Cost of Living Low Priority for Andorrans Despite Rising Prices

Despite rising prices and their impact on daily life, the cost of living ranks low among Andorrans' concerns, cited by just 6.8% of respondents in the latest survey. This figure trails far behind issues like housing and traffic congestion, even as grocery bills, food costs and basic expenses have become persistent challenges for many households.

The findings come from the Centre de Recerca Sociològica's barometer for the second half of 2025. They highlight sectors central to Andorra's economy that barely register as problems in public perception. Tourism, a cornerstone of the economy, drew mentions from only 1% of those surveyed—a consistently low level over recent years. This could reflect satisfaction with the sector's performance or a disconnect between its economic importance and everyday worries.

Youth employment and the job market showed similar indifference. Just 1% flagged youth access to work, while unemployment received 0% of responses. The lack of job offers concerned only 0.8%, down from over 5% in the 2020-2021 post-pandemic period. Shortages of skilled labour—a frequent complaint from businesses in construction, hospitality and healthcare—worried 1.9% of respondents.

Retail, grouped with tourism, also faded from view at 0.8%, nearly half its level from three years ago. Shop closures, digital shifts and changing consumer habits appear to have been accepted as normal evolution rather than active issues.

Parking concerns dropped from 7% in the first half of 2025 to 3.6%, despite shrinking availability in central parishes. Citizen security edged up slightly to 3.1%, aligning with a recent uptick in minor crimes, though overall perceptions of safety remain high. The economy drew 2.6% of mentions, stable over five years and suggesting broad macro-level confidence.

These low-priority areas point to shifting social priorities, with potentially underappreciated risks in strategic sectors.