Student rental prices continue to climb across Greece — no longer confined to traditionally expensive or tourist-heavy cities. According to Spitogatos Insights data for Q2 2026, upward pressure is now spreading to more affordable university towns, signaling a broader shift in the housing market.
Tourist Hubs Lead in Absolute Prices
The highest average asking rents per square meter (AAR) for student housing are still found in popular island destinations with strong tourism activity — where student demand overlaps with broader residential demand. Corfu tops the list at €13.40 per sqm, followed closely by Rhodes (€13.30) and Rethymno (€13.20). Chania (€12.90) and Heraklion (€12.00) round out the top five.
Affordable Cities See Sharpest Gains
At the other end of the spectrum, Lamia records the lowest AAR at €6.80 per sqm. Agrinio and Drama follow at €7.20, while Serres and Samos sit at €7.30. Despite remaining among the most budget-friendly options for students, Drama posted the second-largest annual rent increase nationwide — up 15.2% — underscoring how widespread rental pressures have become.
Rhodes Leads Annual Growth
Rhodes recorded the steepest year-on-year rise at +16.6%, followed by Drama (+15.2%), Chios (+13.1%), Kastoria (+12.3%), and Heraklion (+12.0%). In contrast, Sparta saw the largest decline (−8.6%), while Agrinio (−2.2%) and Trikala (−0.6%) also posted drops. Rents remained stable year-on-year in Volos, Patras, Rio, and Katerini.
Overall, the data paint a picture of rising — yet uneven — student rental costs across mainland and island Greece, reflecting deeper structural shifts in housing supply and demand.