Cost of raising a child in Catalonia soars to €938 monthly in 2024, the highest in Spain

The cost of raising a child in Catalonia has reached an average of €938 per month per child in 2024, a 15% increase compared to 2022, according to a study by Save the Children. 

Catalonia is also the most expensive autonomous community in Spain for raising children, with a national average of €758. 

The study highlights that financial considerations are the most significant factor influencing decisions to have children. This high cost is reflected in the region's birth rate. 

Currently, Catalonia has the lowest birth rate in Europe, with an average of 1.1 children per woman.

In Spain, the rate is slightly higher at 1.16, while the European Union average stands at 1.5 children per woman. 

The increase in the cost of raising a child is primarily attributed to inflation, particularly in household utilities and food expenses.

Food expenses have surged by 35% since 2022, and housing costs have skyrocketed by 145% since 2018. 

The organization emphasized that housing is "one of the main economic barriers for families."

Additionally, 44.4% of children live in households struggling to cover unexpected expenses, a figure that has risen by four percentage points since 2022.