Buying real estate in Europe is increasingly becoming not only a financial but also a fiscal challenge. According to data from Idealista and a Financial Times study, analysts at Experts Club examined the tax systems of EU countries. The results show that the difference in tax burdens when purchasing property across Europe can reach nearly a 20-fold range — from symbolic rates in Greece and France to double-digit taxes in Spain and Belgium.
Spain is recognized as the country with the highest property purchase taxes in Europe: rates range from 6% to 11% of the property value, depending on the region and housing type. This means that when buying an apartment for €300,000, a buyer may pay more than €30,000 in taxes alone.
In Belgium, the total rate reaches 12%, but some regions offer significant benefits. In Brussels, the first €200,000 of a home’s value is exempt from tax if it is purchased as a primary residence. In Flanders, since 2023, the rate has been reduced to 2% for first homes to support young buyers.
The United Kingdom ranks third among countries with the highest real estate taxes — around 6% on average. The stamp duty tax is especially heavy for investors owning more than one property: the rate can rise to 17% for properties costing over £1.5 million (€1.7 million). First-time buyers are exempt if the property value does not exceed £300,000 (€343,000).
Italy and the Netherlands impose an average tax of 5–5.5%, though Italy also adds notary, registration, and agency fees, which significantly increase the final cost of the transaction.
In Germany, the tax ranges from 3.5% to 6.5%, depending on the federal state.
In Portugal, it varies from 4% to 8%, with tax relief for lower-priced properties.
Austria applies rates around 3–4.5%, also offering benefits for primary residences.
France has relatively low taxes (0.7–5%) but high agency commissions — up to 8% of the property’s value, usually paid by the buyer.
Greece offers the most lenient system in Europe — from 0.5% to 3.8%, depending on the region.
| Country | Minimum Rate | Average Rate | Maximum Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 6% | 8.5% | 11% |
| Belgium | 2% | 7.2% | 12.5% |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 6% | 12% |
| Italy | 2% | 5.5% | 9% |
| Netherlands | 0% | 5.2% | 10.4% |
| Germany | 3.5% | 5% | 6.5% |
| Portugal | 0% | 4% | 8% |
| Austria | 1.5% | 3% | 4.5% |
| France | 0.7% | 2.9% | 5% |
| Greece | 0.5% | 2.1% | 3.8% |
