BizkaiaGipuzkoaArabaVitoria-GasteizLlanada AlavesaRioja AlavesaMontaña AlavesaValles AlavesesCantábrica AlavesaEstribaciones del GorbeaDonostialdeaBidasoaTolosaldeaGoierriUrola KostaDebagoienaDebabarrenaGran BilbaoDurangaldeaLea-ArtibaiBusturialdeaUribe KostaEnkarterriArratia-NerviónMungialdeaBizkaiaGipuzkoaArabaVitoria-GasteizLlanada AlavesaRioja AlavesaMontaña AlavesaValles AlavesesCantábrica AlavesaEstribaciones del GorbeaDonostialdeaBidasoaTolosaldeaGoierriUrola KostaDebagoienaDebabarrenaGran BilbaoDurangaldeaLea-ArtibaiBusturialdeaUribe KostaEnkarterriArratia-NerviónMungialdea
EU|ES|EN
Diario Euskadi logo

Diario Euskadi

Renting in Vitoria-Gasteiz now costs more than a minimum wage monthly payment

The average rent for listed apartments in the city reaches 1,343 euros, exceeding the national minimum wage.

Generic image: A rental contract on a desk with euro coins and a calculator, with the blurred urban skyline of Vitoria-Gasteiz in the background.
IA

Generic image: A rental contract on a desk with euro coins and a calculator, with the blurred urban skyline of Vitoria-Gasteiz in the background.

The average rental price for homes in Vitoria-Gasteiz has surpassed 1,343.42 euros per month, now costing more than a full monthly payment of the national minimum wage (SMI).

The average monthly rent for housing in Vitoria-Gasteiz has reached 1,343.42 euros, exceeding the amount of a full monthly payment of the national minimum wage (SMI). These figures were presented on Monday in the Urban Planning Commission by councilor Oscar Fernández of Elkarrekin. For 2026, the SMI is set at 1,221 euros over 14 payments.
The difference between the average listed rent and a single SMI payment is 122.42 euros. This means an individual earning the minimum wage could not afford the average rent for an apartment listed in Vitoria-Gasteiz with one full monthly payment. The average rental cost represents 110% of the SMI, excluding utilities, community fees, deposit, insurance, or other typical move-in expenses.
The gross annual SMI amounts to 17,094 euros. A monthly rent of 1,343.42 euros totals 16,121.04 euros annually. Therefore, the average listed rent is close to the entire gross annual minimum wage. Covering a year's rent at the average price equates to 13.2 monthly SMI payments.
Far from the affordability threshold of 30% of income, such a rent would require a monthly income of approximately 4,478 euros. This situation has worsened significantly in under three years; in the second quarter of 2023, the average offer stood at 1,073.86 euros, rising to 1,343.42 euros by the first quarter of 2026, a monthly increase of 269.56 euros.
The scarcity of supply exacerbates the issue, with only around 60 rental properties available in Vitoria-Gasteiz. This limits renters' choices regarding price, neighborhood, or conditions. Furthermore, the average offer significantly exceeds the usual reference price of 721 euros, by approximately 86%.
According to data from the Basque Government, the average rent for active contracts in the Basque Country was 791.8 euros per month between July and September 2025. The difference with Vitoria-Gasteiz's average offer is 551.62 euros monthly. Vitoria-Gasteiz has been declared a stressed residential market area since October 2025, yet available supply remains very low.

Related News