The average price of detached and duplex houses in the biggest cities in Germany varied between approximately ***** euros and 10,000 euros per square meter in 2024. Housing was most expensive in Munich, where the square meter price of houses amounted to ***** euros. Conversely, Berlin was most affordable, with the square meter price at ***** euros. How have German house prices evolved? House prices maintained an upward trend for more than a decade, with 2020 and 2021 experiencing exceptionally high growth rates. In 2021, the nominal year-on-year change exceeded 10 percent. Nevertheless, the second half of 2022 saw the market slowing, with the annual percentage change turning negative for the first time in 12 years. Another way to examine the price growth is through the house price index, which uses 2015 as a base. At its peak in 2022, the German house price index measured about *** percent, which means that a house bought in 2015 would have appreciated by ** percent. Is housing affordable in Germany? Housing affordability depends greatly on income: High-income areas often tend to have more expensive housing, which does not necessarily make them unaffordable. The house price to income index measures the development of the cost of housing relative to income. In the first quarter of 2024, the index value stood at ***, meaning that since 2015, house price growth has outpaced income growth by about ** percent. Compared with the average for the euro area, this value was lower.

Housing Index in Germany increased to 218.58 points in May from 217.43 points in April of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Germany House Price Index - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Rents in Germany continued to increase in all seven major cities in 2024. The average rent per square meter in Munich was approximately **** euros — the highest in the country. Conversely, Düsseldorf had the most affordable rent, at approximately **** euros per square meter. But how does renting compare to buying? According to the house price to rent ratio, house prices in Germany have risen faster than rents, making renting more affordable than buying. Affordability of housing in Germany In 2023, Germany was among the European countries with a relatively high house price to income ratio in Europe. The indicator compares the affordability of housing across OECD countries and is calculated as the nominal house prices divided by nominal disposable income per head, with 2015 chosen as a base year. Between 2012 and 2022, property prices in the country rose much faster than income, with the house price to income index peaking at *** index points at the beginning of 2022. Slower house price growth in the following years has led to the index declining, as incomes catch up. Nevertheless, homebuyers in 2024 faced significantly higher mortgage interest rates, contributing to a higher final cost. How much does buying a property in Germany cost? Just as with renting, Munich was the most expensive city for newly built apartments. In 2024, the cost per square meter in Munich was almost ***** euros pricier than in the runner-up city, Frankfurt. Detached and semi-detached houses are usually more expensive. The price gap between Munich and the second most expensive city, Stuttgart, was nearly ***** euros per square meter.

In Germany, apartments were most expensive in Munich, with the average square meter price as high 9,620 euros. In Cologne, on the other hand, the average square meter price was about 5,240 euros. According to the house price index in Germany, house prices in the country have risen steadily in recent years.

The average transaction price of new housing in Europe was the highest in Norway, whereas existing homes were the most expensive in Austria. Since there is no central body that collects and tracks transaction activity or house prices across the whole continent or the European Union, not all countries are included. To compile the ranking, the source weighed the transaction prices of residential properties in the most important cities in each country based on data from their national offices. For example, in Germany, the cities included were Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Berlin. House prices have been soaring, with Sweden topping the ranking Considering the RHPI of houses in Europe (the price index in real terms, which measures price changes of single-family properties adjusted for the impact of inflation), however, the picture changes. Sweden, Luxembourg and Norway top this ranking, meaning residential property prices have surged the most in these countries. Real values were calculated using the so-called Personal Consumption Expenditure Deflator (PCE), This PCE uses both consumer prices as well as consumer expenditures, like medical and health care expenses paid by employers. It is meant to show how expensive housing is compared to the way of living in a country. Home ownership highest in Eastern Europe The home ownership rate in Europe varied from country to country. In 2020, roughly half of all homes in Germany were owner-occupied whereas home ownership was at nearly ** percent in Romania or around ** percent in Slovakia and Lithuania. These numbers were considerably higher than in France or Italy, where homeowners made up ** percent and ** percent of their respective populations.For more information on the topic of property in Europe, visit the following pages as a starting point for your research: real estate investments in Europe and residential real estate in Europe.

How much more expensive are houses in European capital cities than in the rest of the country? Of all the capital cities in Europe, prices in Paris had the highest disproportion to the national average in 2023. A new house in the French capital cost more than three times the price of a house outside the city. This was followed by Barcelona, Munich and Athens.

Apartment prices in Germany declined in all major cities in 2023. The average sales price varied between approximately 4,000 euros and 8,000 euros per square meter in the fourth quarter of the year. Apartments were most expensive in Munich, where a square meter in a residential multifamily building cost 7,821 in the fourth quarter of the year. Conversely, Düsseldorf had the most affordable prices, at 4,175 euros per square meter. Prices for detached houses were even higher.

In 2024, Munich in Bavaria had the most expensive houses among the German cities listed, typically costing around 1.6 million euros. By comparison, Bremen and Magdeburg had significantly lower prices, at 335,000 and 300,000 euros respectively.

House prices in Germany rose by about 12 percent in 2021 but price growth is forecast to slow down until 2024. According to a report by the Deutsche Bundesbank, the German housing market is set to experience a 1.2 percent increase in the average house price in 2023 and 3.2 percent increase in 2024. According to the source, despite higher construction costs, financing costs, and overall economic uncertainty, the high housing demand alongside insufficient supply are likely to continue to drive prices up. Residential real estate prices in the largest cities have grown substantially since 2012. In Munich - Germany's most expensive residential market - the square meter price reached almost 11,000 euros per square meter in 2022.

The average transaction price for the purchase of new residential properties increased in the main cities in Germany between 2016 and 2021. Afterward, prices they stabilized and slightly decreased in 2023. By 2023, Munich had the highest average transaction price for new dwellings of approximately 10,900 euros per square meter. Frankfurt ranked second with an average transaction price of 7,700 euros per square meter, followed by Hamburg and Berlin.

