Terrassa, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Sabadell were the three most sought-after cities in Spain for rental housing in the second quarter of 2026, according to Idealista's rental demand study. For renters in and around Barcelona, that means competition is remaining intense not only in the city itself but also in nearby municipalities that many households turn to for lower prices or better availability.

The ranking places Terrassa first, followed by L'Hospitalet de Llobregat in second place and Sabadell in third. Madrid-area municipalities also appear near the top, with Getafe fourth and Alcalá de Henares sixth, according to Idealista.

Idealista measures relative demand against the supply available on its platform. In earlier methodology published by the property portal, the rankings covered municipalities with more than 200 rental listings, and it has repeatedly found the strongest pressure in the outskirts of Madrid and Barcelona rather than in the two biggest cities themselves.

What the ranking means for renters near Barcelona

For local residents, workers and new arrivals looking for a flat, the result points to a narrower set of realistic options. Places often seen as alternatives to Barcelona are also under heavy demand, especially where public transport links make daily commuting possible.

In its 12 June 2026 analysis, Idealista said the most searched municipalities for renting in the first quarter of the year included Terrassa, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona and Sabadell, and argued that demand would keep spreading to places further from Barcelona once supply tightens in the closest areas.

Sabadell and Terrassa are in Vallès Occidental, a county north-west of Barcelona known for medium-sized cities with Rodalies commuter rail links to the capital. L'Hospitalet de Llobregat borders Barcelona directly and is part of the metropolitan area, which helps explain why renters priced out of Barcelona often search there.

"During recent years, the available supply of traditional rentals has fallen sharply while prices have remained under pressure, and that has progressively pushed part of the demand towards municipalities in the metropolitan area," Carles Ribes, chief executive and co-founder of The Barrio, said in Idealista's June report.

Ribes added that transport connections are a decisive factor, citing commuter rail, the metro and quick access to main roads as key reasons some medium-sized cities are gaining demand.

Pressure has been building for several quarters

The latest second-quarter ranking fits a pattern already identified by Idealista in previous reports. In its fourth-quarter 2025 study, published on 17 February 2026, the portal said Getafe, Leganés, Terrassa, Hospitalet de Llobregat and Sabadell were the five municipalities leading Spain's relative rental demand ranking outside the biggest provincial capitals.

  • Fourth quarter of 2025: Getafe, Leganés, Terrassa, Hospitalet de Llobregat and Sabadell led the ranking.
  • First quarter of 2026: Terrassa, Leganés, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Getafe, Alcorcón and Badalona were among the most searched places to rent.
  • Second quarter of 2026: Terrassa, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Sabadell took the top three positions.

That sequence matters for renters choosing where to search next. It suggests that moving one municipality further out does not necessarily mean facing weaker competition, particularly in well-connected cities on Barcelona's edge.

Idealista's wider market data has also pointed to sustained pressure per listing. In a report published on 22 July 2025, the portal said each rental home advertised in the second quarter had an average of 38 interested applicants.

Why these cities are attracting demand

Idealista's June analysis says municipalities around Barcelona are attracting renters because they can offer a more competitive balance of price, floor space and quality of life than Barcelona city, while still keeping workable transport links. Alongside L'Hospitalet, Terrassa and Badalona, the report also highlighted Santa Coloma, Sant Adrià, Cornellà, Sant Boi, El Prat and areas of the Vallès such as Sabadell and Cerdanyola.

For people currently searching, the practical takeaway is simple: renters comparing Barcelona with Terrassa, L'Hospitalet or Sabadell should expect strong competition in all three markets as well, not just in the capital. The only official channel named in the source material for checking active listings is Idealista's published market analysis, which explains how the portal is tracking demand against supply.

Reported by idealista.com, europapress.es, Rosa María Corona Gómez, El Periódico Barcelona.