How much income goes on rent for minimum wage earners in Europe?

"Housing, water, electricity, and gas" constituted the largest portion of household expenditures in the EU. In 2022, nearly a quarter of all household spending (24.1%) was allocated to these essential needs, clearly showing the substantial weight they carry in European household budgets. 

This proportion varies significantly across European countries and, more importantly, according to income levels within each country. Minimum wage earners, in particular, are heavily impacted, as they allocate a larger share of their income to "housing, water, electricity, and gas". 

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) reports that, in 14 EU member states, rent for a property with a maximum of two bedrooms takes up at least 35% of the income of workers on the statutory minimum wage. In 2024, on average, these workers spend 45% of their earnings on housing alone, illustrating the heavy financial burden that housing costs place on low-wage earners across these countries.

"Millions of working people in most member states see a huge part of their wages leave their bank accounts as soon as it’s come in simply to keep a roof above their heads," ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said.

How much does it cost to rent a property with up to two bedrooms in various European countries? What is the monthly salary of minimum-wage earners across Europe? And which countries see the highest proportion of income spent on rent by those earning the minimum wage?

Among the 14 countries included in the research, statutory minimum wages ranged from €477 in Bulgaria to €2,571 in Luxembourg. Only six of these countries have a minimum wage above €1,000, with three exceeding €2,000: Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland,