Housing is a major influence on whether teachers will continue teaching as a career in the UK according to a 2023 survey by the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT). In fact, more than half (57%) of teachers who wish to buy a home do not think this will be achievable on a teachers’ salary.
So, how realistic is it for European teachers to buy a house? Euronews compared teacher salaries and house prices across Europe, and calculated how many months’ salary a teacher would need to buy a house or flat as in 2023.
This estimate is based on statutory salaries for lower secondary teachers and does not account for mortgage interest rates. The full methodology is explained at the end of the article.
Among 24 European countries, Ireland is the most affordable for teachers looking to buy a home. A 100-square metre property costs the equivalent of 106 times a lower secondary teacher’s statutory salary.
Ireland, Spain, Netherlands: More affordable countries
In addition to Ireland, teachers in a few other countries can afford a home with 10 years’ worth of salary—meaning 120 months or less. They included Spain (112 months), the Netherlands (114 months) and Belgium (Flemish Comm, 120 months).
Denmark closely follows these most affordable countries at 126 months.
The cost of a 100 m² house is equivalent to less than 15 years’ salary for teachers in Luxembourg (145 months), Germany (157), Portugal (162), and England (175).
15–20 years’ salary in nine countries
This figure ranges between 15 and 20 years in nine out of the 24 countries included in the list.
In Italy, a teacher would need 191 months’ salary to buy a 100 m² house, followed by Norway with 192 months and Austria with 203 months.
In France, this figure rises to 230 months.
Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia: Hardest places for teachers to buy homes
The least affordable country for teachers to buy a house is Hungary, where they would need over 35 years’ salary—equivalent to 443 months—to afford a 100 m² home.
This time also exceeds 30 years in Slovakia (398 months) and Czechia (383 months).
Trends in teacher housing affordability across Europe
By looking at the equivalent number of monthly salaries needed for a teacher to buy a 100 m² home along with teacher salaries and property prices two trends emerge across Europe:
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There’s a clear divide between Eastern and Western Europe. There’s also a North-South contrast. Teachers in Northern and Northwestern countries can afford a home more easily.
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Affordability is not only about house prices. It also depends on teacher salaries. In some Western or Nordic countries where real estate is expensive but higher teacher salaries help balance out the cost.
For example, in the Netherlands, a 100 m² home costs €495,411, while the average gross monthly salary is €6,425. This makes the Netherlands the third most affordable country for teachers to buy a home.
In contrast, Hungary has the fifth most affordable house prices at €284,637. However, it is the least affordable country for teachers, as the average gross monthly salary is only €967.
“Unrealistic unless supported with a large deposit by parents”
“For young teachers starting out, especially in the South East and in London, home ownership will be unrealistic unless supported with a large deposit by parents,” Andrew Lifford, Casework and Subscriptions Manager at EDAPT, told Euronews.
“Take home pay for teachers after taxes and pension contributions will be £1,800 – £2,800 (€2,155-€3,350) each month. Which if privately renting will mean that it will take many years for teachers to save towards a deposit to place down on a house.”
Based on OECD data, the net monthly salary for teachers in England used in our calculations is €2,553.
Teacher shortages grow as real wages fall
The EU’s Education and Training Monitor 2023 report also revealed that at least 24 EU countries are facing teacher shortages, often driven by low wages and heavy workloads.
In recent years, teacher pay isn’t keeping up with the cost of living in many European countries when adjusted for inflation. According to the OECD, the real statutory salaries of lower secondary teachers fell in 10 out of 22 countries between 2015 and 2023.
NASUWT’s survey also revealed that four in ten teachers (42%) said housing costs have influenced where they have applied for a teaching post. Almost three quarters (72%) don’t believe there is sufficient affordable housing for teachers where they live.
Estimation methodology
To make teacher salaries comparable across countries, we used the OECD’s most recent data from 2023. Net monthly salaries were calculated using local “net salary calculator” websites in each country.
For property prices, we followed a similar approach to BestBrokers.com’s report on income and housing affordability, using Numbeo data. We calculated the average price per square metre based on apartment sale prices both in and outside the city centres.
Mortgage interest rates, marital status, and other personal factors were not included in the calculation. The estimate simply reflects how many months of a teacher’s salary would be needed to buy a home. Naturally, this number can vary widely within each country depending on location and individual circumstances.
