The study, titled Madrid for the Rich and published on April 14, 2026, analyzes the evolution of wealth and inequality in Madrid during José Luis Martínez-Almeida's administration. According to the data, the capital boasts an average income 80% higher than the national average, yet it simultaneously ranks as the city with the highest inequality indices among Spain's ten main cities.
The investigation, conducted by the group's Economy and Finance commission, reveals that the wealthiest 20% of Madrid residents earn six times more than the poorest 20%. Furthermore, the report warns that 40% of Madrid families struggle to cover their basic needs by the end of the month, even as the city is home to over 23,000 high-net-worth individuals.
The current city model relies on real estate speculation and growing luxury tourism.
The report highlights housing and taxation as key drivers of this disparity. Over the last decade, housing costs in Madrid have surged by 110%, leading to one in three purchases being made in cash by investors or funds, displacing working families. In the fiscal sphere, Más Madrid criticizes that the City Council has foregone 1,000 million euros since 2020 due to tax cuts that, they assert, disproportionately benefit high-income earners. As an example, they point out that the IBI reduction saves 17 euros in Puente de Vallecas compared to over 400 euros in the Salamanca neighborhood.
The study also reveals a stark territorial inequality between the northern districts and those in the south and east. Income in areas like Chamartín or Aravaca doubles that of districts such as Usera or Villaverde. Additionally, one in three children under 16 in the capital lives in poverty, an 11.8% increase from the previous year. Youth unemployment in the city's south is 38% higher than the city average.
To address this situation, Rita Maestre has proposed a package of urgent measures. For housing, they suggest regulating rental prices and reclaiming tourist apartments for the residential market. In the social and fiscal areas, they propose a tourist tax, free school meals, and establishing a Municipal Minimum Wage of 1,500 euros for contracts linked to the City Council. Finally, the group advocates for a Universal Child-Rearing Benefit and a territorial rebalancing plan that includes creating three new industrial hubs in the southern and eastern districts to foster higher-quality employment in these areas.
