Are EU house prices outpacing income?

In 2025, the EU house price-to-income ratio was 6.8% higher than in 2015, meaning that house prices rose relative to household income over the decade. Behind this increase at EU level, national developments varied considerably, with the ratio rising in 17 EU countries and falling in the other 10.

The house price-to-income ratio compares changes in house prices with changes in per capita household income, relative to a base year. It increases when house prices rise faster (or fall more slowly) than income, decreases when they rise more slowly, and remains unchanged when both change at the same rate.

Between 2015 and 2025, Portugal recorded the largest increase in the house price-to-income ratio (+60.8%), followed by the Netherlands (+34.3%), Hungary (+26.5%), Czechia (+25.8%) and Spain (+24.5%).

At the other end, Romania recorded the largest decrease (-42.8%), followed by Finland (-25.2%) and Bulgaria (-16.2%). These figures compare price changes relative to income changes over time; as such, they do not rank countries by how expensive homes are in relation to income levels in absolute terms.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →