House prices across the European Union rose by 53% between 2010 and 2024, a new study by Eurostat has found.
The Housing in Europe – 2025 edition study noted that while there were ‘significant’ annual increases of 8% from 2020 to 2021, and from 2021 to 2022, house prices in the EU fell marginally the following year, by 0.3%, before returning to positive territory in 2024 (+3%).
The biggest increase in house prices over the period was seen in Hungary, where prices rose by 231%, followed by Estonia (+228%), and Lithuania (+179%).
Rent increases
Rents also increased between 2010 and 2024, by 25% overall, with an increase reported in all EU member states except for Greece, where rents actually fell by 16%.
The largest increase in rents between 2010 and 2024 were seen in Estonia (+208%), Lithuania (+177%), Ireland (+108%) and Hungary (+107%).
Housing costs
Overall housing costs, taking into account water, electricity, gas and other services, varied by EU member state, with Ireland boasting the highest housing costs compared to the EU average – 87% above the average, as of 2024.
Other countries to report housing costs well above the EU average, as of 2024, include Denmark (86% above) and Luxembourg (78% above), while the lowest overall housing costs were recorded in Bulgaria, where costs were 38% below the EU average, Croatia (44% below) and Poland (49% below).
Across Europe, more than two thirds (68%) of citizens live in their own home, while 32% live in rented housing. The highest share of home ownership was recorded in Romania (94%), followed by Slovakia (93%), Hungary (92%) and Croatia (91%).
In Germany, however, more people rent their home (53%) than own it outright, with high percentages also recorded in Austria (46%) and Denmark (39%). Read more here.
In 2024, 68% of the population living in EU households owned their home, while the remaining 32% lived in rented housing. 🏡🔑
— EU_Eurostat (@EU_Eurostat) January 3, 2026
Highest shares of ownership observed in:
🇷🇴Romania (94%)
🇸🇰Slovakia (93%)
Lowest in:
🇩🇪Germany (47%)
🇦🇹Austria (55%)
👉https://t.co/eMonHqcVge pic.twitter.com/MavULDfjKu
