The average Canary Islander dedicated 56% of their gross salary to paying rent for their home in 2025, compared to 55% in 2024, according to the study 'Relationship between salaries and rental housing in 2025' based on data from average salaries in job offers from the InfoJobs platform and average rental housing prices from the Fotocasa Real Estate Index.
In 2025, the price of rental housing in the Canary Islands closed with an annual increase of 12.8% and stood at 15.23 euros per square meter per month in December. This means that Canary Islanders had to dedicate 56% of their salary to paying for rental housing of 80 square meters, the highest percentage since 2019, taking into account the average gross salary in the Canary Islands registered by InfoJobs, which in 2025 was 26,186 euros (2,182 euros gross per month if divided into 12 payments).
Last year's data mark a turning point in the housing accessibility crisis in Spain. It is the year in which the salary effort dedicated to rent reaches the highest level in the historical series: dedicating 50% of salary to housing payment represents a situation of true housing emergency as it is 20 points above what is recommended by official control bodies.
"When half of the salary is dedicated solely to paying rent, the ability to save disappears and access to other essential expenses is limited, seriously deteriorating the quality of life of citizens. This economic pressure is forcing many people to postpone vital decisions, such as moving out, starting a family, or even changing jobs,” comments María Matos, Director of Studies and spokesperson for Fotocasa.
For her part, Mónica Pérez, Director of Communication at InfoJobs adds: “The 2025 data confirm the growing disconnect between salary evolution and rental prices in Spain. In this regard, offered salaries have maintained an upward trend – albeit moderate – in recent years. The gross annual salary offered in 2025 was 27,336 euros, only one percentage point more than the previous year, that is, 276 euros."
In Madrid and Catalonia, 70% of salary goes to rent
In 2025, in 14 autonomous communities, the money allocated to pay rent increased, while in Navarra and Madrid it remained the same and only in Aragón did the percentage decrease. On the other hand, Madrid is the community that allocated the highest percentage of its salary to pay rent, 71% of the gross salary in 2025, the same value as in 2024, according to the study by InfoJobs and Fotocasa.
If we analyze Madrid in detail, we see that the price of rental housing closed 2025 with an annual decrease of 1.4% and set the December price at 20.33 euros/m2 per month. This means that Madrileños allocated 71% of their gross salary to pay rent, taking into account the average gross salary in Madrid registered by InfoJobs, which in 2025 was 27,680 euros (2,307 euros gross per month if divided into 12 payments).
Looking at the data as a whole, the order of the autonomous communities that dedicated more money from their salaries to pay rent for an 80-square-meter home is: Madrid (71%), Catalonia (70% of gross salary), Balearic Islands (64%), Basque Country (58%), Canary Islands (56%), Valencian Community (48%), Cantabria (43%), Navarra (41%), Andalusia (41%), Asturias (41%), Galicia (38%), Aragón (37%), Castile and León (36%), Region of Murcia (36%), La Rioja (36%), Castile-La Mancha (32%) and Extremadura (29%).
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