The difficulty in accessing housing has led many young people to rethink the way they live, especially in areas where rental prices continue to rise. The case of a 29-year-old young man, born in Cádiz, became an example of this reality, after opting for an unlikely solution to achieve emancipation without bearing the costs of renting a conventional apartment.
Inability to pay rent in Cádiz
José Antonio, a public servant with a salary of around 1,300 euros, explained on social media that he cannot afford the rental prices in his city. In a video released on TikTok, cited by the Telecinco chain, he stated that he cannot find any housing solution compatible with his income.
As an example, the 29-year-old said that many rents exceed 700 euros per month, an amount that is unaffordable for his budget, according to the Spanish digital newspaper Noticias Trabajo.
Choosing to live in a van
Given the lack of alternatives, he decided to adapt a Volkswagen T5 for a living. The van includes a small refrigeration area, limited space for clothes and personal items, a 70-liter water tank, dry toilet and a shower area. The interior was organized in an L-shape to take advantage of the available space, which he describes as “two square meters”, divided between a lower floor and an elevated structure where he sleeps.
As he explains, this is not an option linked to itinerant tourism, but rather a practical solution to reduce fixed expenses. He emphasizes that he does not have to pay a mortgage, electricity or water and that he only maintains essential day-to-day costs, according to the same source.
Criticism and debate on social media
The decision sparked debate, with divided opinions. Some users consider the solution to be creative; others question the social impact that these types of situations reveal. The young man argues that he does not intend to romanticize precariousness and states that the current economic reality forces many young people to look for alternatives outside the traditional housing pattern. “I’m an employee, I earn 1,300 euros and I can’t afford a living wage in my city,” he said.
Housing context in Cádiz
Recent real estate market data, according to the same source, indicates that Cádiz has some of the highest rental prices in Andalusia, with averages exceeding 10 euros per square meter. For young people on modest salaries, this means that financial independence becomes more difficult, reducing the number of options available to live alone.
The 29-year-old says he has lived in the van for eight months and considers that this solution has given him financial freedom, despite space limitations. He emphasizes that he does not seek to influence others to do the same, but simply to show how he organizes his daily life in a mobile space and what challenges he faces with temperature variations or space management.
It also states, cited by , that its objective is simply to demonstrate that, given current market prices, many young people are looking for alternative solutions that would not previously have been considered.
Housing situation in Portugal
In recent years, access to housing has become one of the biggest challenges for young people in Portugal, especially in urban centers. Rental values continue to rise, with cities such as Lisbon and Porto recording average prices above 15 euros per square meter, according to recent data from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
The widespread rise in the cost of living, combined with wage stagnation among younger people, significantly reduces the ability to enter the rental market, making financial autonomy difficult. Many young people postpone leaving their parents’ home or look for temporary solutions, such as rented rooms, shared residences or more affordable peripheral accommodation.
Acquisition of housing
At the same time, purchasing housing has become even more difficult for this age group. The down payment requirements for housing loans, combined with higher interest rates and sales prices at historic highs, make buying a home almost inaccessible for those just starting their professional lives.
The result translates into an emancipation rate that is among the lowest in the European Union and prolonged dependence on the household, while many young people resort to alternative solutions or wait for better economic conditions to secure their own space.
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