![\"Athens,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Athens_Lycabettus_1_real-estate_Credit-Greek-Reporter.jpg\")
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In the Athens metropolitan area, the rent-to-income ratio for a typical 60 sq.m. (one-bedroom) apartment has reached 70.2%. Credit: Greek Reporter<\/p>\n
A study by the Center for Liberal Studies (KEFiM), based on 2024 Eurostat data, highlights the unsustainable surge in housing rents in Greece<\/a> and particularly in Greater Athens (also Attica). The findings reveal a stark reality: renting a home has become financially unviable for the average household.<\/p>\n In the Attica region, the rent-to-income ratio for a typical 60 sq.m. (one-bedroom) apartment has reached 70.2%. For a larger 75\u201395 sq.m. (two-bedroom) apartment, the ratio skyrockets to 93.6%. In contrast, the European Union averages for these categories are significantly lower, at 31\u201334% and 46%, respectively.<\/p>\n The wage gap<\/p>\n The crisis is driven primarily by the stagnation of Greek wages<\/a> compared to European averages.<\/p>\n Average Full-Time Salary (Greece): \u20ac1,500 (about $1,760)<\/p>\n Average Full-Time Salary (EU): \u20ac3,317 (about $3,900)<\/p>\n While Athens\u2019 rental prices, averaging \u20ac1,050 (about $1,235) for one-bedroom and \u20ac1,400 (abotu $1,650) for two-bedroom units, are comparable to other EU capitals, the vastly lower purchasing power of Greek workers makes these prices prohibitive. Essentially, renting a standard two-bedroom apartment in Athens now requires nearly an entire average monthly salary.<\/p>\n Future outlook for housing rents in Greece<\/p>\n The situation has deteriorated rapidly. Even during the 2015 financial crisis, the rent-to-income ratio for a one-bedroom apartment in Athens was 41.6%. By 2024, this spiked to 70.2%. Furthermore, 2025 data shows no signs of a slowdown; Greece recorded the second-highest rent increase in the EU (10.1%), surpassed only by Croatia.<\/p>\n According to KEFiM, the recent rally is fueled by:<\/p>\n Increased demand from tourism and short-term rentals (Airbnb).
\nLimited supply of new housing due to the decade-long construction freeze.
\nForeign investment driven by the \u201cGolden Visa\u201d program<\/a>.
\nA high number of vacant\/closed properties kept off the market.<\/p>\n