Most Prague residents are generally satisfied with their own housing, but they view the overall housing situation in the city rather negatively. They see high property prices and rents as the main problem. This emerges from a new study conducted by STEM/MARK for the Strategeo Institute and its Prague Agenda initiative.
Majority Own Their Homes, Many Rent
According to the survey, more than half of Prague residents live in their own homes, about a third rent, and the rest share a household with parents or live in sublets. Homeownership is especially common among older people and larger households, while rental apartments dominate the city center.
Satisfied at Home, Critical of the Market
Despite the tight market situation, most Prague residents are satisfied with their own housing. About one fifth are dissatisfied, with financial burden playing a major role.
"A third of Prague residents consider their housing costs too high, especially if they exceed roughly 40 percent of the household’s net income," comments Jan Burianec, lead analyst at STEM/MARK.
The most common reasons for dissatisfaction include high prices and rents, insufficient apartment sizes, poor layouts, or the need for renovations.
Ideal Housing: Own Home, Preferably Outside the City Center
If Prague residents could choose their ideal housing, most would prefer to own their property. The difference between renters and owners is significant: about three-quarters of renters would like to own, while only a small fraction of owners would be willing to switch to renting.
Preferred locations are generally on the outskirts rather than in the city center. Many also wish for a family house—one third of apartment residents would prefer a house, while most current homeowners would not want to change their situation.
Main Problem: Housing Prices
The main problem in Prague’s housing market is unanimously seen as high property prices and rents, which often exceed the means of typical households.
Overall, residents rate the city’s housing situation critically. On a scale from 1 to 5, the average score is four.
How to Improve the Situation
Opinions among Prague residents on how to solve the housing situation are somewhat divided. The most frequently mentioned solution is increasing the construction of new apartments, especially municipal ones, while other possible measures do not have a clear preference.
Respondents do not have a unified view on the role of municipal developers. They recognize potential risks if the city acted as a developer itself, but they do not agree on which risks are most important. Ultimately, they prefer a solution in which municipal apartments are built by entities other than the city.
Subsidized housing for specific target groups has many supporters as well as opponents. Different generations do not agree on how to make housing accessible for young people. They do, however, reliably agree on rejecting increases in property taxes.
Prague Agenda Research
The data come from a survey conducted by STEM/MARK on a representative sample of 522 Prague residents aged 18 and older. Data collection took place online at the end of February 2026.
The survey was commissioned by the Strategeo Institute and its Prague Agenda project, which focuses on key issues affecting life in the capital.