Challenges Faced by Digital Nomads in Securing Housing Rentals in Spain

With its convenient digital nomad visa, low cost of living and plenty of warm sunny days, Spain is a popular destination for those looking to live and work remote for an extended period of time. 

Lately though, the number of travelers, expats and digital nomads heading to Spain during the summer months has led to astronomical rent increases for the popular short-term rentals across the country.

In response to the escalating cost of living increases, local residents have pushed back against the short-term renters accusing them of being the reason behind the rent increases and lack of availability.

However, it is digital nomads looking to work remote in the country who are also struggling to keep up with the rapid increase in prices.

Housing Prices Escalate

Spain used to be known as an affordable slice of the European lifestyle. Low priced food, cheap transportation, fast internet, and plenty of beaches to work remote. 

However, that is quickly disappearing as more and more Americans recognize the country as an expat haven and push up the cost of living, even in some of the most remote spots of the country.

In fact, according to an article in the Spanish newspaper El País, in “Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Cantabria, the average rental price exceeds 30% of the net income of households.”

Even away from the popular Mediterranean coastline of Spain, the cost of living is even escalating in small Northern Spain cities.

In many towns in the region, €500 would have been a reasonable amount of rent to pay for a pretty nice apartment or small home in Northern Spain and digital nomads had plenty to choose from.

Today, there is maybe one available at that price and El País adds that it is most likely run down, with bad windows and no heat for the winter. That’s in a small city and not even a large popular tourist town.

Gentrification by Tourism

According to Former Director of the UNESCO Housing Chair at the Rovira i Virgili University of Tarragona, Sergio Nasarre, in a news report on the issue, “For three or four years we have been witnessing a second gentrification of people who were already expelled from the city centers to the periphery and now find themselves expelled from there to a second circle or even beyond.”

He added that the record for highest number of home purchases by foreigners in Spain in one year was shattered in 2023 and has…