Housing affordability is a crisis across Western Balkans and Europe, driven by rising costs and limited social housing options.
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Housing affordability is a critical issue across the Western Balkans, with high rental and purchase prices straining residents’ finances in Belgrade, Prishtina, and Tirana. In Belgrade, despite recent government changes to loan schemes for first-time buyers, many workers struggle as housing costs consume over half their salaries. Similarly, in Kosovo and Albania, rapid urban growth and construction booms have driven up property values, making homeownership nearly impossible for average earners. While some countries offer targeted support—such as Serbia’s subsidized loans or Kosovo’s proposed affordable housing law—social housing remains largely reserved for the most vulnerable populations across these nations. In contrast, parts of Western Europe, like Vienna, utilize long-standing municipal housing programs to provide low-cost options, highlighting a significant disparity in policy approaches to the regional housing crisis.
