Spain’s Housing Crunch Is Hitting Provinces Where Ecuadorians Concentrate

Spain's housing crisis is also hitting Ecuadorian migrants.

The pressure is strongest because Ecuadorians are concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona, Murcia, and the Valencian Community, several of the same areas where buying or renting a home has become more difficult.

The Price Picture

During the first quarter of 2026, Spain's housing price rose about 14% to an average of $2,640 per square meter.

Madrid led the national ranking at $4,614 per square meter, followed by the Balearic Islands at $4,430, Guipuzcoa at $3,898, Barcelona at $3,657, and Malaga at $3,406.

In the Valencian Community, Alicante reached $2,271 per square meter, with Valencia showing very similar figures.

Ecuadorian Communities

The Ecuadorian population in Spain exceeds 460,000 people.

The largest concentration is in the Community of Madrid, with around 130,000 residents. Barcelona has more than 76,000. Murcia has about 39,000 Ecuadorians, while the Valencian Community has about 24,000 in Valencia and nearly 19,000 in Alicante.

That overlap between Ecuadorian population centers and expensive housing provinces makes access to a home one of the major challenges for the community.

For families split between Ecuador and Spain, the numbers matter. Housing pressure abroad can shape remittances, return plans, and whether relatives can realistically stay in the same city where the jobs are.