Where in Europe do people spend over 40% of their income on housing?
Housing costs take up more than 40% of disposable income for millions of Europeans. Euronews Business takes a closer look at which countries are hit hardest, with experts explaining the drivers.
In the European Union, housing costs are taking a significant toll on people's finances. According to Eurostat, the average housing cost overburden rate in 2025 was 7.7%, meaning that on average, people spend less than 8% of their disposable income on housing. However, this figure varies greatly across different countries. Greece, for instance, has the highest rate at 26.4%, meaning that more than a quarter of its population is struggling to afford housing.
This is more than three times the EU average. Denmark, Germany, and Sweden also have rates above the EU average, at 14.7%, 11.2%, and 10.8% respectively. In contrast, Cyprus has the lowest rate, with only 2.4% of its population experiencing this burden. The situation is also dire in Switzerland and Norway, where 15.3% and 13.5% of people, respectively, are affected.
The disparity in housing cost overburden rates is not just a matter of geography, but also of economic and welfare systems. The impact on households also varies significantly, with some countries offering more financial support to those struggling to pay their rent.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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