Market data

Rent in Athens: asking rents by area, trends and lease rules

Rent in Athens averaged €12.0 per m² a month in the city centre, €13.3 in the southern suburbs and €11.8 in the northern suburbs on Spitogatos asking data for Q2 2026, so an 80 m² flat was advertised at about €940 to €1,060. Rents keep rising: ELSTAT shows rents up 5.9% in the year to September 2026, as rental listings shrink.

Last verified: 20 October 2026
+5.9%
Rents in Greece, year on year, September 2026
ELSTAT
€12.0
Average asking rent per m² a month, centre of Athens, all homes, Q2 2026
Spitogatos
-9.5%
Athens rental listings, homes up to 80 m², Q3 2026 vs Q3 2025
xe.gr
3 years
Minimum term of a lease for a main home
Law 1703/1987, Article 2

Rent in Athens by area

Average asking rents in Athens were €12.0 per m² a month in the city centre, €13.3 in the southern suburbs and €11.8 in the northern suburbs in Q2 2026, Spitogatos data for all homes show (Spitogatos, 4 August 2026). Asking rents across Attica rose 4.5% in a year.

AreaAsking rent, €/m² a month (Q2 2026)
Vouliagmeni22.0
Kolonaki–Lycabettus17.9
Palaio Psychiko17.4
Voula17.4
Glyfada16.5
Southern suburbs (zone)13.3
Centre of Athens (zone)12.0
Northern suburbs (zone)11.8
Paiania8.0
Perama7.9
Anoixi and Kamatero7.7
Agios Stefanos7.5

Source: Spitogatos, all homes, Q2 2026. Asking rents, not rents agreed. The release does not give zone figures for the western and eastern suburbs or Piraeus.

The biggest annual rises in Attica asking rents were in Drapetsona (+29.1%, to €10.5 per m²), Ymittos (+21.3%, €10.6), Penteli (+18.9%, €11.0), Melissia (+17.9%, €10.9) and Neo Psychiko (+15.1%, €14.4). Nationally, asking rents rose only 1.3%, so Attica is outpacing the country.

Next update: ELSTAT publishes October 2026 inflation, including rents, in early November 2026. We refresh portal rent data each quarter; xe.gr Q4 2026 data are expected in January 2027.

Typical monthly rent by flat size

On Spitogatos Q2 2026 asking rents, a 50 m² flat in central Athens was advertised at about €600 a month and an 80 m² flat at about €960. In the southern suburbs the same flats asked about €665 and €1,064.

Area€/m² (Q2 2026)50 m² (€ a month)80 m² (€ a month)100 m² (€ a month)
Centre of Athens12.06009601,200
Northern suburbs11.85909441,180
Southern suburbs13.36651,0641,330
Kolonaki–Lycabettus17.98951,4321,790
Vouliagmeni22.01,1001,7602,200
Agios Stefanos7.5375600750

GreekProps arithmetic: Spitogatos average asking rent per m² for all homes, Q2 2026, multiplied by floor area. Indicative only. Actual rents depend on age, floor, condition, furniture and parking. Small flats usually ask more per m² than large ones.

Living costs beyond rent, from utilities to transport, are in our cost of living in Athens guide.

Student homes: Q2 2026 rents

A separate Spitogatos release on student homes, which are mostly small flats, put asking rents in the Municipality of Athens at €13.3 per m² a month in Q2 2026, up 6.6% in a year (Spitogatos, 1 September 2026). These figures cover student homes only and are not general averages.

Area (student homes)Asking rent, €/m² a month (Q2 2026)Annual change
Kolonaki–Lycabettus16.7-5.1%
Centre of Athens16.4+25.8%
Koukaki–Makrygianni15.6n/a
Northern suburbs15.5+1.5%
Southern suburbs13.7+5.5%
Municipality of Athens13.3+6.6%
Piraeus12.6+5.0%
Patision–Acharnon11.9n/a
Kypseli11.8n/a
Western suburbs11.5+6.7%
Piraeus suburbs11.0+5.4%
Nikaia10.5n/a

Source: Spitogatos student housing release, Q2 2026. n/a: change not given. Students searching in the Municipality of Athens set an average budget of €543 a month.

How fast Athens rents are rising

Rents in Greece rose 5.9% in the year to September 2026, according to the ELSTAT consumer price index published on 9 October 2026. Overall inflation was 5%, so rents rose slightly faster than prices in general.

Supply is shrinking. xe.gr data for Q3 2026 show Athens rental listings down 9.5% for homes up to 80 m², 11.9% for 81–120 m² and 26.9% for homes over 120 m², compared with a year earlier. Some northern suburbs tightened more:

AreaChange in rental listingsChange in asking rent
Marousi-38.4%+10.6%
Chalandri-31.4%+13.3%
Nea Ionia-38.6%+11.2%
Athens, all sizes-9.5% to -26.9%+5% to +7.3%

Source: xe.gr, Q3 2026 vs Q3 2025. ELSTAT measures rents paid by sitting tenants as well as new lets, so it moves differently from asking rents. Across the EU, Eurostat recorded rents up 3.0% year on year in Q2 2026. Our reports on falling rental listings and September inflation and housing costs have the detail.

The short-term rental freeze and long-term rents

New short-term rental registrations are frozen in Athens municipal districts 1, 2 and 3 until 31 December 2026, according to the government’s Housing Policy Portal. The same restriction applies in the first municipal community of Thessaloniki from 1 July to 31 December 2026.

  • The legal basis is Article 111(2A) of Law 4446/2016, as amended in 2024 and 2026. It can be extended by regulatory act, area by area.
  • An extension to 31 December 2027 has been announced but, as of 20 October 2026, we have not seen the act.
  • The freeze covers central neighbourhoods such as Plaka, Koukaki, Pangrati and Metaxourgeio.

The aim is to return homes to long-term letting. Whether it has done so is not yet measurable from official data. Our analysis of nine months of the freeze and our short-term rental rules guide cover what is known.

Long-term rental in Greece: the lease rules

A residential lease for a main home in Greece lasts at least three years, even if the contract states a shorter term. The rule comes from Article 2(1) of Law 1703/1987, as replaced by Law 2235/1994, and binds both landlord and tenant.

  • Minimum term. Three years for a tenant’s main residence. Holiday homes and other leases that are not for a main residence can be agreed for a shorter term.
  • Shortening the term. The parties can agree a shorter term only by a new agreement made at least six months after the lease starts, in a notarial document.
  • Leaving early. The law gives a tenant no general right to leave before the minimum term, according to Expat Law, a Greek law firm. Many contracts include an early-exit clause; read it before signing.
  • After the term. If the tenant stays on after the lease ends and the landlord does not object, the lease continues for an indefinite period (Civil Code, Article 611).
  • Deposit. The law does not set an amount. One to two months’ rent is customary, according to Expat Law.
  • Declaration. The landlord must declare the lease on AADE’s online service by the end of the month after it is agreed, and the tenant accepts it. AADE sets out the steps in its long-term lease guide.
  • Payment. Rent should be paid into the landlord’s bank account declared to AADE. Cash rent costs the landlord a tax deduction and can cost the tenant the rent refund.

To sign a lease you need a Greek tax number. Our guide to getting an AFM and bank account from abroad covers it, and moving to Greece covers residence. Tenants and landlords should confirm terms with a Greek lawyer.

Rent refund for tenants

Tenants in Greece get back one month’s rent a year, up to €800 for a main home plus €50 per child, if income and asset limits are met. The 2026 payment, for rent paid in 2025, is due between 25 and 30 November 2026, according to AADE.

The refund is paid automatically from tax returns, with no application. It depends on the lease being declared to AADE with the right landlord tax number and lease number. Our note on the rent refund and declared leases explains what tenants and landlords need to check.

