The average for 2021 based on 41 countries was 107.05 index points. The highest value was in Switzerland: 211.98 index points and the lowest value was in Belarus: 40.99 index points. The indicator is available from 2017 to 2021. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Hungary, Czechia, Poland, and Portugal were the countries in Europe where house prices increased the most between 2015 and 2024. The EMF house price index for all four countries measured more than 200 index points, indicating that home prices more than doubled since 2015 — the base year. Property prices are tightly connected with the supply of new homes. France, Poland, and Denmark are some of the countries with the most dwellings completed per 1,000 citizens in Europe.

A table comparing the cost of living in various European Union countries, including expenses for rent, utilities, food, and transportation in major cities

Cost of Living Index by Country, 2024 Mid Year data Data scraped from Numbeo: www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp All credits to Numbeo: www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

An index of 100 reflects the same living cost as in New York City, United States. As of 2024 Mid Year data, in NYC, A family of four estimated monthly costs are $6,074.40 without rent. A single person's estimated monthly costs are $1,640.90 without rent.

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.

According to a mid-2024 index, *********** was the most expensive country to live in Europe, with an index score of ****.******** followed in the second place with around ** points less.

Table showing the country rankings based in the different metrics analysed

European Study Costs 2023: Unveiling Affordability Insights

Introduction:

Welcome to the "European Study Costs 2023" dataset, a treasure trove of information for anyone intrigued by the dynamics of international education expenses across Europe. In this dataset, we delve into the nuanced details of the total yearly living costs, average tuition fees, and yearly student living costs in various European countries.

Key Highlights:

International Student Perspectives: Gain valuable insights into the costs associated with pursuing education as an international student in Europe.

*Regional Contrasts: Explore the distinct variations in study expenses between Eastern and Western European countries, uncovering intriguing trends that could shape future academic landscapes.

Affordability Factors: Understand the factors contributing to the affordability of education, from governmental support to cultural influences and economic conditions.

Outliers and Anomalies: Identify outliers like Luxembourg, offering a unique perspective and prompting further analysis into what sets certain countries apart.

Correlations and Trends: Investigate potential correlations between tuition fees and living costs, unraveling patterns that could influence student decision-making.*

Opportunities for Analysis:

Delve into comparative analyses, ranking countries based on overall affordability. Explore opportunities for feature engineering to enhance predictive models. Consider machine learning tasks such as predicting living costs or clustering countries based on affordability profiles.

Impactful Insights for Students and Analysts:

This dataset goes beyond numbers; it provides a roadmap for prospective international students to make informed decisions about where to pursue their education. Join the exploration, contribute your analyses, and uncover the intricacies of educational affordability in Europe for 2023.

Percentage of the population living in a household where total housing costs (net of housing allowances) represent more than 40% of the total disposable household income (net of housing allowances).

High inflation driven by rising energy and food costs are causing a severe cost of living crisis in Europe. As of September 2022, the majority of people surveyed in seven European countries advised they had curbed their spending as a consquence, ranging from 69 percent in Italy to 54 percent in Sweden.

Graph and download economic data for Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices: Services Related to Housing for European Union (SERVHOEUCCM086NEST) from Dec 2000 to Oct 2025 about EU, harmonized, Europe, services, CPI, housing, price index, indexes, and price.

This indicator is defined as the percentage of the population living in a household where the total housing costs (net of housing allowances) represent more than 40% of the total disposable household income (net of housing allowances) presented by income quintile.

European Union - Median of the housing cost burden distribution: Above 60% of median equivalised income was 12.70% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for European Union - Median of the housing cost burden distribution: Above 60% of median equivalised income - last updated from the EUROSTAT on November of 2025. Historically, European Union - Median of the housing cost burden distribution: Above 60% of median equivalised income reached a record high of 15.70% in December of 2013 and a record low of 12.00% in December of 2020.

