Households in the Basque Country spent 36,331 euros last year, more than a third on housing

Average household expenditure in the Basque Autonomous Community increased by 4% last year to 36,331 euros, with housing being the most important item as it accounts for more than a third of the total.

This overall figure places Euskadi as the third highest-spending community, behind only the Balearic Islands (39,081 euros) and Madrid (37,360 euros), and above the Spanish average, which was 32,617 euros.

According to the Family Budget Survey published on Thursday by the National Statistical Institute (INE), expenditure on housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels were the ones that took up the most budget, with an average of 12,849 euros, a 4 .5% more than last year.

The next item on which Basque households spent the most is food and non-alcoholic drinks, with 5,714 euros and an increase of 5%. Basque families spent 3,306 euros on transport in 2023, 0.7% less than the previous year.

The largest increase occurred in the budget for leisure and culture, by 21.6%, while the average amount was 1,744 euros. The amount for restaurants and hotels also grew above average, to 4,088 euros, an increase of 6.2%.

Basque households spent approximately 1,272 euros on healthcare last year, which is 5.8% more than in 2022.

Average household expenses logically vary depending on the number of members they have, and range from 24,408 euros with 1 inhabitant to 48,960 euros with four or more inhabitants.

Although it does not lead the Basque Country in terms of average expenditure per household, it does lead in terms of average expenditure per person, with 15,570 euros, ahead of the Balearic Islands (14,769) and the Community of Madrid (14,650). Average expenditure per person in the Basque Country, which grew by 4.5%, was 18.7% higher than the national average (13,120 euros).