Housing costs surge in Greece as 26.9% of households spend over 40% of income
Greece recorded a 10.1% increase in housing prices and rents in 2025, compared with the EU average of 3.2%, while more than one in four Greek households spent over 40% of their income on housing.
The figures highlight the growing gap between housing costs and household incomes in Greece, where affordability pressures remain significantly higher than in much of Europe.
According to Eurostat data cited in a report by Greek newspaper Efsyn, Greece recorded the second-highest annual increase in rents across the EU in 2025, behind only Croatia, where rents rose by 17.6%. The EU average increase stood at 3.2%.
The report attributes the sharp rise to limited housing supply amid strong demand, alongside continued foreign investment in the property market.
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY UNDER PRESSURE
The burden on Greek households is also reflected in housing cost overburden figures. In Greece, 26.9% of households in major urban areas spend more than 40% of their income on housing.
The comparable figure for the euro area is 9.8%, while France and Italy recorded rates of 9% and 6.7%, respectively.
The figures place Greece among the countries facing the most severe housing affordability pressures in Europe.
GROWING GAP BETWEEN PRICES AND INCOMES
Between 2015 and 2025, Greece's house price-to-income indicator increased by approximately 24%, placing the country sixth among EU member states, according to the report.
The pressure has intensified as housing costs have risen faster than household incomes. The report also notes that Greece's real disposable income remains 22.3% below its 2010 level, further limiting households' ability to cope with rising housing expenses.
At EU level, the relationship between house prices and household income has also deteriorated over the past decade, although trends vary considerably between member states.
The figures underline the scale of Greece's housing affordability challenge, particularly in major urban centres, where rising demand and limited supply continue to put pressure on rents and property prices.
