Buying a home in major cities has become an almost impossible task. Saving the minimum 20% deposit required by banks for a mortgage is challenging, especially in cities with soaring rents like Barcelona. However, within the same province – where the average property price is €2,742 per square metre – there is a village where prices are €2,000 per square metre lower than the provincial average.
If you’re looking for the most affordable homes in Barcelona, keep reading. In this article, we reveal the municipality with the lowest property prices in the province, where a 100 m² home costs just €73,200, based on the average price per square metre.
Barcelona province's most affordable village, where each square metre costs €732
According to the latest report from idealista, Calaf is the village in the province of Barcelona with the most affordable housing, with an average price of €732 per square metre – 5.7% lower than last year. Based on this average, a 120 m² home would cost just €87,840.
Calaf is in the far north of the Anoia region and is the capital of the sub-region known as Alta Segarra or Segarra Calafina. Its population is 3,618 inhabitants (Spanish Statistics Institute [INE] 2024) and its economy is based on dryland agriculture and industry.
A walk through Calaf's history
After the conquest of Barcelona in 801, the Catalan counts expanded the frontier to the Llobregat and Cardener rivers. In Alta Segarra, the Muslims established Berber settlements for defensive purposes. The exact timing of their transition to Christian rule is uncertain, but it is believed that Wilfred the Hairy – son of Sunifredo of Urgell, Count of Urgell, Cerdanya, Barcelona, Girona and Osona – reconquered the area in the ninth century. In 942, Count Sunyer occupied Tarragona and Conca de Barberà.
Almanzor's raids in 976 depopulated these lands, prompting Ramon Borrell and Countess Ermesenda to initiate their repopulation between 1010 and 1015. By 1093, a settlement had formed around Calaf Castle, protected by walls and featuring a market. Calaf even minted its own currency, but this practice ceased due to disputes between the Viscounts of Cardona and the Bishop of Vic.
In 1465, the Battle of Calaf saw the troops of Pedro the Constable of Portugal face John II of Aragon during the Catalan Civil War. Calaf developed around its castle and became a significant commercial centre, benefiting from the privileges granted by the Counts of Cardona. At the end of the 16th century, construction began on the church of Sant Jaume, which was completed in 1639. The bubonic plague of 1651 reduced the population by 40%, and in gratitude for its end, the hermitage of San Sebastián was built. During the War of Succession, in 1710, Bourbon troops attacked the castle, and in 1711, the village served as the headquarters of the Duke of Vendôme.
In the 19th century, Calaf suffered the devastation of the Carlist Wars. During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), the parish of Sant Jaume was ransacked, and its priest was murdered. In 1937, a remarkable event took place in Calaf: nitrocellulose banknotes were issued, the first in the world to be made from this material.
Calaf's property market
On idealista, you can find numerous properties for sale in Calaf, in the province of Barcelona. Its affordable housing and rural charm make it an ideal location for those seeking a peaceful place to live or a second home close to nature.
Owning a rustic country house is a dream for many, and in Calaf, it is possible at a reasonable price. On idealista, a farmhouse in need of renovation is currently for sale. Spread across three floors, it has 1,200 m² of built space, eight bedrooms and one bathroom. The property also boasts an extensive plot of 45,000 m². The asking price is €340,000.
For €79,000 you can buy this 118 m2 semi-detached house in Calaf, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a terrace, built in 2000. Although it may need some renovation, its low price and surface area may compensate.
If you're looking for a cheap home, this village house to be renovated for €38,000 accepts payments in Bitcoin. It has a constructed area of 264 m2, five bedrooms and one bathroom.
Finally, this four-storey, 675 m2 farmhouse with an 181 m2 plot in the Calaf square. Although it needs renovation, it could be a good investment opportunity, since the property, as it appears in the listing, can be divided into three independent dwellings and a commercial premises. Its price is €133,000.
Urgent property sales in Spain
Buying property in Spain is a dream for many, but the process can sometimes be lengthy and costly. With the year drawing to a close, there’s no better time to secure your ideal home and potentially benefit from great deals before 2025 ends. Urgent property sales offer a fast, cost-effective way to find exceptional opportunities within days or weeks.
Americans, Portuguese, Moroccans and Ukrainians buying more homes in Spain than ever
The latest data from Spanish notaries on property purchases by foreign buyers has revealed several records. Not only did foreigners pay the highest average price on record for properties during the first half of the year, but as many as seven nationalities also bought more homes than ever before on the Spanish market.
Buying in Spain? Key facts about the property market
If you're thinking about buying a home, it’s essential to understand the current state of the property market. Should you wait, or is now the time to buy? To help you decide, we analyse the key indicators: price trends per square metre, interest rates, the Euribor, transaction volume, mortgages, and available financial aid.
Spanish party Vox proposes higher taxes on foreigners to fund housing aid for Spaniards
Vox, a right-wing political party in Spain, has submitted a proposal to Congress to increase taxes on foreign property buyers. The money raised would be used to fund tax breaks for Spanish citizens and to support the construction of affordable housing.
Spain's most beautiful autumn destination, according to National Geographic
Spain is full of destinations to explore in autumn, when mountains and forests turn golden and nature’s magic feels more vivid than ever. It’s the perfect season to escape the summer crowds and immerse yourself in towns rich in history, culture and sample local fare.
American entrepreneur to revive abandoned Spanish village as tourist destination
Salto de Castro, a village in Zamora that has lain abandoned for more than 30 years, is set for a remarkable comeback thanks to American entrepreneur Jason Lee Beckwith. He has purchased the small border settlement with Portugal for €310,000 and plans to transform it into a tourist hub offering accommodation, dining, and leisure in a natural setting.
