Rents in Austria: Record high of 10 euros per square meter reached!

Rents in Austria: Record high of 10 euros per square meter reached!

The housing market in Austria is currently showing worrying developments: in the first quarter of 2025, housing costs rose by 3.1 percent, and the average rent including operating costs exceeded the 10 euro mark per square meter for the first time. This price adjustment means that many households have to invest significantly more in their housing situation, which increases the pressure on budgetary resources. According to the crown The average monthly rent for main rental apartments now reaches 663.8 euros, while the net rent without operating costs is 7.5 euros per square meter.

The development of rents is alarming and is reflected in the new figures: The increase in rents compared to the previous quarter is 1.0 percent. On average, tenants in Austria now have to budget 502.0 euros for net rent and an additional 165.2 euros for operating costs per month. Despite the high prices, around 9 percent of all main rental properties - over 160,000 apartments - are smaller than 40 square meters, which translates into an average rent of 13.0 euros per square meter.

The composition of housing costs

The so-called housing costs include not only rent payments, but also a variety of other financial aspects. These include operating costs, energy costs and maintenance costs, all of which contribute to the running costs of a household. Loud Statistics Austria Every household contributes a significant proportion of its income to these costs. The data is based on comprehensive surveys that continuously record monthly rents and operating costs.

Particularly high rents are observed for apartments between 40 and 65 square meters (10.4 euros per square meter) as well as for larger units (65 to 100 square meters: around 9.2 euros per square meter). Apartments over 100 square meters have a rent of just under 9.0 euros per square meter. Almost half of the main rental apartments in Austria are smaller than 65 square meters, which further increases the challenges for tenants.

Market developments and outlook

Loud Infina Rent prices have risen significantly since 2006. The average price per square meter excluding operating costs has increased from 3.78 euros in 2006 to 7.40 euros in 2024, representing a dramatic increase of 96 percent. Cheap rental options in municipal buildings or cooperative apartments are not included here. Rental prices have risen sharply, particularly in Tyrol and the suburbs of metropolitan areas, while prices in the high-price segment are stagnating.

Additionally, it should be noted that as of April 1, 2023, benchmark rents for new leases were increased by 8.6 percent, affecting approximately 750,000 tenants. The different guideline values ​​per federal state will remain unchanged until March 31, 2028. With the high demand for residential real estate and rising raw material prices, the price situation remains tense. Nevertheless, there is a forecast that rental prices could plateau in the short term. However, rents are still expected to rise in prime locations, which represents an additional challenge for tenants in these areas.