Sarrià-Sant Gervasi · Barcelona
Rental yield in Vallcarca i els Penitents
Vallcarca i els Penitents is an expensive area for Barcelona, with an average rental yield and a Total Return in line with the city average. Here is what a typical flat in Vallcarca i els Penitents costs to buy and rent, and the Total Return (IRR) it delivers, compared with Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and the rest of Barcelona.
Sale price
4,949
€/m² · second-hand homes
Rent
15.9
€/m² per month · SERPAVI legal cap
Gross yield
3.9%
annual rent ÷ price
Total Return
4.4%
10-year IRR · typical flat
Appreciation
+3.5%
a year, 10-15 year history
Household income
€55,718
net, per year · INE
What the data says
Vallcarca i els Penitents is a neighbourhood in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district of Barcelona. The reference sale price is €4,949/m², based on registered sales in 2025 (Land Registry): 14% above the Barcelona median (€4,345/m²) and 8% below its district median (€5,360/m²). It ranks 23 of 70 neighbourhoods in Barcelona by price and 4 of 6 within Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.
The reference rent is €15.9/m² per month (SERPAVI median for the neighbourhood, 2024): about €1,129 a month for a typical 71 m² flat. Barcelona is a declared stressed rental zone, so that figure acts as the legal cap on a new tenancy (the usual range in the neighbourhood runs from €11.2 to €17.4/m²). The gross yield (annual rent ÷ price) comes to 3.9%, in line with the city median (3.9%): rank 37 of 70 by gross yield.
With a 70% mortgage at 3.80% over 25 years and a sale after 10 years, the estimated Total Return (IRR) for that typical flat is 4.4%, in line with the Barcelona median (4.2%). It takes about €142,879 of cash (deposit, taxes and costs), and first-year cash flow after tax is -€502 a month.
Asking prices in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district have grown by an average of 3.5% a year over the last 10 and 15 years (idealista, December 2025). Historical, not a forecast: it is the appreciation the modelled sale assumes. Average net household income is €55,718 a year (INE). 1,303 sales were registered in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi in 2025, averaging 128 m².
A typical flat in Vallcarca i els Penitents
The same standard assumptions as the CasaROI map: change the mortgage, term or tax profile in your account and the Total Return is recalculated for your case.
- Size
- 71 m²
- Purchase price
- €351,379
- Monthly rent
- €1,129
- Cash needed · deposit + transfer tax + costs
- €142,879
- Monthly cash flow (year 1)
- -€502
- Total Return (IRR)
- 4.4%
Assumptions: 70% mortgage over 25 years at 3.80%, sale after 10 years, Spanish tax resident at a 37% marginal rate, no renovation.
Neighbourhoods in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, ranked by gross yield
| Area | €/m² | Rent €/m² | Gross | IRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| el Coll | 3,771 | 13.7 | 4.4% | 5.1% |
| la Salut | 4,616 | 15.2 | 4.0% | 4.5% |
| Vallcarca i els Penitents | 4,949 | 15.9 | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| el Putxet i el Farró | 5,771 | 16.8 | 3.5% | 3.8% |
| Sant Gervasi - la Bonanova | 6,310 | 17.1 | 3.3% | 3.5% |
| Sant Gervasi - Galvany | 6,629 | 17.1 | 3.1% | 3.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a square metre cost in Vallcarca i els Penitents?
€4,949/m² on average, based on registered sales in 2025 (Land Registry). A typical 71 m² flat costs about €351,379, 14% above the Barcelona median.
How much is rent in Vallcarca i els Penitents?
The reference rent is €15.9/m² per month: about €1,129 a month for 71 m². As a stressed rental zone, that figure is the legal cap on a new whole-flat tenancy (room-by-room lets are exempt).
Is Vallcarca i els Penitents a good buy-to-let investment?
The gross yield is 3.9% (Barcelona median: 3.9%). With a 70% mortgage and a sale after 10 years, the estimated Total Return (IRR) is 4.4% against a city median of 4.2%. It depends on your financing and tax residency: with your own profile the number can change.
Is Vallcarca i els Penitents in a stressed rental zone?
Yes. Barcelona is a declared stressed rental zone, so on a new whole-flat tenancy the rent is limited by the official reference index (SERPAVI).
Buying in Vallcarca i els Penitents?
Paste the listing and we tell you whether it holds up at that price: legal rent, taxes, red flags and a verdict.
Sources and method
- Sale: Registre de la Propietat · Generalitat (compravenda 2ª mà, barri) · MITMA city anchor 3865 €/m² (2024)
- Rent: SERPAVI legal cap (Housing Ministry) · typical flat in the area
- Appreciation: average of the 10- and 15-year rates of the area's asking price — historical, not a forecast