Buying an apartment in Spain, especially in big cities, has become unattainable for most citizens, who have seen how in the last year the housing price a one has risen 8,4%, while its wages They have done a 3,1%almost three times less.
This discouraged growth between the price of second -hand housing and salaries makes “access to housing has deteriorated significantly in recent years”, He acknowledges María MatosDirector of Studies and spokesman for Fotocasa. He explains that housing rises three times more than salaries, reflecting a structural problem that directly affects the Purchase capacity of citizens, especially young people and families with medium and low income. In his opinion, “Spain lives a demand boom for buying that, in the face of poor offer, prices rise up. A very difficult situation to reverse, so what the housing accessibility It will continue to hinder and accentuate social inequalities.
The disconnection between the rise in wages and the cost of the floors comes from behind, according to the study salary relationship and housing purchase in 2024 Based on the average prices of second -hand housing for sale of the Fotocasa Real Estate Index and the data of the average salaries of employment offers of the Infojobs platform. Analyzing the evolution of salaries and housing price Since 2021, it can be seen that in these three years salaries have increased by 7.4% (6.5% in the last 5 years) while the price of house for sale has risen 25.3% (29.4% in the last 5 years).
“In the last three years, the average evolution of wages offered in Infojobs has shown an upward trend. However, both in 2022 and in 2023 this promotion was not enough to compensate for the inflation effect that, in addition, in the case of housing it is triggered by the shortage of supply, ”he says Mónica PérezDirector of Communication and Studies of Infojobs.
It emphasizes that in 2024 a change of trend was observed with controlled and certain inflation Recovery of purchasing power In general, “although the situation of the real estate market continues to make access to housing for a large part of the population.”
As for Autonomous communitiesin 2024 The average salary fell into five of them compared to the previous year and the price of the housing rose in 15. The increase in the cost of houses has matched or overcome the 10% in seven communitieswhile the increases in wages offered have exceeded 5% only in two regions of the country.
The community most affected by the decrease in wages in 2024 was Estremadurawith a 10.6%drop. Thus, Extremadura workers have gone from charging an average salary of 26,844 euros per year in 2023 to 24,001 euros a year in 2024that is, 10.6% less. To this it is added that in Extremadura the price of the house was ensured 3.9% compared to the previous year: 1,192 euros the square meter was paid in 2023 to 1,239 euros in 2024, 3.9% more.
The region in which the price of housing for sale has been more increasing in the last year was the Valencian Community With a 19,8%. Thus, the Valencians went from paying 1,758 euros per square meter in 2023 to pay 2,106 euros in 2024, 19.8% more. While the wages media in this community barely uploaded a 2,5%moving from 25,540 euros per year at 2023 at 26,190 in 2024.
With regard to the provinces, in 2024 the salaries descended in 18 of the 50 analyzed by Fotocasa and, nevertheless, in 45 The price of housing increased. The workers most affected by the decline in wages offered in 2024 were those of Badajoz. Thus, the Pacenses have gone from charging an average salary of 26,461 euros a year in 2023 to collect 23.421 euros In 2024, that is, 11.5% less. To this is added that in Badajoz the price of the house was more than 4.6% more than the previous year, and the square meter in 2023 has been paid to pay 1,229 euros in 2024.
On the other hand, The province in which housing was most more expensive In 2024 it was Alicante With a rise from 21,3% Regarding 2023. The Alicante went to pay 2,024 euros per square meter in 2023 to pay 2,456 euros in 2024, 21.3% more. To this is added that average salaries fell 2.6% In 2024, from 27,348 euros per year in 2023 to 26,634 euros in 2024. On the contrary, Zaragoza and Jaén were the provinces that benefited from the rise in the provincial average salary and the drop in the price of housing in 2024.
