The Romanian rent market reaches new maximums. Prices will increase as the university year is approaching

Romania has registered the largest increase in rents in the European Union in June 2025, compared to June 2024 and will increase as the beginning of the academic year is approaching.

Romania has registered the largest increase in rents in the European Union. Photo archive

According to statistics, rents increased in our country by 5.8%, at a rate of more than twice as much compared to the European Union average of 2.3%.

The only member country of the Union that also reported an increase of over 5% of the rents was Estonia, while three other countries near Romania registered increases by over 4%: Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia. Instead, Greece registered an increase by 3.56%, while Bulgaria reported an increase by just over 3%.

At the opposite end, the main economies of the Union have registered lower percentage increases than the average. Thus, rents increased by 2.27% in Spain, by 2.01% in Germany, by 1.79% in Italy and 0.86% in France. No European country has reported a decrease in rents, but two other states registered positive differences less than 1%, in addition to France: Cyprus (0.48%) and Switzerland (0.2%).

The data reported by Eurostat is not a major surprise. On the one hand, Romania is usually one of the European countries with the most accessible prices for housing compared to average income, which is why prices increase at a more alert rate compared to most developed states in Western Europe, even if they have smaller variations compared to states in the Eastern region.

On the other hand, the largest percentage increase in rents is also explained by the fact that, especially in the western European states, rents have already reached very high nominal values, difficult to access the large population.

The demand increases before the start of the academic year

In July 2025, the prices of the rents remained relatively stable compared to the previous month, but registered an average increase of 5% compared to the same period of 2024, for apartments with 1 to 4 rooms. The highest average prices can be found in Bucharest, especially in sector 1 (750 euros) and sector 2 (675 euros), according to Storia. At the opposite pole, the most accessible rents are in Arad (360 euros) and Timișoara (420 euros).

“In July we registered an increase of 27% in the number of contacts for the rental apartments, compared to the previous month. We are approaching the period when, traditionally, the demand is intensified on the rent market, and the beginning of August confirms this trend comparing with the previous year. The better dynamics observed on the segment of the rents, compared to that of sales, can be made on account of the recent fiscal changes regarding the increase of VAT for new homes, which could determine some of the potential buyers to postpone the purchase and remain in short or medium-term rent, ” said Monica Dudău, representative of Storia and Olx Imobiliare.

The smallest and largest rents in the capital

In Bucharest, the average prices of the rents have remained relatively constant from one month to another, but, in relation to the same period last year, the differences are significant. The highest percentage increase was recorded in three -room apartments in Sector 2, where the average rent increased by 19%, from 750 to 895 euros. In the case of studios, 14% increases were observed in sectors 3 and 6.

As is often the case in the capital, prices vary significantly depending on the sector and the type of home. At studios, the largest average rents are in Sector 1 (450 euros), followed by Sector 6, where the media rent is 400 euros per month. The most accessible studios are in Sector 5 (350 euros) and sector 2 (360 euros).

For two -room apartments, the highest values are recorded in Sector 1, with an average of 670 euros, followed by Sector 2 (620 euros) and sector 5 (593 euros). The lowest prices appear in Sector 4, where the average rent for two rooms is 500 euros.

In the case of three -room apartments, the largest average rent is in Sector 1 (1,100 euros), decreasing by 8% compared to the previous month, followed by Sector 2, where an average of 895 euros is reached. In the other sectors, the prices remain below the threshold of 700 euros, with the lowest values in sectors 4 and 6, where the average is 600 euros.

Cluj-Napoca remains with the largest rents in the country

At the general level, the data from July confirms the tendency to moderate rents in the big cities, especially for two and three -room apartments. The biggest increases in the month were registered at the studios in Timișoara (+14%) and Oradea (+12%), while Cluj-Napoca stays in the top of the most expensive markets, with average rents for two rooms and 730 euros for three rooms. In contrast, cities such as Brasov or Sibiu had more temperate developments, and in Constanța there were even slight decreases in the case of studios. These variations reflect the specific dynamics of each local market, influenced by both demand and proximity of university centers or tourist attractions.

Cluj-Napoca is maintained among the cities with the highest rents in the country, with medium values in slight increase compared to the same month last year. The price of the studios remained constantly, at 400 euros, while the two-room apartments increased by 5%, reaching 599 euros. For three -room homes, the average rent increased by 5%, to 730 euros.

In Timisoara, rents increased by 14%

In July, rents for studios in Iași reached 350 euros, up 9% compared to last year. The three-room apartments also increased by 10%, up to 550 euros. In contrast, the average rent for two -room apartments remained at the same level as in 2024 – 450 euros.

As for Brașov, the rents remained stable for two -room apartments (500 euros), while the studios registered a slight increase (+3%), reaching 360 euros. The three-room apartments expensive with 8%, being at 650 euros.

In Constanța, the average price for studios decreased by 9% compared to last year, reaching 300 euros. The two-room apartments were kept at 500 euros, and those with three rooms were easily appreciated, up to 700 euros (+2%).

In Timișoara, the biggest increases of July are observed in studios (+14%), which reached an average price of 291 euros. The rents for two -room apartments increased by 7% (430 euros), and those for three -room apartments increased by only 1%, reaching 500 euros.

Increases with 12% and in Oradea

The average rent for the studios in Sibiu remained constant, at 300 euros. The same trend was also observed in the case of two -room apartments (400 euros). The three-room apartments recorded a slight decrease, reaching 500 euros (-4%).

In Oradea, the studios have increased in the last month, reaching 270 euros (+12%). The two -room apartments stagnated at 400 euros, while those with three rooms increased (+3%), up to 500 euros.

Compared to the same period last year, the rents for studios in Craiova were maintained at 300 euros. The two-room apartments increased easily (+1%), reaching 400 euros, and those with three rooms appreciated by 10%, up to 550 euros.

In Arad, the evolutions were mixed. The average rent for studios decreased to 215 euros (-5%), and for three-room apartments, it decreased by 16%, reaching 430 euros. In contrast, two-room homes have increased by 6%, their average rental price being 370 euros.