Eurostat has published its Housing in Europe – 2025 edition, providing an updated overview of housing conditions, costs and long-term trends across the European Union. The interactive publication shows wide disparities between member states in housing affordability, ownership rates and price developments, underlining the growing pressure on households in many parts of Europe.
On average, households in the EU spend around 19 percent of their disposable income on housing costs, including rent, utilities and maintenance. However, this share varies significantly between countries, reflecting differences in housing markets, income levels and national policies.
One of the key findings of the report is the long-term increase in house prices. Across the EU, residential property prices rose by about 53 percent between 2010 and 2024. While prices declined slightly in 2023, they resumed growth in 2024. The strongest increases over the period were recorded in countries such as Hungary, Estonia and Lithuania, while price growth was more moderate in parts of Southern and Western Europe.
Austria: High Housing Costs, Moderate Price Growth
Austria occupies a middle position compared with other EU countries in several housing indicators. Housing costs account for a relatively high share of household income, driven in part by rising rents and energy costs, particularly in urban areas such as Vienna. At the same time, Austria’s long-term house price growth has been lower than in many Central and Eastern European countries, though prices have increased steadily since 2010.
Homeownership rates in Austria remain below the EU average, reflecting a strong rental market and a large stock of social and cooperative housing. This distinguishes Austria from countries with high ownership rates, such as Romania or Hungary, but also helps cushion some households from extreme housing cost volatility. Overcrowding levels in Austria are lower than the EU average, indicating generally good housing quality, although affordability pressures remain an increasing concern.
