Housing rental is a key component of the consumer price index, a driver of inflation that families feel every month. Far from being simply a matter of energy costs or the consequences of international events, the most destabilizing factor today is the steady rise in rents. By July, food prices in Galicia had surged far beyond rental costs, yet rental prices have continued their upward trajectory since July 2015, a trend documented by the Galician Institute of Statistics (IGE). For more than 150,000 Galician households, paying for a home they do not own represents a heavy burden, especially for young families and single-person households. The Observatorio da Vivenda de Galicia, established by the Instituto Galego da Vivenda e Solo, reported a new record in rental prices, arriving at 463.3 euros per month. For workers under 35, meeting these quotas demands a substantial effort, sometimes consuming up to half of their income.
Average earnings for that age group, roughly 11,600 euros annually, fall below the current interprofessional minimum salary due to partial contracts or low wages. If this annual figure is translated into monthly payments across fourteen periods, the result is clear: about 830 euros per month would be required to sustain the average quota of 463 euros. Tax authorities note that even among the youngest workers—those aged 26 to 35—rent typically takes about 40% of take-home pay. The Bank of Spain has long advised keeping housing costs below 35% of income, and other analyses suggest aiming for no more than 25%. For new entrants into the labor market or individuals with a decade or more in the workforce, adhering to these benchmarks can seem virtually impossible.
To align with these recommendations, and assuming a hypothetical freeze on rent payments, a salaried tenant would need an income around 1,350 euros, a level well above the current minimum wage. In the last five years, Xunta de Galicia’s official statistics show rents in the region rising by just over 20% on average. Yet the pace of wage growth among under-35s has lagged by about five percentage points, widening the gap between what people earn and what they must pay for housing.
by city
Differences between the principal Galician cities go beyond a single factor. Across Galicia, the supply shortfall, the influence of short-term holiday rentals, and owner risk all shape the market. Regional authorities report that rental costs in Vigo have edged toward 550 euros per month. When compared with 2014, the yearly increase exceeds 1,500 euros, with additional costs such as deposits, insurance, or bank guarantees adding to the burden. A Coruña remains among the most affordable among the large cities at around 533 euros per month, while Ferrol registers as one of the lower-cost centers at roughly 380 euros.
Most contracts signed so far this year, officially registered and documented with security deposits in Vivenda, total around 18,000. Monthly quotas in this wave generally ranged from 300 to 500 euros, with occasional references to higher figures around 1,000 euros, and in some cases up to 1,600 euros. These numbers reflect a market in flux, where new tenants navigate a landscape shaped by supply constraints, regulatory measures, and shifting employer expectations. The reality for many renters is a balancing act between steady employment, rising rents, and the desire for stable housing.