Greece records the second-highest increase in rents in the European Union, according to a study by the Centre for Liberal Studies (KEFiM).
Rents increased by 10.1% in 2025, placing Greece behind Croatia, which ranked first with a 17.6% rise. Other countries followed with lower increases, including Hungary (9.8%), Bulgaria (9.6%), and Romania (8.2%). In contrast, lower increases were recorded in Italy, France, and Finland.
The study, titled “Housing Prices and Rents in Greece and the European Union”, showed that in 2024 in Athens, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment accounted for 70.2% of the average monthly salary, compared with 33.8% across EU capitals. For a two-bedroom apartment, the proportion reached 93.6%, compared with 45.6% in the EU average.
The analysis, based on data from Eurostat and the Bank of Greece, highlighted the continued deterioration of housing affordability in Greece, as property prices and rents increased faster than incomes.
According to the findings, across the EU-27 in 2025, house prices increased by 5.5% and rents by 3.2%.
The study found that the sharp rise in rents in Greece is driven by multiple factors, including increased demand linked to tourism and short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb, limited housing supply following the economic crisis, foreign investment inflows partly due to the Golden Visa programme, a high number of vacant properties, and broader economic recovery boosting demand.
From 2000 to 2025, rents in Greece followed a volatile path, rising sharply between 2000 and 2011 (+53%), falling significantly between 2011 and 2018 (-26%), stabilising between 2018 and 2021, and increasing again strongly from 2022, surpassing 2010 levels by 2025.
Property prices followed an even more pronounced trajectory, nearly doubling between 2000 and 2008, dropping sharply between 2008 and 2017, and then recovering rapidly between 2017 and 2025, particularly in Athens, where prices exceeded pre-crisis levels.
The burden on households in Athens is now disproportionately high compared to the EU average. In 2024, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment stood at €1,050, while the average salary was €1,496, meaning that rent absorbed 70.2% of income. For a two-bedroom apartment, rent reached €1,400, further increasing the financial strain.
In contrast, the EU average monthly salary stood at €3,317, with significantly lower rent-to-income ratios.
According to KEFiM, when rent for a small apartment exceeds two-thirds of average income, independent living becomes increasingly difficult for young workers, couples, and families.
KEFiM President Nikos Rombapas stated that the housing crisis affects not only the property market but also daily life, prospects, and quality of life for thousands of households. He stressed that addressing the issue requires a combination of policies aimed at increasing housing supply, correcting market distortions, and effectively supporting vulnerable households.