Real wages in the Eurozone showed a negative trend for the second year in a row, as high inflation caused the real value of wages to decline by almost one percent. Real wage growth is measured by adjusting nominal wage growth - that is, the growth of wages in monetary values - for inflation, or changes in the average price of the basket of goods. This means that in 2023, a worker would be able to buy one percent less than they would have in 2022, assuming their wages grew by the 4.5 percent nominal wage growth which was seen across the Eurozone in 2023.

These data were gathered in order to determine the cost of living as well as the cost of production in selected industries in the United States and several Western European countries. The study is comprised of nine industries (cotton and woolen textiles, glass, pig iron, bar iron, steel, bituminous coal, coke, and iron ore) and contains family-level information on the household composition, income and expenditures of workers in these industries. Additional topics covered include sources of income, ages and sex of children, detailed occupation of the household head, detailed expenditures for food as well as nonfood items, and characteristics of the family's dwelling units.

This indicator is defined as the median of the distribution of the share of total housing costs (net of housing allowances) in the total disposable household income (net of housing allowances) presented by age group.

Graph and download economic data for Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices: Actual Rentals for Housing for European Union (CP0410EUCCM086NEST) from Jan 1996 to Oct 2025 about EU, rent, harmonized, Europe, CPI, housing, price index, indexes, and price.

This indicator is defined as the percentage of the population living in a household where the total housing costs (net of housing allowances) represent more than 40% of the total disposable household income (net of housing allowances) presented by household type.

Data description

The House Price Index (HPI) measures inflation in the residential property market. The HPI captures price changes of all types of dwellings purchased by households (flats, detached houses, terraced houses, etc.). Only transacted dwellings are considered, self-build dwellings are excluded. The land component of the dwelling is included.

The HPI is available for all European Union Member States (except Greece), the United Kingdom (only until the third quarter of 2020), Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. In addition to the individual country series, Eurostat produces indices for the euro area and for the European Union (EU). As from the first quarter of 2020 onwards, the EU HPI aggregate no longer includes the HPI from the United Kingdom.

The national HPIs are produced by National Statistical Offices (NSIs) and the European aggregates by Eurostat, by combining the national indices. The data released quarterly on Eurostat's website include the national and European price indices, weights and their rates of change.

In order to provide a more comprehensive picture of the housing market, house sales indicators are also provided. Available house sales indicators refer to the total number and value of dwellings transactions at national level where the purchaser is a household. Eurostat publishes in its database a quarterly and annual house sales index as well as quarterly and annual rates of change.

Statistical concepts and definitions

The HPI is based on market prices of dwellings. Non-marketed prices are ruled out from the scope of this indicator. Self-build dwellings, dwellings purchased by sitting tenants at discount prices or dwellings transacted between family members are out of the scope of the indicator. It covers all monetary dwelling transactions regardless of its type (e.g., carried out through a cash purchase or financed through a mortgage loan).

The HPI measures the price developments of all dwellings purchased by households, regardless of which institutional sector they were bought from and the purpose of the purchase. As such, a dwelling bought by a household for a purpose other than owner-occupancy (e.g., for being rented out) is within the scope of the indicator. The HPI includes all purchases of new and existing dwellings, including those of dwellings transacted between households.

The number and value of house sales cover the total annual value of dwellings transactions at national level where the purchaser is a household. Transactions between households are included. Transfers in dwellings due to donations and inheritances are excluded.

The house sales value reflect the prices paid by household buyers and include both the price of land and the price of the structure of the dwelling. The prices for new dwellings include VAT. Other costs related to the acquisition of the dwelling (e.g., notary fees, registration fees, real estate agency commission, bank fees) are excluded.

Statistical unit

Each published index or rate of change refers to transacted dwellings purchased at market prices by the household sector in the corresponding geographical entity. All transacted dwellings are covered, regardless of which institutional sector they were bought from and of the purchase purpose.

more: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/prc_hpi_inx_esms.htm

Graph and download economic data for Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices: Accommodation Services for European Union (28 Countries) (CP1120EU28M086NEST) from Dec 2000 to Jan 2020 about accommodation, EU, harmonized, Europe, CPI, services, price index, indexes, and price.