Steep climbs in real estate prices are a reality that no one can avoid. People who share apartments often cut costs, from college students to many young professionals starting out in new cities. Even though renting a spare room remains the most affordable option, it is no longer a bargain, according to the latest Fotocasa research. The data shows how this alternative has risen in price in recent years.
This September, those seeking a room in the Community of Valencia will face about an 8% year‑over‑year increase, with the average rent now at 367 euros in the autonomous region. Even with the rise, it still sits below the national average for shared flats, where every tenant typically pays 445 euros per month.
There is little consolation for renters who have watched their quotas climb steadily over time. The Fotocasa portal notes that current room prices in the Community are already 35% higher than they were just three years ago, and up to 49% higher than five years ago, with an 78% increase compared to 2015, eight years prior.
To put this into perspective, inflation across the same eight‑year span rose only 20.3% — far lower — and much of this increase occurred in the last eighteen months, influenced in part by the war in Ukraine.
The study also highlights substantial differences by city. In the provinces of Alicante and Elche, which show the strongest demand for this kind of rental, the data reflects notable variation among municipalities.
The cheapest provincial capital is L’Alcoià, where a room in a shared flat can be found for as little as 206 euros. This is less than half the national average and the lowest figure among the 24 municipalities in the report. The nearby city of Vinalopó is also inexpensive at 249 euros, still well below the average. By contrast, the most expensive city is Alicante, at 377 euros, and Fotocasa notes a 36% rise in the last three years.
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Not just for university students
Even though sharing a home is often linked with students, Fotocasa’s data shows that students are a minority among those living in shared arrangements. The typical profile is now a woman over thirty. The research director, Maria Matos, explains that many renters simply cannot afford to rent an entire house, which can cost around 900 euros, making room sharing the practical option for the majority of young people.
Homeowners are increasingly turning to room-by-room rentals as well. Although managing three tenants rather than one requires more effort, it tends to be far more profitable. Fotocasa’s calculations indicate that, in some cases, profits can effectively double compared with renting the whole house.
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As a growing trend, many owners pursue this path to counteract the effects of recent housing regulations. The Fotocasa report emphasizes that room leases fall under the Civil Code and are not subject to the most recent government rent-control measures, offering landlords a way to navigate changes in housing law while maintaining flexible terms for tenants.
According to Fotocasa, the appeal lies in management simplicity and the potential for higher cumulative income when multiple tenants share one property. The data suggests that, over time, rent collection can become steadier and more predictable, even as individual rents rise.
Ultimately, the rental landscape across the Valencia region and nearby provinces shows that room sharing remains a viable option for those who need to balance housing costs with the realities of today’s market. The combination of persistent price increases, regional disparities, and the ongoing demand from both tenants and landlords reinforces the role of shared living as a practical, if not increasingly profitable, solution.