A Cuban resident in Spain warned in a video posted on TikTok on Tuesday that having 30,000 euros in savings does not guarantee finding a rental apartment in the country, describing the housing search as "a real hell" for newly arrived immigrants.
Karla González, who documents her migratory experience in the format of "diary of an immigrant mother," noted that the rental market in Spain has become one of the toughest challenges of her life in that country.
"As a Cuban living in Spain, the issue that has affected me the most, without a doubt, has been housing," she stated in the video, which garnered over 1,500 views in less than 24 hours.
According to their testimony, landlords are increasingly demanding more requirements for renting: non-payment insurance, permanent payroll, prohibition of children and pets, and in some cases, they only accept military personnel or government officials as tenants.
This adds to the cost. Karla explained that a two-bedroom apartment can reach 900 euros per month, and that the deposit —equivalent to three months' rent— "very rarely is money that you see coming back."
But the hardest blow, according to her, is something else: discrimination based on accent. "When they hear the Cuban accent, some don’t even return your call; in fact, they don't hang up the phone because God is great," she reported.
That testimony aligns with the findings of a report published in March 2025, which states that 99% of real estate agencies in Madrid and Barcelona accept discriminatory clauses at the request of property owners. Individuals with foreign accents receive the response "the apartment is not available" in 47% of cases, compared to 31% for Spaniards. In Barcelona, that gap rises to 57%.
Karla also examined the consequences of this system: “This only leads to three things: first, that those who are desperate have an even greater temptation to occupy; second, that in wanting to choose so much, some end up renting from the wrong people; and third, that people emerge who think that just because one lives in Spain, they are an idiot.”
The market context worsens the outlook. The average rental price in Spain reached 15.1 euros per square meter per month in May 2026, a historic high with a year-on-year increase of 4%. In Madrid, the price reaches 23.4 euros per square meter, which corresponds to about 1,638 euros monthly for a 70 square meter apartment. Between 2020 and 2025, prices rose by 34% nationwide.
For Cubans, the situation is particularly difficult: many arrive without a prior work contract, without a Spanish credit history, and without a network of contacts that can act as a guarantor. Other Cubans in Spain have shared similar experiences about the barriers in the housing market, and a Cuban influencer explained in November 2025 that landlords require pay stubs from the last three months and an advance deposit.
Karla also remembered that a Cuban couple in Spain reported legal abuses related to renting, which reflects that the difficulties extend beyond just finding housing.
His final message was not one of discouragement, but of preparation: "My message is not that you shouldn't come to Spain. My message is: come informed, come prepared, and keep your feet on the ground. Because emigrating is not just about packing a suitcase and buying a plane ticket."
Karla also recommended having a family member or friend who can provide temporary accommodation upon arrival, while searching for housing in a market that, in her own words, "is a real hell."
Filed under: