Bucharest Requires Less Than 6 Years of Average Salary for an Apartment. Prices are rising, but affordability remains surprisingly strong in Bucharest. Compared to other major European capitals, Romania offers a rare balance between income, property prices, and rental yields. According to the latest report published by The Concept, which analyzes key European capitals, Romania continues to rank among the most accessible residential markets in Europe, both in terms of price per square meter and the financial effort required for homeownership. In Bucharest, the average price per usable square meter in 2024 was €1,757, placing the Romanian capital well below cities such as Paris (€9,512/sqm), London (€10,499/sqm), or Luxembourg (€11,366/sqm). In contrast, the closest markets to Bucharest are Sofia (€1,745/sqm) and Podgorica (€1,822/sqm), confirming Romania’s status as an emerging market with still-accessible prices and healthy dynamics. For a standard two-room apartment (52 usable sqm), a Bucharest resident would need approximately 7.2 years of average net salary to fully cover the purchase cost — one of the best values in Europe. By comparison, it takes 16.5 years in London, 15.3 years in Paris, and 16 years in Prague, while at the more accessible end, Athens stands at 6 years, Bern at 5.7 years, and Brussels at just 4.9 years, according to the report. "In a European landscape where residential markets are often dominated by high prices and modest yields, Romania continues to offer a rare combination of affordability, strong returns, and economic growth. And this holds true for both end-buyers and investors." — Daniel Tudor, CEO & Co-Founder, The Concept When it comes to gross rental yields, Bucharest records an average of 6.74%, outperforming all major Western European capitals such as Berlin (3.7%), Vienna (3.6%), or Amsterdam (5.0%). These yields reflect not only competitive property prices but also an active rental market, supported by high demand and a limited supply of energy-efficient new homes. Another key indicator analyzed in the report is the price-to-GDP per capita ratio, a proxy for the economic sustainability of the market. In Romania, this ratio stands at just 8.63%, compared to 22.3% in France, 21.6% in the UK, and 18.2% in the Czech Republic. Bulgaria (10.73%) and Hungary (11.1%) also exceed Romania in this regard. The lower the percentage, the more balanced the market is considered in relation to the country’s economic output per individual. All these data points draw a clear picture: Romania remains, in 2025, one of the most balanced and attractive real estate markets in Europe — both for living and for investment.