Soaring housing costs in Spain are prompting growing numbers of people to consider moving to the countryside, new research has found.

A survey by property portal Fotocasa found that six in 10 people either plan to move to a rural area or would like to do so.

It comes as increasingly expensive homes in major cities force households to look further afield.

The trend is particularly striking among younger people, with 23% of 18 to 24-year-olds planning to move to a municipality with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants within the coming months.

Maria Matos, Fotocasa’s Director of Studies and spokeswoman, said affordable housing was acting as the initial trigger for the shift.

But she warned that cheaper properties alone would not be enough to convince people to make rural communities their permanent home.

‘The affordability of housing is the trigger, but the revitalisation of rural areas will only be possible if it is accompanied by infrastructure and services that allow people to be attracted and retained on a permanent basis,’ she said.

The survey found 76% consider proximity to essential services, such as health centres, hospitals and schools, a priority when deciding whether to live in a village.

Transport links were cited by 64%, while 62% said reliable internet and fibre-optic connections were important.

Meanwhile, 58% want good connections to a provincial capital or major regional town, while half consider the availability of suitable employment essential.

Other factors included nearby leisure facilities (45%), access to nature (42%), proximity to the coast (31%) and a moderate climate (28%).

Priorities also change significantly with age.

While 65% of 18 to 24-year-olds consider proximity to essential services important, that rises to 80% among people aged between 55 and 75.

Matos said the findings point to a broader change in how Spaniards view rural living.

‘The interest in living in a rural environment is no longer solely about seeking tranquillity or quality of life,’ she said.

‘We are witnessing a change in residential preferences. The pressure on prices in urban markets is leading many citizens, especially young people, to consider rural municipalities as an alternative place to build their lives.’

Despite that growing appetite, Spain remains one of the EU’s most urbanised countries.

According to the figures cited in the study, just 14% of Spain’s population lived in rural areas in 2025, compared with an EU average around 11 percentage points higher.

And wanting to leave the city does not necessarily mean people can make the move.

Among 55 to 75-year-olds, 51% said they were attracted to the idea of village life but were unable to make it happen, up from 46% in 2025.