It’s not just a trend: the demographic reality
Official figures confirm that single-person households are drawing attention: as of January 1, 2024, they already represented nearly 28% of households in Spain (around 5.4 million people living alone). According to the Household Projection by the INE (2024–2039), if current demographic trends continue, single-person households could reach 7.7 million by 2039, representing 33.5% of the total — a 41.9% increase compared to 2024.
This trend, which reflects population aging, the reduction in household size, and changes in lifestyle habits, has direct implications for housing demand and accessibility, market composition, and urban planning.
Why Living Alone Can Be a Major Challenge
Increase in Fixed Costs
In a single-person household, all fixed expenses (rent or mortgage payment, utilities, insurance, property tax, homeowners’ association fees, maintenance) fall on a single income. In tight markets like Barcelona or Madrid, this burden makes many homes unaffordable without sharing.
Fewer Economies of Scale
Sharing a home allows utilities, insurance, and household expenses to be split; living alone removes these economies of scale and increases vulnerability to financial setbacks (unexpected repairs, sick leave, etc.).
More Demanding Access to Credit
Financial institutions assess repayment capacity. For a single person, it usually requires higher prior savings, more stable salaries, and often family guarantors to access favorable mortgage conditions.
Lack of Savings and Vulnerability to Change
A single salary has less tolerance for income loss or rising payments, which can lead to insecurity if there is no adequate emergency fund.
Alternatives and Practical Solutions
There are alternatives that reduce the economic and operational burden for those who want to live alone without exposing themselves to excessive risks:
Sharing Spaces or Regulated Coliving
Cohousing or coliving arrangements offer independence with lower costs and shared services.
Shared Purchase or Cooperatives
Co-ownership or cooperative models reduce the initial effort and make it possible to access housing with a lower financial impact.
Smaller Homes or Peri-Urban Locations
Choosing smaller properties or areas with a better quality/price ratio can be a viable solution.
Tailored Financial Products and Insurance
Mortgages with grace periods, insurance covering loss of income, and programmed savings instruments can increase security.
Planning and Emergency Fund
As a rule, having an emergency fund and a budget plan is essential to sustaining residential independence.
What Can Public Authorities and the Private Sector Do?
Making this option viable for more people requires coordinated measures:
- Incentives for affordable housing supply and the development of micro-housing projects.
- Tax and financial products aimed at individual buyers.
- Inclusion programs for elderly people living alone.
- Development of private services and products that minimize risks.
At Llach Serra, we help you manage it.
The growing presence of single-person households reflects profound social changes. However, living alone involves additional costs, financial risks, and a need for planning that many do not consider in advance. Making this option possible for a wider number of people requires individual measures (planning and advice), tailored products and services, and public policies aimed at housing accessibility and security.
If you are considering living alone, the recommendation is to conduct an honestly detailed financial analysis and consider alternatives and support options. At Llach Serra, we offer advice to assess the feasibility of the decision: rent vs. purchase comparison, financing study, and options tailored to each profile. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact us. We are here to advise you.