Housing is the main expense for families, but rent varies greatly across Europe. Eurostat shows where it is the most expensive and where it remains relatively affordable.
Housing is the largest expense for households. Including utilities, it accounts for nearly a quarter (23.6%) of consumer spending in the EU, according to Eurostat.
This burden is especially heavy on renters in European capitals, where rental prices vary significantly across Europe.
How much does it cost today to rent an apartment in a European city? And which countries turn out to be the most expensive and the cheapest?
According to Eurostat, among 40 European cities in 38 countries — EU member states, candidate countries and potential candidates, EFTA countries, and the United Kingdom — the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment ranges from €470 in Skopje to €3,350 in Geneva.
The Most Expensive Capital for Renting Housing
London is the only capital where rent exceeds €3,000; it ranks second in the overall list of 40 cities. On average, renters pay €3,050 (£2,650) for a two-bedroom apartment.
Average rent also exceeds €2,500 in Dublin (€2,650), Stockholm (€2,650), and Oslo (€2,550). Dublin and Stockholm share the title of the most expensive EU capitals in terms of rental costs.
"The main reason rental prices vary so much across Europe is that housing markets remain local. In cities like Geneva, London, Dublin, or Stockholm, there is high demand from well-paid professionals, international companies, students, and newcomers, while the supply of housing is not growing quickly enough," said Mikk Kalmet, a real estate expert at Global Property, to Euronews Business.
This means that when the number of people wanting to live in a city exceeds the available housing, rental prices generally rise.
The Highest Rates in the EU's 'Big Four'
The average rental cost in Paris is €2,500. This places the French capital first among the four largest economies in the EU. In Berlin, a two-bedroom apartment costs €1,750, in Madrid — €1,700, and in Rome — €1,650.
More than €2,000 is also paid on average for rent in Copenhagen (€2,350), Luxembourg (€2,350), Reykjavik (€2,350), The Hague (€2,150), Bern (€2,150), and Munich (€2,050).
Lisbon (€1,750), Prague (€1,650), Vienna (€1,600), Zagreb (€1,550), Helsinki (€1,550), and Athens (€1,500) fall within the range of €1,500–€1,750.
At the bottom of the list, just after Skopje (€470), is Pristina at €520. Ankara, the capital of Turkey, ranks third among the cheapest cities: renting a two-bedroom apartment here costs on average €770.
The Cheapest EU Capitals for Rent
In Sofia, renters pay an average of €900, nearly the same — €910 — in Nicosia. Thus, Bulgaria and Cyprus have the cheapest capitals for housing rental in the EU.
The average rent remains below €1,000 in Tirana (€920) and Bucharest (€930).
A number of cities cluster around the €1,200 mark: Belgrade (€1,100), Sarajevo (€1,150), Riga (€1,150), Tallinn (€1,150), Vilnius (€1,200), as well as Warsaw and Budapest (both €1,300).
Kalmet also noted that income levels are important. "Countries with higher salaries can generally afford higher rental rates, and this is one of the reasons why many of the most expensive cities are located in Western and Northern Europe," he explained.
"At the same time, lower rents in Central and Eastern Europe do not necessarily mean that housing is more affordable there, as local salaries are typically lower as well. Therefore, comparing only rental prices without considering income can be quite misleading," the expert added.
The EU Capital — in the Middle of the Ranking
Brussels, the capital of the EU, appears relatively affordable. The average rent in the Belgian capital is €1,450, placing it 22nd out of 40 and roughly in the middle of the ranking.
Kalmet noted that rental prices have increased in most European countries over the past few years. In his assessment, this growth is due to a combination of factors: the recovery of housing demand in cities after the pandemic, population growth, migration, rising interest rates, and increased construction costs.
He added that higher interest rates have made it more difficult for many families to purchase housing, forcing more people to rent and thus further fueling demand. "In many major and capital cities, supply simply cannot keep up with these changes," the expert noted.
Eurostat data does not include operating costs and utilities and pertains to unfurnished housing. It is assumed that such apartments are of good or very good quality, but not elite.
How the Data Was Collected
The figures presented are based on the latest Eurostat rent survey covering the second half of 2025. The EU statistical office collects data using a standardized methodology and verifies it through surveys of real estate agents in each country. Exchange rates from July 2025 were used to convert rental prices into euros.
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