Housing pushes young people in Madrid away from independent living

The average rent takes up 76.5% of the gross salary of people under 35. For those under 25, it exceeds their income. Only 16.1% of people under 30 in Madrid live independently. The general strike on 11 November is demanding housing and labour rights.

In 2024, renting an average flat in the Comunidad de Madrid took up 76.5% of the gross salary of someone under 35. For those not yet 25, it amounted to 125.1%: more than they earned.

Having a stable job helps people move out, but it doesn’t solve the cost of housing. Among those who can live independently, just over half have a permanent, full-time contract. The proportion drops to 15.9% among those with a string of temporary contracts and part-time work.

The gap between having a job and being able to live independently is also seen in recent trends. Since 2017, the Comunidad de Madrid has gained 287,000 people under 30, but has 17,000 fewer young people living independently. Today, only 16.1% of that group live outside the family home.

Among employed people under 35, the rate of living independently fell from 60.5% in 2014 to 45.6%. The average rent is around 1,888 euros per month. Buying a home requires the equivalent of 12 years and four months of full gross salary; in 2016 it was 10 years and five months. Figures from Idealista’s asking prices and available salaries up to 2024 show an upward trend.

Moving out doesn’t eliminate economic insecurity either. 34.3% of people under 30 who live independently are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared to 21.7% of those who remain with their families. Nearly half share a flat.

A lack of financial leeway keeps 421,000 young people aged 17 to 34 in the family home. For many, staying is a calculated decision.

CC OO Madrid proposes expanding public housing for affordable rent and regulating prices in high-pressure areas. It also calls for stable employment. On 11 November, the general strike will defend the right to housing and labour rights.

In Madrid, access to housing determines when a young person can organise their life outside the family home. The possibility of living independently is tied to both income and housing costs. That’s why demands for housing and employment are linked in the debate about young workers. The call for 11 November will take this demand to the general strike.