Greece reports rising household incomes amid surging student rents

New data from Eurostat reveals a significant rise in Greek household incomes, with net earnings increasing by over 30% between 2019 and 2025. This trend marks a reversal from the 2015–2019 period when Greek incomes were declining while the rest of Europe grew. For a single, unmarried worker earning the median wage, annual net income rose by 37.8%, from €15,112 in 2019 to €21,498 in 2025. Greece ranks 17th in the EU for this category, ahead of Portugal but behind many other member states.

Similar growth was observed across other household types. Dual-income households with two children saw a 31.6% increase, reaching €44,528 annually. Single-income households with two children experienced a 33.2% rise. These figures represent a substantial boost to household purchasing power compared to previous years.

In contrast to rising wages, the cost of student housing in Greece has surged. Data from GEOAXIS indicates that rental prices in Athens have increased by 164% over the last decade compared to 2017. Across six major Greek student cities, median housing costs rose by an average of 128%. In Athens, the median price per square meter rose from €4.8 in 2017 to €12.8 in 2026.