A study by the Technical University of Vienna analyzed over 18 million sales listings and 3.5 million rental listings in 31 European countries between March 2024 and March 2025, concluding that Portugal ranks among the countries where purchasing housing is systematically unaffordable for those earning an average salary. The research, published in the journal Maps, calculated the size of affordable housing in each territory based on advertised prices and regional average incomes.
The results indicate that only 44% of Europeans live in cities where a person with an average income can afford to purchase an apartment or studio of approximately 50 square meters, while around 39% cannot even afford to rent a dwelling of that size. Madrid, Paris, and Berlin appear among the least affordable cities, but Lisbon, Dublin, Warsaw, Prague, and Budapest also have over 65% of the population in areas where one-third of the average salary allows renting less than 50 square meters.
Portugal, the Netherlands, and Switzerland are identified as countries systematically unaffordable for buyers with average incomes, while Ireland and Italy show particularly high levels of difficulty in the rental market. Conversely, Scandinavian and Baltic countries generally present better affordability levels, although with exceptions in their respective capitals and some urban centers.
The study also warns of greater pressure in tourist areas, particularly in coastal regions of Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, and Croatia, associated with demand for second homes and short-term accommodation. The authors argue that housing policies must be adapted to regional specificities and that, in areas with greater tourist pressure, measures regarding short-term rentals and the second-home market may be necessary.