In 2024, the rental index in Germany reached 107.5 index points. The index was set to 100 in 2020, which means that compared to then, rent in Germany increased by 7.5 percent. Munich saw the highest average rent price among the larger German cities.

In 2023, Frankfurt and Munich were the German cities with the highest prime rents for office real estate, but Berlin had the highest average rent. In Munich, the prime office rent amounted to 48 euros per square meter, while the average rent was twice lower, at 23.85 euros per square meter. Prime rents refer to the top price segment in the market, usually buildings in the most desired locations and of the highest specifications.

Geneva stands out as Europe's most expensive city for apartment purchases in early 2025, with prices reaching a staggering 15,720 euros per square meter. This Swiss city's real estate market dwarfs even high-cost locations like Zurich and London, highlighting the extreme disparities in housing affordability across the continent. The stark contrast between Geneva and more affordable cities like Nantes, France, where the price was 3,700 euros per square meter, underscores the complex factors influencing urban property markets in Europe. Rental market dynamics and affordability challenges While purchase prices vary widely, rental markets across Europe also show significant differences. London maintained its position as the continent's priciest city for apartment rentals in 2023, with the average monthly costs for a rental apartment amounting to 36.1 euros per square meter. This figure is double the rent in Lisbon, Portugal or Madrid, Spain, and substantially higher than in other major capitals like Paris and Berlin. The disparity in rental costs reflects broader economic trends, housing policies, and the intricate balance of supply and demand in urban centers. Economic factors influencing housing costs The European housing market is influenced by various economic factors, including inflation and energy costs. As of April 2025, the European Union's inflation rate stood at 2.4 percent, with significant variations among member states. Romania experienced the highest inflation at 4.9 percent, while France and Cyprus maintained lower rates. These economic pressures, coupled with rising energy costs, contribute to the overall cost of living and housing affordability across Europe. The volatility in electricity prices, particularly in countries like Italy where rates are projected to reach 153.83 euros per megawatt hour by February 2025, further impacts housing-related expenses for both homeowners and renters.

The average rent price of residential real estate in Germany was approximately two euros higher for newly built properties than existing ones in 2023. Rents have increased steadily since 2004 and in the fourth quarter of 2023, the average square meter rent for a newly constructed property reached 11.9 euros. The rent for existing housing was slightly lower at 9.9 euros per square meter. Among the major cities in Germany, Munich had the highest rents.

The cost of commercial and industrial real estate space for development is determined based on demand, availability of space and proximity to economic centers, among other things. Finding appropriate and available space in city areas will be far harder than in the surrounding areas; therefore, it is no surprise that the cost is higher in city areas. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the cost of city area land in Munich was on average *** euros per square meter, higher than that in the city's surrounding area.

Oslo was the Norwegian city with the most expensive apartments and houses in 2024. In March that year, the average price per residential property in the Norwegian capital was approximately 6.4 million Norwegian kroner. The city above the polar circle, Tromsø ranked second, with housing units costing on average nearly 4.6 million Norwegian kroner. In 2019, there were over nine thousand dwellings sold in Norway. Housing types The largest share of Norwegian residential housing units in 2023 were detached houses, accounting for nearly half of the total housing market in the country. Moreover, a quarter of all occupied and vacant dwellings that year were blocks of flats and over one fifth were houses with two dwellings or row houses. Where are properties the most expensive? Within selected global property markets, Hong Kong had the most expensive housing prices in 2020. An average property would cost roughly 1.25 million U.S. dollars in the former British colony. Munich ranked second, where the average property price amounted to roughly one million U.S dollars.

In 2022, Altstadt-Lehel was the most expensive district for rent in Munich, Germany, with an average monthly rent of about 23 euros per square meter of living space (excluding extra costs). In comparison, some of the more affordable districts, such as Feldmoching-Hasenbergl and Aubing-Lochhausen-Langwied, had average rents of under 17 euros per square meter.

The average transactional cost per square meter of a new dwelling in selected Northern European cities varied greatly. Munich was the most expensive of these cities in which to buy a new dwelling, with one square meter of internal space costing about 10,900 euros on average.

Amsterdam is set to maintain its position as Europe's most expensive city for apartment rentals in 2025, with median costs reaching 2,500 euros per month for a furnished one-bedroom unit. This figure is double the rent in Prague and significantly higher than other major European capitals like Paris, Berlin, and Madrid. The stark difference in rental costs across European cities reflects broader economic trends, housing policies, and the complex interplay between supply and demand in urban centers. Factors driving rental costs across Europe The disparity in rental prices across European cities can be attributed to various factors. In countries like Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, a higher proportion of the population lives in rental housing. This trend contributes to increased demand and potentially higher living costs in these nations. Conversely, many Eastern and Southern European countries have homeownership rates exceeding 90 percent, which may help keep rental prices lower in those regions. Housing affordability and market dynamics The relationship between housing prices and rental rates varies significantly across Europe. As of 2024, countries like Turkey, Iceland, Portugal, and Hungary had the highest house price to rent ratio indices. This indicates a widening gap between property values and rental costs since 2015. The affordability of homeownership versus renting differs greatly among European nations, with some countries experiencing rapid increases in property values that outpace rental growth. These market dynamics influence rental costs and contribute to the diverse rental landscape observed across European cities.

The prime rent for office real estate in Munich, Germany, significantly increased between 2013 and 2023. The prime rent increased by 186 euros, to a total of 588 euros per square meter per year at the end of 2023, the highest value recorded for this period. While not the most expensive European office market, Munich was the city with one of the lowest office vacancy rates.