Housing
How much rent can you afford in Europe’s big cities?
A common rule is to spend no more than about 30% of your take-home pay on rent. In many big European cities that is hard. Knowing your limit before you start viewing flats helps you avoid a lease that leaves no room for anything else.
Use net pay, not gross
The 30% rule works on what lands in your account. Below are net monthly salaries from our calculators and the rent that 30% allows:
| Example | Net per month | 30% for rent | 40% (stretch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany, €60,000 | €3,129 | €939 | €1,252 |
| Netherlands, €60,000 | €3,674 | €1,102 | €1,470 |
| Ireland, €60,000 | €3,744 | €1,123 | €1,498 |
| Spain, €45,000 | €2,717 | €815 | €1,087 |
| Portugal, €30,000 | €1,824 | €547 | €730 |
Single person, no ruling or special regime, 2026 rules. For Portugal, net pay over 14 payments is averaged over 12 months. Compare these with real listings in the area you are looking at.
Cold rent or warm rent?
Check what an advertised rent includes. In Germany, Kaltmiete excludes service charges and heating, while Warmmiete includes them; the difference is often €150 to €300 a month. In the Netherlands, ask whether gas, water and electricity, internet and municipal taxes are included. Use the full monthly cost when you apply the 30% rule.
What landlords ask for
- Income multiples. Dutch landlords often want a gross monthly income of 3 to 4 times the rent. German landlords often expect net income of about 3 times the cold rent.
- Deposits are capped by law: up to 3 months' cold rent in Germany, 2 months in the Netherlands for new contracts since July 2023, and 1 month plus 1 month in advance in Ireland.
- Documents: recent payslips, your employment contract, ID and in Germany a SCHUFA credit report. New arrivals without payslips may need a letter from their employer.
Know the rent rules
- Germany: in many cities a rent brake (Mietpreisbremse) limits new rents to 10% above the local reference rent. You can check the local rent index (Mietspiegel).
- Netherlands: since July 2024 a points system caps rents for most homes up to about €1,200 a month. The Huurcommissie can check if your rent is too high.
- Ireland: in Rent Pressure Zones rent increases are limited, and landlords must register tenancies with the RTB.
Beware of scams
Never pay a deposit before you have seen the home and signed a contract. A landlord who is "abroad" and asks for a transfer to hand over keys by post is a classic scam.
Check how much rent you can afford →
Sources
This guide is general information based on the tax rules we could verify for 2026, not tax or financial advice. Rules change and personal situations differ, so check with the tax authority or a qualified adviser before you act. Spotted a mistake? Email contact@expatcents.com.