Owning a home in Spain is increasingly becoming an unattainable goal for many citizens. According to the latest data from September 2025, the average Spaniard would need to save their entire annual income for 7.6 years to purchase a typical apartment or house. This figure, known as the Housing Affordability Index, highlights the challenging market conditions, with prices for new and second-hand properties rising nearly 7% over the past year, reaching 2,047 euros per square meter.
However, national averages mask a huge gap between different autonomous regions. The real barrier for homebuyers has emerged in the Balearic Islands, where it would take as much as 19.4 years to save enough for a home—the highest figure on record, making local property virtually inaccessible for people of average means. In the capital region, Madrid, the situation is only slightly better, requiring nearly 10 years (9.9) of total earnings. Catalonia follows, with 8.5 years, and in the Canary Islands, one would need to work 8 years to afford a home.
At the other end of the spectrum are regions where the dream of owning a home is still quite attainable. In Murcia, Extremadura, and La Rioja, it is enough to save your salary for 5.1 years to purchase property. This nearly fourfold gap compared to the Balearic Islands clearly highlights the country’s economic and social inequality. As for the price per square meter, Madrid leads with €3,281, followed by Barcelona (€3,135) and the Basque province of Gipuzkoa (€3,011).
Analysts note that the housing market continues its upward trend, especially in large cities and tourist areas. This is boosted by the rebound in mortgage lending and stable interest rates, encouraging people to speed up transactions and make purchase decisions. As a result, in cities like Cádiz, Madrid, Málaga, San Sebastián, and Barcelona, families are having to spend over half of their disposable income to cover the first down payment on a mortgage, compared to the national average of 34.8%. Experts predict that by the end of 2025, the average price per square meter could reach €2,084, and the record-high Market Confidence Index (58.9 points) indicates that prices are unlikely to drop anytime soon.
