Business · Economy · 10 hrs ago
Spain’s ‘milquini’ workers struggle to afford housing and everyday life
Workers earning around €1,500–€1,600 net a month in Spain are being called “milquini”—a new version of “mileurista”, a term used since 2005 for people struggling to live on low pay.
The name reflects about 60% inflation over 20 years, which has shifted the old €1,000-a-month benchmark to roughly €1,500.
Spain’s median salary was €2,001.40 in 2024, before tax, while the average gross salary in 2025 was €28,400 a year.
Many full-time workers earn €24,000 to €27,000 gross a year, and the group includes people in their 30s and 40s, not only young or less-educated workers.
Rents have doubled since 2005 while wages rose much more slowly, making it harder for people who rent to get by.
Demographer Héctor Cebolla says low real wages make it difficult for young people to save, find a home and build an adult life.
Spain’s “milquini” workers earn salaries that often leave little room to afford housing and everyday life.
The term refers to people earning around €1,500 a month net, reflecting inflation since the “mileurista” label emerged in 2005.
The median gross monthly salary was €2,001.4 in 2024, equivalent to about €1,500–€1,600 net depending on tax withholding.
Millions of full-time workers earn between €24,000 and €27,000 gross a year, while rents have risen faster than wages.
Workers interviewed describe cutting back on leisure and struggling with the cost of essentials such as food.
- Who
- Spanish workers earning modest salaries, including many people aged 30 to 40.
- What
- They struggle to afford rent and everyday expenses, with limited room to build adult lives.
- When
- The article was published on 24 October 2026; it compares conditions with 2005.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- Rents and everyday costs have risen faster than wages, limiting workers’ purchasing power.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Carolina Alguacil sent a letter to El País that helped coin the term “mileurista”.
Spain’s median salary was €2,001.4 gross per month, the latest figure cited.
The latest annual labour cost survey cited reported an average gross salary of €28,400.
El País published its article about “milquini” workers.
- Term origin
- Mileurista” was coined after a letter sent on 21 August 2005.
- Inflation
- Cumulative inflation over 20 years was 60%.
- Median salary
- €2,001.4 gross per month in 2024.
- Full-time pay range
- Millions of workers earn €24,000–€27,000 gross annually.
- Average salary
- €28,400 gross in the 2025 annual labour cost survey.
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What people are saying
We have an extremely acute problem of transition to adult life because real wages are not rising.
It doesn’t affect me much that leisure or other services have fallen over these years. What I spend the most on is groceries, and they have risen enormously.