How much does it cost to hire home staff in Andalusia (2026) — SPECTRUM DOMUS
How much does it cost to hire home staff in Andalusia in 2026
Hiring domestic staff in Andalusia involves two separate costs that should never be mixed up: what it costs to find and verify a candidate (the platform's fees) and what it costs to employ them (salary and Social Security contributions). This guide breaks down both, with the figures in force for 2026 — whether you are hiring a housekeeper, an hourly cleaner, a nanny, an elderly carer or a gardener.
1. Finding the candidate: Spectrum Domus fees
Registration and publishing a profile are free for both employers and candidates. Employers pay only to unlock the contact details of the candidates they are interested in, with a one-off card payment (no monthly subscription). The three current plans are:
- Basic — €35: up to 3 full profiles. For a one-off hire.
- Active search — €59: up to 7 full profiles, advanced filters and search, email and WhatsApp support.
- Professional — €108: up to 15 full profiles, everything in «Active search», plus bespoke selection on request.
All prices include VAT. A «full profile» means the candidate's contact details (phone, WhatsApp, email) unlocked. Profiles you have already opened stay in your account for the duration of the plan and never consume extra contacts.
2. The salary: the 2026 SMI sets the floor
A domestic worker's salary cannot be lower than the Spanish minimum wage (SMI). In 2026 the SMI is €1,184 gross per month across 14 payments, and the minimum reference for part-time work is €8.87 per hour. Part-time pay is calculated in proportion to weekly hours: at 20 hours a week, for instance, the floor is half the monthly SMI.
Up to 30% of the salary may be paid in kind (board and lodging), but only if this is expressly agreed in the contract. Anything below the SMI, or paid without Social Security registration, is not a saving — it is an infringement punishable by the Labour Inspectorate, and the relationship is presumed to be permanent and full-time.
3. Indicative pay ranges by profession in Andalusia
The SMI is the legal minimum, not the market price. To budget realistically, these are the indicative ranges we see for domestic work in Andalusia (gross per month, full-time):
- Cleaner (cleaning only): €800–1,300
- Housekeeper: €1,100–1,500
- Nanny: €900–1,400
- Elderly carer: €1,100–1,600
- Cook: €1,400–2,200
- Gardener: €1,200–1,800
- Butler / household manager: €2,000–3,000
- Private driver: €1,600–2,400
These are a reference point for shaping an offer, not a guaranteed rate: the final figure depends on hours, live-in or live-out arrangements, languages, qualifications and location. In Marbella and across the Costa del Sol, demand for domestic staff typically exceeds supply, and pay tends to sit above the Andalusian average.
4. An hourly cleaner is not the same as a housekeeper
They are two different services and should not be budgeted as equivalents. A cleaner handles cleaning only (at one home or hourly across several). A housekeeper covers the full range of household work — cleaning, laundry, ironing, cooking, general order and family support — usually on a stable schedule and often live-in. Both fall under the special domestic service scheme, but the scope, the hours and the monthly cost differ, so always compare like with like: hourly cleaning in Málaga against housekeeper in Marbella.
5. Indicative example of the monthly cost
For a full-time housekeeper (40 hours a week), contributing on the 2026 SMI (€1,184 across 14 payments) and applying the usual 20% reduction on the employer's contribution used by the platform's calculator:
- Gross salary: €1,184.00 per month
- Employer contribution: ≈ €223.54 per month
- Total cost for the family: ≈ €1,407.54 per month
- Worker's contribution: ≈ €55.65 per month (deducted from the payslip)
- Approximate net pay for the worker: ≈ €1,128.35 per month, with no income tax withheld because the annual figure does not exceed the SMI
For part-time work the floor is proportional: at 20 hours a week the base is €592.00 and the total cost for the family is ≈ €703.77 per month. These are indicative example figures: the real amount depends on the contribution base, the MEI and the reduction that applies to each household. You can model your own case with the salary calculator built into the knowledge base.
6. Additional costs worth budgeting for
- Payroll and administration: Social Security registration and the monthly payslip run alongside the hire; what is included is described under Agency & administration.
- Household liability insurance: covers damage to third parties and accidents involving the worker — see household liability insurance.
- Equipment and consumables: vacuum cleaner, cleaning products or garden tools, depending on the role.
- Languages and qualifications: if you need English, fluent Spanish for a foreign family or a specific certificate, pay rises above the SMI.
7. How to trim the cost without cutting corners on employment
- Adjust the hours, never the legal minimum. Paying below the SMI does not reduce the cost — it turns it into a fine.
- Choose the right arrangement: live-out hourly work is cheaper; live-in solves the worker's housing and usually means more presence hours.
- Separate the services: hire hourly cleaning for the house and a housekeeper or carer only for what you actually need.
- Start with a one-off hire: the Basic plan (3 profiles) lets you test the process without committing a large budget.
- Ask about reductions: lower employer contributions exist for large families and low-income households.
Frequently asked questions about the cost
How much does it cost to register with Spectrum Domus?
Nothing. Registration and publishing a profile are free for employers and candidates alike. Payment is one-off and only when you unlock profiles.
What is the difference between the platform fee and the salary?
The platform fee (€35, €59 or €108, VAT included) is what it costs to find and verify the candidate. The salary and contributions are the monthly cost of employing them, paid to the worker and to Social Security — not to the platform.
What is the minimum wage for a domestic worker in 2026?
The SMI: €1,184 gross per month across 14 payments and €8.87 per hour for part-time work, prorated to weekly hours.
Do I have to pay Social Security contributions?
Yes. Legal employment means an employment contract and Social Security registration under Spanish law for domestic workers. See Limits and obligations: domestic worker and Social Security.
Is an hourly cleaner cheaper?
For a few hours a week, usually yes: you pay only for cleaning time. But cleaning is all it covers — it does not replace a housekeeper or a carer.
Where can I see the hiring steps?
In the guide How to hire home staff step by step.
Want real figures with specific candidates in your city? Browse the verified profiles or write to us and we will help you work out the exact cost for your case.