Why the price per square metre changes depending on who publishes it
Malaga can cost €3,149, €3,938 or €4,651 per m² depending on the source. Why the figures differ and how to read them without confusion.
1 min read
Data and events refer to: August 2026.
Look up home prices in Malaga in 2026 and you will find very different numbers. Idealista published €3,938/m² for the city in August. Fotocasa put second-hand homes at €4,651/m² in July. Gesvalt gave €3,149/m² for the province, based on third-quarter valuations. None of them has to be wrong: they measure different things.
What each source measures
- Portals: asking prices in listings, before negotiation.
- Valuers: appraisal values, usually linked to mortgages.
- INE: an index of real sales, useful to see the trend rather than the price of an area.
Geography matters too
A city is not its province, and a central neighbourhood is not the city average. Before comparing two figures, check they cover the same territory, the same month and the same type of home.
What to do in practice
Use averages to understand the trend. To decide on a price, compare specific properties: same area, similar size, similar condition. Remember too that the asking price is not always the final price.
