Briefing
The Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) published the 2025 edition of the series Indicadores Urbanos on 3 November 2026. The publication shows that in 49 municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants, the median purchase price per dwelling rose by more than 100 per cent over the ten-year period 2015–2025. The underlying figures are based on notarised transactions and are reported at municipal level as the median purchase price per dwelling reported.
According to the INE, the largest relative increases are concentrated in tourist coastal towns and municipalities around major metropolitan areas. Reports cite Torremolinos (Málaga province), where the median purchase price rose significantly above the national average according to the published data. In addition, municipalities on the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca as well as on the Balearic Islands mentioned as geographical focal points.
The INE explicitly points out methodological limitations: these are averages that may be affected by changes in the composition of the properties sold — for example, by a higher proportion of new builds, changes in dwelling sizes or a few very high-value sales. Such effects can distort the regional picture without affecting all market segments equally. The publication’s accompanying documentation explains the calculation and the sources used.
The finding is politically relevant because it documents regional inequalities in access to home ownership and potentially growing pressure on rental markets. The data do not support any immediate policy measures; however, INE data provide an empirical basis for decisions by the state, regions and municipalities — for example, on expanding supply, regulating short-term rentals or providing targeted support for social housing.
Further, locally differentiated conclusions require additional analysis by property class, price distribution and local market structure. The key findings reported here are based on the INE publication Indicadores Urbanos, 2025 edition (publication date: 3 November 2026), and on an analysis of Spanish media currently available.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).