From transport to groceries: What prices are going up in 2026?

Catalonia is entering 2026 with a wave of price changes across transport, utilities, and everyday goods.

Public transport fares, taxi rates, highway tolls, and airport charges are all set to increase, while pensions and civil servant salaries also rise.

The minimum wage, meanwhile, remains frozen pending a government agreement.

Transport costs lead increases

Public transport discounts will remain in place, but tickets for metro, bus, train and tram are set to rise around 3.5% from January 15.

The T-Jove youth pass will cost €45.50 per quarter. The T-Usual monthly pass will start at €22.80 in Zone 1, rising progressively to €67.65 for the seven-zone pass.

The T-Casual pass will also increase, ranging from €13.00 for one zone to €57.60 for seven zones. A single metro or bus ticket will rise to €2.90, up 9.4% compared with last year.

Bicing rides will increase 15%, although annual subscription fees will remain unchanged.

Taxi fares will increase by an average of 2.3%, while highway tolls in Catalonia are set to rise by an average of 3%.

Airport charges, frozen for several years, will climb 6.4% from March, potentially affecting airfares.

Groceries and utilities

Overall consumer inflation is expected to remain moderate at the start of the year, but some staple goods have seen sharp increases. Egg prices surged 20.8% in November compared with a year earlier, marking the second-highest rise in the past two decades. Coffee has also risen sharply, up 14.4% year-on-year.

Despite electricity tariffs rising, bills are forecast to fall 4.7% for households in 2026, reflecting lower energy costs and higher renewable energy generation. Water tariffs, by contrast, will rise about 3% in the Barcelona area.

Income updates

Contributory pensions will rise 2.7% in 2026, adding roughly €570 to retirement pensions across the year. Civil servants will receive a 2.5% increase for 2025, retroactive from January, with up to 2% more in 2026.

The minimum wage remains at €1,184 per month in 14 payments until a new agreement is reached between the government, unions and employers associations.