Young Spaniards Spent Almost Their Entire Salary on Rent in 2025 — Average Age of Leaving Home is 30

Young Spaniards aged 16 to 29 were forced to spend an average of 98.7% of their salaries on rent in 2025. These figures come from the Emancipation Observatory, as reported on the website of the Spanish Youth Council (CJE).

The average monthly rent reached €1,176. Against this backdrop, the share of young people living independently of their parents fell to 14.5% in the second half of 2025 — a historic low for the entire period of observation. The estimated age of achieving independence exceeded the statistical threshold for the first time, reaching 30.2 years.

Notably, the decline in emancipation rates came despite an improvement in labour market conditions — youth wages rose 1.7% year-on-year. The CJE concludes that neither employment nor educational attainment guarantees sufficient conditions for access to housing. The financial resources of the family are playing an increasingly decisive role.

Renting a room in a shared flat, according to the report, has shifted from a choice to a necessity. The number of room rental listings grew 20% over the year and 85.4% since 2022. Even so, this option remains far from cheap. Young people were spending an average of around €400 a month on a room, equivalent to 33.6% of their earnings. The risk of poverty among young Spaniards rose from 25.9% to 43% after housing costs were taken into account. A further 48% of households of this type were in excessive debt.

For most young Spaniards, buying a home remains out of reach. The average purchase price reached €223,000 by the end of 2025 — 13.1% more than the previous year. The mortgage deposit required stood at around €66,900 — a sum a young salaried worker would take five years to save if they set aside their entire salary.

The CJE is calling for "sustainable and structural state intervention" that places access to housing at the centre of social policy.