Rental prices in Europe are increasingly high. According to a Eurostat study, the average price for an unfurnished one-bedroom flat in the cities of London, Geneva and Dublin exceeds €2000. Eastern European cities generally have the lowest rental costs, such as in Skopje (€250), Pristina (€310) or Ankara (€410).

Do you think that Europe has already reached a housing crisis? And if so, how do you think we can get out of this situation?

Source: Eurostat

  • Skasi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    8·
    3 months ago

    Keep in mind that these numbers are for above-average flats, ie in good locations, of good size (40-60m² or 60-80m², depending on the city) and for well-earning positions. Probably not the top 1%, but still generally well paid jobs. As such the presentation is inaccurate. Those are not “average prices in the city”, but “average prices for good flats in good districts, comparable with Brussels”.

    source: 2023 CURRENT MARKET RENTS (pdf)

    OBTAINED THROUGH SURVEYS WITH ESTATE AGENCIES, COVERING A SPECIFIC HOUSING SEGMENT

    The rent data presented in this booklet are part of a wider work programme, whose objective is to compare the relative cost of living of international civil servants in any place of employment with that of Brussels, the reference city.

    Since the aim of the entire exercise is to compare “like with like”, the neighbourhoods surveyed may not necessarily be in those areas where expatriates actually live but are comparable with those actually occupied by officials in Brussels.

    These neighbourhoods are described as residential areas of good quality, favoured by expatriates and professional people such as international civil servants, university staff, doctors, managers, and similar professionals, who pay their rent by themselves (i.e. not paid by their employers).

    • jenesaisquoi@feddit.orgEnglish
      31·
      3 months ago

      2500 is a shit flat in Geneva. Complete shit. A nice one would be 3600, and really nice one 8000.

      Sauce: am Swiss

        • jenesaisquoi@feddit.orgEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          Switzerland is wealthy but not that wealthy. A typical monthly net salary for a normal person might be in the 5000-7000 area. So you can see that a rent of 3600 is not sustainable and one of 8000 is impossible.

          Normal people just don’t live in the city centre unless they inherited ownership, share flats, or something like that.

          • Skasi@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            3 months ago

            I think a rent of 3600 with 5000-7000 income could be sustainable. Kinda depending on the price of living, but I think the best case of 3400 each month would be enough in most of Europe. Still paying over half your salary probably wouldn’t make sense for most people unless you live there 24/7 and the place is in a really good location (eg short transits to work, family and other places people frequently visit) and you really like it and/or it’s cheaper than comparable flats.

            • jenesaisquoi@feddit.orgEnglish
              1·
              3 months ago

              Spending 72% (3600 at 5000) is literally impossible if tax is 20% and mandatory health insurance is 7%. (Net income in Switzerland is before taxes and other mandatory expenses.)

              In any case I’d seriously advise against spending more than 30% on living spaces.

              • Skasi@lemmy.worldEnglish
                2·
                3 months ago

                Alright it wasn’t clear whether or not this was after tax. Makes sense!

                • jenesaisquoi@feddit.orgEnglish
                  1·
                  3 months ago

                  I’m glad I could shed some light on it. I get mildly annoyed every time a non-Swiss European - only having heard of typical Swiss incomes and nothing else - acts as if we were super rich.

                  I mean we’re doing ok, but our prices more than match the incomes.

                  • Skasi@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    2·
                    3 months ago

                    I mean we’re doing ok, but our prices more than match the incomes.

                    Yeah I guess that’s normal, because having more money means you’ll want a bigger income and for people to afford paying high personell costs they’ll have to sell products and services at higher prices.

                    I get mildly annoyed every time a non-Swiss European - only having heard of typical Swiss incomes and nothing else - acts as if we were super rich.

                    You didn’t look annoyed. Your comment seemed neutral in tone.

                    Anyhow, with that much money compared to the rest of the world you are kinda “rich”-ish (depending on who you ask). Sure, you probably don’t own ten mansions and yachts, but you’re able to afford things inside and outside your country which some other people might not be able to afford (unless the product is price adjusted like eg Steam games which from what I understand are more expensive in Switcherland).

                    When I say “I guess in some countries people have way too much money” I don’t mean to insult the inhabitants directly, rather I’m pointing out - in a perhaps mildly provocative manner - the unequal distribution of wealth around the globe.

    • Jajcus@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      And these are mostly capitals – prices there are usually far above prices in our cities and towns in the same countries. And differences between capital cities and other places may differ in different countries. So it is not very representative for Europe as whole.