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Sep 15, 2026
Prague Has the Most Unaffordable Rents for Minimum-Wage Earners in the EU
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Prague has the highest rent-to-minimum-wage ratio among EU capitals, with the average two-bedroom apartment costing 185% of the gross minimum wage.
Prague has become the European Union’s least affordable capital for minimum-wage earners looking to rent a home, according to a new analysis by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
The average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the Czech capital reaches €1,710, compared with a gross monthly minimum wage of €924. This means rent alone amounts to 185% of the minimum wage.
Lisbon follows in second place, with rent accounting for 168% of the gross minimum wage. Budapest ranks third at 159%, followed by Bratislava at 158%.
Other capitals where average rent exceeds the gross minimum wage include Sofia (154%), Athens (153%), and Riga (151%).
The figures highlight the pressure facing minimum-wage earners in cities where housing costs have risen significantly faster than incomes.
How Prague Compares with Western Europe
Prague’s position is particularly striking when compared with several Western European capitals.
In Paris, average rent accounts for 138% of the gross minimum wage, while the figure stands at 125% in Madrid and 113% in Dublin.
At the other end of the ranking, Brussels is the most affordable capital for minimum-wage earners in the comparison. Average rent there represents 70% of the gross minimum wage. Berlin follows at 76%, while the figure is 85% in Nicosia and 87% in Luxembourg.
Housing Costs Across the EU
According to Eurostat’s latest figures cited in the analysis, housing and utility bills account for 23.6% of household spending across the European Union.
The ETUC has called for stronger collective bargaining, greater consideration of housing costs when setting minimum wages, and increased investment in social housing.
The organisation also noted that rents can be more affordable when measured against national minimum wages rather than those in capital cities. Among the 16 EU countries analysed, the share of the gross minimum wage required for rent ranged from 33% in Poland to 61% in Malta.
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