Moratalaz and Vicálvaro, the only districts in Madrid where rents are falling

In a context where renting in Madrid seems increasingly complicated, two districts buck the trend: Moratalaz and Vicálvaro recorded a slight drop in the price per square metre during May, according to the latest data published by Idealista. In a market marked by constant rises, these districts in the east of the capital offer a small respite for those looking for rental housing. The fall was modest but significant because of how exceptional it was: in Moratalaz, the price fell by 0.3%, standing at 15.4 euros per square metre, while in Vicálvaro the decline was 0.7%, to 14.6 euros per square metre. Although the difference from April is minimal, the figure stands out against the widespread rise that continues to mark the rest of Madrid's districts. And in May 2025, the average rental price in the city reached a new record: €21.7/m2, representing a 1.2% monthly increase and 11.7% year-on-year. Some neighbourhoods, such as Usera (+5%), Latina (+2%), Retiro and Carabanchel (+1.9%), and San Blas (+1.7%), have seen particularly marked increases in just thirty days. The contrast with the past is increasingly clear. Ten years ago, a 72-metre flat in Malasaña could be rented for just over 600 euros a month. Today, that same property is well over 1,500. With public protests becoming increasingly frequent and a market that continues to tighten, the timid falls in Vicálvaro and Moratalaz raise a question: could they be the foretaste of a larger correction or only a pause in rising prices? Only time will tell. For now, they remain a rare exception in a picture that offers no respite.