Nearly 1 in 5 Andorrans Spend Over Half Income on Housing

Nearly one in five Andorran residents spends more than half of their household income on housing costs, according to the latest findings from the Observatori del segon semestre.

The survey, released this week and based on responses from 600 people, highlights the strain of the local property market. Some 19.8% of respondents—118 individuals—reported allocating over 50% of monthly household earnings to rent or mortgage payments. Meanwhile, 38.3% (230 people) dedicate between 30% and 49% of their income to housing, exceeding the 30% threshold generally viewed as sustainable. Just 26.6% keep costs below that level.

Women and older adults face the greatest burden. Some 22% of women said they spend more than half their income on housing, compared to 17.5% of men—who were more likely to report spending under 30%. Among those over 65, 30% fall into the over-50% category.

Higher education and senior roles correlate with lower relative costs. Around 34% of university graduates spend less than 30% of income on housing, thanks to elevated salaries that reduce the proportional burden. This rises to 45% among managers, owners, and internal leaders. By contrast, 36% of retirees, 31% of unskilled workers, and 28% in commerce, hospitality, and personal services exceed the 50% mark.

Tenure type reveals stark differences. Only 11.4% of mortgage holders pay more than half their income on repayments, versus 21.4% of renters. Mortgage payers also benefit more at the lower end: 39.5% keep quotas under 30%, compared to 24.6% of tenants. Mid-range spending (30-49%) is similar, at 35.6% for mortgages and 38.5% for rentals.

The study notes statistically significant variations by gender, age, education, and occupation, underscoring broader affordability pressures in Andorra's housing market.