Tax for landlords

Rent from Greek property is taxed in Greece wherever the owner lives. From 1 January 2026 rental income is taxed at 15% up to €12,000, 25% to €24,000, 35% to €36,000 and 45% above, under Law 5246/2025.

Annual rental incomeRate from 2026
€0 to €12,00015%
€12,000.01 to €24,00025%
€24,000.01 to €36,00035%
Above €36,00045%
  • Individual landlords deduct a flat 5% for repairs and running costs, but only if rent is paid by bank.
  • Rent from a previously empty home let on a lease of at least three years, signed between 8 September 2024 and 31 December 2026, can be tax-free for 36 months if conditions are met.

Our guide to Greek rental income tax for owners abroad has worked examples and filing steps.

Rental yields in Athens

No official body publishes rental yields for Athens. An indicative gross figure can be worked out from Spitogatos asking prices and asking rents for the same quarter, but it is not a measured yield.

AreaAsking price €/m² (Q2 2026)Asking rent €/m² a yearIndicative gross yield
Northern suburbs3,519141.64.0%
Palaio Psychiko5,182208.84.0%
Southern suburbs4,231159.63.8%
Vouliagmeni7,364264.03.6%
Glyfada5,669198.03.5%
Voula6,250208.83.3%

GreekProps arithmetic: Spitogatos Q2 2026 average asking rent per m² for all homes times 12, divided by the average asking sale price per m² for the same area. The release gives both figures only for these areas. Gross, before tax, ENFIA, service charges, empty periods and buying costs, and based on asking figures on both sides. Use your own numbers for a real property. Sale prices by area are on our Athens property prices page and national trends on Greece house prices.

Frequently asked questions

How much is rent in Athens per month?

On Spitogatos asking rents for Q2 2026, an 80 m² flat was advertised at about €960 a month in central Athens, €1,064 in the southern suburbs and €944 in the northern suburbs (our arithmetic). Prime areas ask far more: about €1,432 in Kolonaki–Lycabettus and €1,760 in Vouliagmeni.

What is the average rent per square metre in Athens?

Spitogatos put average asking rents for all homes at €12.0 per m² a month in central Athens, €13.3 in the southern suburbs and €11.8 in the northern suburbs in Q2 2026. Vouliagmeni was highest at €22.0 and Agios Stefanos lowest at €7.5. Attica asking rents rose 4.5% in a year.

How long is a long-term rental contract in Greece?

At least three years for a tenant’s main home. Under Article 2(1) of Law 1703/1987, as replaced by Law 2235/1994, a shorter agreed term is extended to three years. The term can be shortened only by a notarial agreement made at least six months after the lease starts. Holiday homes are outside the rule.

How much deposit do landlords ask for in Athens?

Greek law does not set a deposit amount. One to two months’ rent is customary, according to the Greek law firm Expat Law. The deposit is returned at the end of the lease under the conditions in the contract, so record the condition of the home when you move in.

Why are rents in Athens rising?

Fewer homes are on offer. xe.gr data show Athens rental listings down 9.5% to 26.9% by size in the year to Q3 2026, while asking rents rose 5% to 7.3%. Official data do not split out the causes. The short-term rental freeze in the centre aims to return homes to long-term letting.

Can tenants in Greece get rent back from the state?

Yes. Tenants who meet income and asset limits receive one month’s rent a year, up to €800 for a main home plus €50 per child. The 2026 payment is due in late November and depends on the lease being declared to AADE. See our note on the rent refund.

What tax do landlords pay on rent in Greece?

From 2026, rental income is taxed at 15% up to €12,000, 25% up to €24,000, 35% up to €36,000 and 45% above, under Law 5246/2025. Individual landlords get a flat 5% deduction if rent is paid by bank. Non-residents pay the same rates; see our rental income tax guide.

Sources

This page explains published rules and data; it is not legal, tax or investment advice. Proposals and announcements are marked as such and are not law until published in the Government Gazette. Track changes in the regulation tracker.

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