Which European Countries Spend Over 40% of Income on Housing
In 2025, Greece recorded the highest level of unaffordable housing costs in Europe: 26.4% of the country's residents lived in households spending over 40% of their disposable income on housing. The EU average stood at 7.7%, with such expenses affecting over 34 million people across the European Union.
According to Eurostat, in 2025, an average of 7.7% of EU residents lived in households that spent more than 40% of their disposable income on housing. This includes rent or mortgage interest, utilities, insurance, repairs, and taxes. The agency considers such expenditure levels unaffordable. Meanwhile, housing in the EU has become 69% more expensive on average since 2015, with prices more than doubling in some countries.
The situation is worst in Greece, where 26.4% of the population spends over 40% of their income on housing—three times the EU average. Among EU member states, Denmark (14.7%), Germany (11.2%), and Sweden (10.8%) follow. Outside the EU, Switzerland (15.3%) and Norway (13.5%) also show high figures. The lowest burden is observed in Cyprus (2.4%), Croatia (3.2%), Slovenia, and Slovakia (3.5% each).
In total, over 34 million people in the EU live with unaffordable housing costs. Germany has the highest number of such individuals (9.4 million). Among those at risk of poverty, the average share in the EU reaches 29.1%, while in Greece, it is 82.6%.
Experts attribute the problem to housing costs rising faster than incomes, particularly for low-income groups. According to TU Delft researcher Marietta Haffner, housing costs are expected to increase next year primarily due to rising energy prices.
