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Including utilities, housing accounts for an average of 23.6% of consumer spending in the EU, Euronews reports, citing Eurostat.
According to the latest study, by the end of 2025, the average rent for a two-room apartment in 40 European cities will range from 470 euros in Skopje to 3,350 euros in Geneva.
The Most Expensive Capitals for Renting
London ranks second in terms of cost, with renters paying around 3,050 euros. This makes it the only capital city with rents exceeding 3,000 euros.
Also among the most expensive are Dublin (about 2,650 euros), Stockholm (2,650 euros), and Oslo (2,550 euros). In Paris, the average rent reaches 2,500 euros, placing it first among the EU’s largest economies.
Next are Copenhagen, Luxembourg, and Reykjavík—all at 2,350 euros—as well as The Hague and Bern (around 2,150 euros) and Munich (2,050 euros).
The situation varies across the largest EU countries: Berlin—€1,750, Madrid—€1,700, Rome—€1,650.
The Most Affordable Housing in Europe
At the other end of the spectrum are the capitals of Southeast Europe. Rent in Skopje is about 470 euros, in Pristina—520 euros, and in Ankara—770 euros.
Among EU capitals, the lowest rents are found in Sofia (900 euros) and Nicosia (910 euros). Tirana (920 euros) and Bucharest (930 euros) also remain below 1,000 euros.
Brussels, the EU capital, occupies an intermediate position—around 1,450 euros, which places it in the middle of the ranking.
Experts note that the key factor behind this disparity remains the local nature of housing markets and the imbalance between supply and demand.
“In cities with a high concentration of international companies, students, and high-earning professionals, demand significantly outpaces supply,” real estate expert Mikk Kalmet explained to Euronews.
He also noted that comparing rental rates alone can be misleading without taking income levels into account, since salaries are significantly lower in countries with low rents.
According to Eurostat, the rise in rental rates in recent years is linked to a recovery in demand following the pandemic, population growth, migration, rising interest rates, and higher construction costs. Additional pressure is coming from a shift among part of the population from homeownership to renting.
How the Data Was Collected
It should be noted that the figures presented are based on Eurostat’s latest rent survey, covering the second half of 2025. The EU’s statistical office collects data using a standardized methodology and verifies it through surveys of real estate agents in each country. Exchange rates from 2025 were used to convert rent amounts into euros.
