Living alone in a major European city has become increasingly difficult for the average earner. In many capitals, renting a one-bedroom flat now requires a salary far above the local median income. 

A recent analysis by The Economist compares average wages with the income required to keep rent within 30 percent of earnings, which is a commonly used benchmark for housing affordability. The calculation uses one-bedroom rent data from Eurostat and average wage estimates from the ERI Economic Research Institute. 

The method is simple. First, calculate how much someone would need to earn annually so that rent represents no more than 30 percent of income. Then compare that required salary with the actual average wage in the city. If the average wage falls short, renting alone is considered unaffordable by this standard. 

London: High Income, Higher Rent 

London emerges as one of the least affordable cities under this approach. 

The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom flat is around £2,000. To stay within the 30 percent threshold, a tenant would need to earn approximately £81,800 per year. 

However, the average annual salary in London is about £55,530. That means a typical earner would spend roughly 44 percent of their income on rent. 

Even in a high-income city, rental costs significantly outpace average wages. 

Geneva: Expensive, But More Balanced 

Geneva has the highest monthly rent in the ranking, at roughly SFr2,400. Yet its higher salaries partially offset the burden. The average wage is approximately SFr82,650 per year. 

Although renting alone still pushes close to or beyond the 30 percent rule, the gap between rent and income is smaller than in London. This demonstrates that high rents alone do not determine affordability; wages matter equally. 

Dublin, Prague and Stockholm Under Pressure 

Other cities identified as particularly strained include Dublin, Prague and Stockholm. 

In these cities, rents have increased rapidly in recent years, while wage growth has been more moderate. The result is a widening gap between what people earn and what they need to earn to rent alone comfortably. 

Prague is especially notable because, although rents are lower than in Western European capitals, average salaries are also significantly lower. The imbalance makes solo renting difficult for local workers. 

Where Renting Alone Is Still Possible 

Not every city falls below the affordability threshold. 

Berlin narrowly meets the 30 percent rule. With an average salary of around €55,000 and an average monthly rent of €1,350 for a one-bedroom apartment, renting alone remains technically within reach for the median earner. 

Bonn ranks as an affordable city in the analysis, with a stronger balance between wages and rental costs. Other cities that perform relatively well include Bern, Brussels, and Helsinki. 

These cities benefit from either stronger income levels, more moderate rent growth, or a combination of both. 

Why the Gap Is Growing 

The pattern across Europe reflects structural changes in urban housing markets. 

In many major cities: 

• housing supply has not kept pace with demand 

• population growth has concentrated in metropolitan areas 

• investment activity has pushed up property values 

• wage growth has been slower than rent inflation 

When rents rise faster than incomes, affordability declines even in economically stable regions. 

The 30 percent benchmark is not a legal rule, but it is widely used in housing economics as a threshold beyond which financial strain increases. 

What This Means for Residents 

In cities where rent consumes 40 percent or more of average income, living alone becomes financially restrictive. 

Residents may respond by: 

• sharing apartments 

• moving farther from city centers 

• delaying independence 

• allocating a larger share of income to housing 

The affordability issue is therefore not only about cost, but about lifestyle flexibility and long-term financial stability. 

Conclusion 

The comparison shows that some of Europe’s most globally connected cities, including London, Geneva, Dublin, Prague and Stockholm, present significant affordability challenges for single renters earning average wages. 

At the same time, cities such as Bonn and Berlin demonstrate that a closer alignment between income and housing costs can keep renting alone within reach. 

The broader trend suggests that in many European capitals, wage growth is no longer keeping pace with rental inflation. For the average earner, the question is no longer whether the city is attractive, but whether it is financially sustainable.