Housing and Rent Prices in the EU in 2026: Where Did Prices Rise the Most, and Where Did They Fall?

The European real estate market entered 2026 with a noticeable increase in prices: housing and rent are rising in almost all EU member states, though the rates vary significantly. Eurostat has released data on the countries with the highest growth rates and the few where prices have fallen. Learn more about how housing and rental costs changed in the EU during the first quarter of 2026 and which countries topped the list of price increases

The European Union’s real estate market continues to show an upward trend. According to Eurostat, in the first quarter of 2026, housing prices in the EU rose by 5.1% year-over-year, while rents increased by 3%. At the same time, growth rates vary significantly among EU member states: in some countries, prices per square meter are rising at double-digit rates, while others are seeing declines.

In this article, we’ll discuss how real estate and rental prices have changed across the EU, which countries have seen the sharpest increases in housing costs, and where prices have fallen.

👉Are you planning to buy or rent a home in one of the EU countries amid rapidly rising prices?

A real estate lawyer from the Visit World portal will review your documents, guide you through the transaction, and protect you from financial and legal risks.

What Eurostat Revealed: Overall Trends in the EU Real Estate Market

The European Statistical Office assessed the market over two time periods. On a year-over-year basis (first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025), housing prices in the EU rose by 5.1%, and rents by 3%. Compared to the annual average for 2025, real estate prices rose by 2.9% in the first quarter of 2026, while rents increased by 1.8%.

An analysis of national indicators shows that in 19 EU countries with available data, housing prices rose faster than rents.

Photo: Eurostat

EU countries where housing prices rose the most in 2026

A comparison of first-quarter 2026 figures with the 2025 annual average revealed the top three countries in terms of housing price growth:

• Portugal— +10.3%;
• Bulgaria— +9.4%;
• Slovakia— +9.1%;

The growth rates in these countries are several times higher than the pan-European average (+2.9%).

Where in Europe is it most expensive to buy an apartment? — we explain here.

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In which EU countries did housing prices decline?

The general trend of rising prices affected most markets, but two EU countries showed the opposite trend. Housing prices decreased:

• in France—by 0.5%;
• in Finland—by 1.8%.

Photo: Eurostat

Rental Housing in EU Countries: Ranking of Price Increases

The rental market proved to be more stable in its dynamics. Rents rose in all EU countries except for two: in Slovenia, rents fell by 0.9%, and in Finland, they remained unchanged.

Among EU countries, the highest rent increases were recorded in:

• Croatia — +21.9%;
• Bulgaria — +6.4%;
• Greece — +5.0%.

The Croatian market posted the highest rate in the EU, significantly outpacing other member states in terms of growth.

The best countries for real estate investment in 2026— see the link for details.

Legal Support for Real Estate Transactions in the EU

The rapid rise in housing and rental prices is increasing the demand for legal support for real estate transactions in EU countries. The Visit World portal offers the services of a real estate attorney who can assist you with buying, selling, or renting a home in European countries: they will verify the owner’s documents, assist with the execution of the contract, provide advice on the buyer’s or tenant’s tax obligations, and explain the specifics of the legislation in the chosen country.

Schedule a consultation with a real estate lawyer on the Visit World portal and protect your transaction from legal risks!

Reminder! In our previous article, we discussed at what age Europeans buy their first home.

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