How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Housekeeper in Spain? (2026 Prices)

Hiring a housekeeper is one of the best investments you can make in your family’s quality of life, but it is important to understand all the costs involved before taking the step. In this guide we break down every item so there are no surprises.

1. Minimum Wage and 2026 Salary Tables

The minimum wage for domestic workers in Spain is regulated by the Royal Decree on the Salario Minimo Interprofesional (SMI) — the national minimum wage. In 2026, the benchmarks are:

Arrangement	Minimum monthly salary	Minimum hourly rate
Full-time (40h)	1,221 EUR gross/month (14 payments)	—
Hourly	—	9.55 EUR gross/hour

Important: These are the legal minimums. The actual salary depends on experience, duties, location, and whether the worker is live-in or live-out.

2. Real Market Salaries in Madrid

In practice, salaries in Madrid and the surrounding area tend to be above the minimum, especially for qualified professionals:

Arrangement	Typical range	Notes
Live-in	1,200 — 1,800 EUR/month	Includes accommodation and meals
Live-out full-time	1,100 — 1,500 EUR/month	40 hours per week
Live-out part-time	600 — 900 EUR/month	20 hours per week
Hourly	10 — 15 EUR/hour	Legal minimum: 9.55 EUR/hour

Bilingual Filipino workers (English-Spanish) or those with verifiable experience typically fall in the mid-to-upper range of these brackets.

As an employer, you are required to register your worker with the Social Security system and pay a monthly contribution. It is calculated on a contribution base according to salary brackets (2026 brackets):

Bracket	Monthly salary	Contribution base	Family contribution (approx.)
1	Up to 329 EUR	305 EUR	~70 EUR/month
2	329 — 510 EUR	436 EUR	~95 EUR/month
3	510 — 693 EUR	602 EUR	~135 EUR/month
4	693 — 876 EUR	785 EUR	~175 EUR/month
5	876 — 1,061 EUR	970 EUR	~215 EUR/month
6	1,061 — 1,241 EUR	1,150 EUR	~255 EUR/month
7	1,241 — 1,424 EUR	1,424 EUR	~315 EUR/month
8	Over 1,424 EUR	Actual salary	~22% of salary

Families benefit from reductions that lower the contribution significantly: a 20% discount on the general part and an 80% reduction on unemployment and FOGASA contributions. With those reductions applied, the family’s contribution comes to around 22% of the base (instead of ~31% without reductions). The worker also pays her own share (around 6%), which is deducted from her gross salary. These are indicative figures: the exact amount is set by Social Security at the time of registration.

4. Real Total Cost: Practical Examples

Let us look at what each arrangement actually costs when you add salary + Social Security (indicative figures, with reductions already applied):

Example 1: Live-in at 1,300 EUR/month (14 payments)

Gross salary: 1,300 EUR/month (18,200 EUR/year)
Contribution base: ~1,517 EUR/month (the salary spread over 12 months)
Family Social Security contribution: ~340 EUR/month
Total monthly cost: ~1,640 EUR (plus board and lodging, if live-in)

Example 2: Live-out full-time at 1,200 EUR/month (14 payments)

Gross salary: 1,200 EUR/month (16,800 EUR/year)
Contribution base: ~1,400 EUR/month
Family Social Security contribution: ~320 EUR/month
Total monthly cost: ~1,520 EUR

Example 3: Hourly, 15 hours/week at 12 EUR/hour

Monthly salary: ~720 EUR
Family Social Security contribution: ~160 EUR/month
Total monthly cost: ~880 EUR

5. Additional Costs to Consider

Beyond salary and Social Security, there are other costs worth keeping in mind:

Bonus payments: The law requires 2 bonus payments per year (June and December), which are already included if you pay 14 instalments. If you pay 12, the monthly salary will be proportionally higher.
Annual leave: 30 calendar days per year (paid). During holidays you continue paying salary and Social Security.
Severance on withdrawal: 12 days’ salary per year of service (capped at 6 months’ salary) if the family decides to end the relationship.
Live-in board and lodging: If the worker is live-in, you provide accommodation and meals, which represents a variable cost depending on your household.
Liability insurance: Recommended, from 50 EUR/year.

6. Taxation

Hiring legally is also the requirement for accessing any tax deductions that may apply in your case. Some autonomous communities offer deductions for domestic-employment expenses; it is worth checking your specific situation with an accountant or with the tax authority (Agencia Tributaria). And, of course, registering your worker avoids penalties and gives her full coverage (sick leave, accident, unemployment).

7. What About Intermediation?

A traditional agency usually charges a fee of 1 to 3 months’ salary as a one-off charge, sometimes in advance.

At Tu Interna Filipina we work differently: browsing profiles and requesting an introduction is free. You only pay when you hire, once, the equivalent of one month’s salary, and with a 12-month guarantee: if it does not work out within that time, we introduce another candidate or refund your money. No monthly commissions, no lock-in periods, and a direct contract between your family and the professional.

Monthly Cost Summary

Item	Live-in (1,300 EUR)	Live-out full-time (1,200 EUR)
Salary	1,300 EUR	1,200 EUR
Social Security (family)	~340 EUR	~320 EUR
Board & lodging	~200 EUR	—
Monthly total	~1,840 EUR	~1,520 EUR

Looking for a trusted professional for your home? At Tu Interna Filipina you will find verified candidates with proven experience and references. Browsing profiles and requesting an introduction is free: you only pay if you hire, with a 12-month guarantee.