The difficulty in accessing a full apartment in Málaga has driven the demand for room rentals, an option that, while once primarily associated with students, is now the only alternative for many workers, couples, and even single-parent families. The average price per square meter in the city is around 17 euros, pushing the cost of a 60-square-meter apartment to nearly 1,000 euros per month.

According to a recent study by Idealista, rooms in Málaga reach an average price of 437 euros per month, representing 36% of the minimum wage. This value, recorded during the first quarter of the year, places the capital of the Costa del Sol in fifth position in the national ranking of cities with the most expensive room rentals.

The city of Málaga is only behind Barcelona (600 euros), Madrid (587 euros), Palma (500 euros), and San Sebastián (470 euros). In contrast, Jaén is presented as the most affordable Andalusian city, with an average room price of 245 euros. The report also highlights that, in some areas of Málaga capital or municipalities like Marbella and Mijas, room listings have been found for over 1,000 euros per month.

Demand for rooms in Málaga grew by 12% between January and March, doubling the national growth. Despite this increase in demand, supply only grew by 20%, two points less than the country's average. This disproportion was already noted in a 2025 Idealista study, which indicated that for every available room, there were 38 interested individuals, consolidating Málaga as a "hot zone" in the real estate market.