A report by Fotocasa and Infojobs reveals the growing gap between salaries and rental prices in Spain. In Málaga, the effort to access rental housing reaches 57% of the average worker's salary, a figure that places the province among the most affected in the country and far above the Andalusian average (41%).

At the opposite end of the autonomous community is Jaén, where the effort to rent stands at 23% of the salary, making it the province with the most affordable rent in all of Spain. Other Andalusian provinces such as Córdoba (29%), Seville (44%), Huelva (39%), Granada and Cádiz (36%), and Almería (32%) show lower percentages than Málaga.

Nationally, the average effort to rent a home stands at 50% of the salary, a milestone reached for the first time and representing a significant increase since 2019, when the percentage was 38%. The report indicates that rental prices have risen by an average of 6.9% nationwide, while salaries have only increased by 1%.

Mónica Pérez, Infojobs' director of communication, warns that this data "confirms the growing disconnect between salary evolution and rental prices in Spain," which "increases the effort to access a home and conditions vital and labor mobility decisions." For her part, María Matos, Director of Studies and spokesperson for Fotocasa, describes the situation as an "authentic housing emergency" as dedicating half of one's salary to housing payment "limits access to other essential expenses and severely deteriorates the quality of life."

The study also highlights the disparity within Andalusia. While Málaga leads the economic effort, other provinces like Jaén, Córdoba, Badajoz, Orense, and Albacete are among the most affordable in Spain. The average salary in Andalusia, according to Infojobs, is 27,531 euros gross, slightly higher than the national average of 27,336 euros, although official INE data differs.