing prices and change quickly. Compare places by your own method, with the same inputs and cautious assumptions for each.
Where do I find real rents?
Ask several local agents for agreed rents on recent leases, ask landlords and administrators, and read the official statistics on prices that the market-and-rules section explains. Treat advertised rents as a ceiling.
Do city rules matter?
Yes. Stressed-market rules on rent, tourist rental limits, licences and local taxes differ by place and change. A city with a high headline rent may limit what you can charge or how you can let.
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística: Housing Price Index (HPI), Q2 2026 press release (official source, opens in a new window), Annual and quarterly change; regionsLast checked 17 October 2026
- Colegio de Registradores: Estadística Registral Inmobiliaria, 2T 2026 (official source, opens in a new window), Sales, foreign buyers, price per m², mortgagesLast checked 17 October 2026
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Resolución de 23 de abril de 2026 sobre zonas de mercado residencial tensionado (BOE-A-2026-9175) (official source, opens in a new window), Stressed-market zones declared in Q1 2026Last checked 17 October 2026
General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser.