{"id":1996895,"date":"2026-06-18T06:09:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T03:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1996895"},"modified":"2026-06-18T06:09:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T03:09:48","slug":"where-are-the-eurozones-cheapest-and-highest-mortgage-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1996895","title":{"rendered":"Where are the eurozone&#8217;s cheapest and highest mortgage rates?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/30\/68\/1200x675_cmsv2_f49f553e-09b5-59b6-93b6-ed15eaeb0051-9803068.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2902998-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2902998\" data-cid=\"9803837\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902998-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/38\/37\/189x106_cmsv2_f6e824c1-0806-5a01-8626-81a3ddd59b3f-9803837.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Members of the Resiliency Empowerment Support Team (REST) talk to a homeless person sleeping under a bridge in Chico, Ca\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US to invest over $700mn to tackle mental illness and homelessness\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902986-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2902986\" data-cid=\"9803786\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902986-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/37\/86\/189x106_cmsv2_01befd69-0ee3-5ec3-9c94-f99d370a222d-9803786.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: Pro-regime demonstrators wave Iranian flags and a portrait of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and his slain father in a gathering at a square in Tehran, 29 May 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US and Iran sign deal, but who really won? Here&#8217;s what to know\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902996-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2902996\" data-cid=\"9803832\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902996-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/38\/32\/189x106_cmsv2_8e1c6368-67d4-5ea0-b2d0-9264cfede352-9803832.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Australian carrier has unveiled the first of its specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The world&#8217;s longest non-stop flight is set for take off in 2027\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902984-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2902984\" data-cid=\"9803772\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902984-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/37\/59\/189x106_cmsv2_50fb981b-624d-5a74-9dce-48aef7ed4b98-9733759.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ukraine&apos;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a welcome ceremony ahead of German-Ukrainian government consultations in Berlin Germany, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    \u2018If Ukraine burns, so will Moscow,\u2019 Zelenskyy says after refinery fire\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902998-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2902998\" data-cid=\"9803837\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902998-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/38\/37\/189x106_cmsv2_f6e824c1-0806-5a01-8626-81a3ddd59b3f-9803837.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Members of the Resiliency Empowerment Support Team (REST) talk to a homeless person sleeping under a bridge in Chico, Ca\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US to invest over $700mn to tackle mental illness and homelessness\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902986-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2902986\" data-cid=\"9803786\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902986-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/37\/86\/189x106_cmsv2_01befd69-0ee3-5ec3-9c94-f99d370a222d-9803786.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: Pro-regime demonstrators wave Iranian flags and a portrait of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and his slain father in a gathering at a square in Tehran, 29 May 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US and Iran sign deal, but who really won? Here&#8217;s what to know\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902996-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2902996\" data-cid=\"9803832\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902996-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/38\/32\/189x106_cmsv2_8e1c6368-67d4-5ea0-b2d0-9264cfede352-9803832.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Australian carrier has unveiled the first of its specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The world&#8217;s longest non-stop flight is set for take off in 2027\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902984-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2902984\" data-cid=\"9803772\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902984-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/37\/59\/189x106_cmsv2_50fb981b-624d-5a74-9dce-48aef7ed4b98-9733759.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ukraine&apos;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a welcome ceremony ahead of German-Ukrainian government consultations in Berlin Germany, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    \u2018If Ukraine burns, so will Moscow,\u2019 Zelenskyy says after refinery fire\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Business<\/p>\n<p>                          Economy<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Where are the eurozone&#8217;s cheapest and highest mortgage rates?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/30\/68\/1536x864_cmsv2_f49f553e-09b5-59b6-93b6-ed15eaeb0051-9803068.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Colorful traditional balconies in Malta Street \"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Colorful traditional balconies in Malta Street<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Canva\/Ji\u0159\u00ed Do\u010dkal from Pexels<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Canva\/Ji\u0159\u00ed Do\u010dkal from Pexels\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspPiero Cingari\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1781762988\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-06-18 08:09:48 +02:00\">18\/06\/2026 &#8211; 8:09 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header 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class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Borrowers in the Baltics pay just over twice what Maltese households do for a home loan, ECB data to April 2026 shows.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--business js-article-content\">\n<p>Borrow to buy a home in Latvia today, and the bank will charge you 4.18%. Do the same in Malta, and you will pay 2.08%. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Same currency, same central bank, same stage of the interest-rate cycle, yet two eurozone households face mortgage costs that are worlds apart.<\/p>\n<p>That gap \u2014 more than two percentage points between the cheapest and most expensive markets \u2014 is one of the most striking findings in the latest European Central Bank data on new home loans, covering April 2026.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Mortgage rates are cheaper in Southern Europe<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The average eurozone mortgage rate stood at 3.43%, according to ECB figures, combining both fixed- and variable-rate loans across member states.<\/p>\n<p>The lowest rates are concentrated around the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n<p>Malta tops the ranking at 2.08%, followed by Bulgaria (2.45%), Spain (2.80%), Portugal (2.85%), Croatia (2.95%) and Slovenia (2.99%).<\/p>\n<p>Among the eurozone&#8217;s largest economies, Spain and Portugal stand out. Borrowers in those countries are paying roughly one percentage point less than their counterparts in Germany, where new mortgages cost 3.84%.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Home loans hit a record high in Portugal: Experts say the time to act is &#8216;now&#8217;<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">What are Europeans giving up for their mortgage payments? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Baltics remain the most expensive<\/h2>\n<p>At the other end of the spectrum are the Baltic states.<\/p>\n<p>Latvia records the highest mortgage rate in the eurozone at 4.18%, followed by Estonia (4.05%) and Lithuania (3.88%). <\/p>\n<p>Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands also sit above the eurozone average.<\/p>\n<h2>The real cost of Europe&#8217;s mortgage divide<\/h2>\n<p>For households, these gaps in mortgage rates translate into substantial differences in monthly payments.<\/p>\n<p>A \u20ac200,000 mortgage over 20 years at Malta&#8217;s average rate of 2.08% results in monthly repayments of roughly \u20ac1,019.<\/p>\n<p>At Latvia&#8217;s 4.18%, the same loan costs approximately \u20ac1,231 per month \u2014 more than \u20ac200 extra every month.<\/p>\n<p>Over the life of the loan, the Latvian borrower would repay nearly \u20ac295,000, compared with about \u20ac245,000 in Malta.<\/p>\n<p>The difference amounts to roughly \u20ac50,800 in additional interest for exactly the same amount borrowed in the same currency.<\/p>\n<h2>Why are mortgage rates so different inside the eurozone?<\/h2>\n<p>The ECB sets a single benchmark interest rate for the entire currency bloc, but mortgage pricing remains largely determined by national banking systems.<\/p>\n<p>The first factor is the structure of each market, and above all, whether borrowers take fixed or variable rates.<\/p>\n<p>In the Baltic countries and Finland, variable-rate loans dominate. <\/p>\n<p>According to ECB data, variable-rate mortgages account for more than 93% of new home loans in Latvia, Estonia and Finland, against just 15% across the eurozone as a whole.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Where in Europe do households save most of their income?<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Retirement wealth across Europe: Which countries have the wealthiest over-65s?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>When interest rates rise, borrowers in countries where variable rates dominate feel the impact almost immediately.<\/p>\n<p>In France, Spain and Portugal, by contrast, fixed rates prevail, letting households lock in their costs for years and muffling the pass-through from short-term swings.<\/p>\n<p>Competition among domestic banks also matters.<\/p>\n<p>Smaller banking sectors with fewer lenders tend to exhibit wider lending margins. The Baltic markets are relatively concentrated, which can limit competitive pressure on mortgage pricing.<\/p>\n<p>Funding structures play a role, too. Banks in some countries rely more heavily on wholesale funding markets, while others benefit from large domestic deposit bases that can support cheaper lending.<\/p>\n<p>Malta&#8217;s place at the foot of the table is nothing new.<\/p>\n<p>Experts often point to intense competition among Maltese banks, abundant domestic deposits and a relatively stable property market as factors helping to keep mortgage rates low.<\/p>\n<p>The country also has a much lower share of variable-rate lending than the Baltic states, insulating borrowers from rapid changes in ECB policy rates.<\/p>\n<h2>A reminder that monetary union is not a financial union yet<\/h2>\n<p>The ECB&#8217;s data highlights a paradox at the heart of the euro project.<\/p>\n<p>While monetary policy is centralised in Frankfurt, the transmission of that policy remains highly fragmented.<\/p>\n<p>For homebuyers, that means location still matters enormously.<\/p>\n<p>A family purchasing a home in Riga may pay more than twice the interest rate charged to a household in Valletta, despite borrowing the same currency under the same central bank.<\/p>\n<p>Three decades after the euro&#8217;s creation, the cost of buying a home remains one of the clearest examples of how national financial borders continue to exist within the monetary union.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 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id=\"abe-2902639-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2902639\" data-cid=\"9801832\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902639-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/18\/32\/480x270_cmsv2_119cff1c-0da6-5bc8-8888-4a1137e0ff73-9801832.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A plume of smoke rises after a strike in Tehran, 1 March 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran pledges no nuclear weapons as US commits $300bn, deal draft shows<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2901122-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2901122\" data-cid=\"9794383\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2901122-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/79\/43\/83\/480x270_cmsv2_8b6b6696-5e64-569a-97d5-6e215a8c9be7-9794383.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lagarde says ECB interest rate hike \u2018robust across three scenarios\u2019<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  credit on mortgage<br 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src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2902951-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902951\" data-cid=\"9803555\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902951-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/35\/55\/320x180_cmsv2_9ac4de0d-a4fb-5cf2-bfa0-02aeecec4105-9803555.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump talks to the media after disembarking Air Force One at Paris Orly Airport, 17 June 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Oil sinks further as US and Iran strike deal to end war<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2902895-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902895\" data-cid=\"9803388\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902895-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/33\/88\/320x180_cmsv2_2fcbd8e7-5bb9-52de-976f-f340b4de96d5-9803388.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"File - Tim Cook, Apple CEO, makes a victory sign to the photographer in the corridors during the 56th annual meeting of the WEF, in Davos, Switzerland. 20 Jan 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Apple CEO: Price rises \u2018unavoidable\u2019 amid AI boom<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2902858-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902858\" data-cid=\"9803128\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902858-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/31\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_f4989fce-7db3-5001-be76-ad01fcfffe79-9803128.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh speaks during his swearing-in in the East Room of the White House, Friday, 22 May 2026, in Washington. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div 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A Danish firm found out<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most 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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/35\/55\/320x180_cmsv2_9ac4de0d-a4fb-5cf2-bfa0-02aeecec4105-9803555.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump talks to the media after disembarking Air Force One at Paris Orly Airport, 17 June 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Oil sinks further as US and Iran strike deal to end war<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902895-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902895\" data-cid=\"9803388\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902895-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" 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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/21\/21\/320x180_cmsv2_2aefcd79-8679-5bce-9354-4350be77fe5d-9802121.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Poso Kanei app\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Greek app compares supermarket prices across Europe<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902685-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902685\" data-cid=\"9802048\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902685-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/20\/48\/320x180_cmsv2_0da022ae-2639-5573-9020-7d754bd33c56-9802048.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Clever charging station\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    What happens when a company has no bosses? A Danish firm found out<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2901905-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2901905\" data-cid=\"9798052\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    What&#8217;s the average age of first-time homebuyers across Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2901104-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2901104\" data-cid=\"9794333\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    From \u20ac36,300 to \u20ac1.2 million: Europe&#8217;s vast retirement wealth gap<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902847-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902847\" data-cid=\"9803068\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where are the eurozone&#8217;s cheapest and highest mortgage rates?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2900768-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2900768\" data-cid=\"9792642\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Dubai is training its private sector in agentic AI \u2013 here&#8217;s why<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">Partner content presented by <strong>Dubai Chambers<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902570-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902570\" data-cid=\"9801541\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Oil sinks to three-month low as IEA warns stocks at 35-year low<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Borrow to buy a home in Latvia today, and the bank will charge you 4.18%. Do the same in Malta, and you will pay 2.08%.Same currency, same central bank, same stage of the interest-rate cycle, yet two eurozone households face mortgage costs that are worlds apart.That gap \u2014 more than two percentage points between the cheapest and most expensive markets \u2014 is one of the most striking findings in the latest European Central Bank data on new home loans, covering April 2026.Mortgage rates are cheaper in Southern EuropeThe average eurozone mortgage rate stood at 3.43%, according to ECB figures, combining both fixed- and variable-rate loans across member states.The lowest rates are concentrated around the Mediterranean.Malta tops the ranking at 2.08%, followed by Bulgaria (2.45%), Spain (2.80%), Portugal (2.85%), Croatia (2.95%) and Slovenia (2.99%).Among the eurozone&#8217;s largest economies, Spain and Portugal stand out. Borrowers in those countries are paying roughly one percentage point less than their counterparts in Germany, where new mortgages cost 3.84%.Baltics remain the most expensiveAt the other end of the spectrum are the Baltic states.Latvia records the highest mortgage rate in the eurozone at 4.18%, followed by Estonia (4.05%) and Lithuania (3.88%).Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands also sit above the eurozone average.The real cost of Europe&#8217;s mortgage divideFor households, these gaps in mortgage rates translate into substantial differences in monthly payments.A \u20ac200,000 mortgage over 20 years at Malta&#8217;s average rate of 2.08% results in monthly repayments of roughly \u20ac1,019.At Latvia&#8217;s 4.18%, the same loan costs approximately \u20ac1,231 per month \u2014 more than \u20ac200 extra every month.Over the life of the loan, the Latvian borrower would repay nearly \u20ac295,000, compared with about \u20ac245,000 in Malta.The difference amounts to roughly \u20ac50,800 in additional interest for exactly the same amount borrowed in the same currency.Why are mortgage rates so different inside the eurozone?The ECB sets a single benchmark interest rate for the entire currency bloc, but mortgage pricing remains largely determined by national banking systems.The first factor is the structure of each market, and above all, whether borrowers take fixed or variable rates.In the Baltic countries and Finland, variable-rate loans dominate.According to ECB data, variable-rate mortgages account for more than 93% of new home loans in Latvia, Estonia and Finland, against just 15% across the eurozone as a whole.When interest rates rise, borrowers in countries where variable rates dominate feel the impact almost immediately.In France, Spain and Portugal, by contrast, fixed rates prevail, letting households lock in their costs for years and muffling the pass-through from short-term swings.Competition among domestic banks also matters.Smaller banking sectors with fewer lenders tend to exhibit wider lending margins. The Baltic markets are relatively concentrated, which can limit competitive pressure on mortgage pricing.Funding structures play a role, too. Banks in some countries rely more heavily on wholesale funding markets, while others benefit from large domestic deposit bases that can support cheaper lending.Malta&#8217;s place at the foot of the table is nothing new.Experts often point to intense competition among Maltese banks, abundant domestic deposits and a relatively stable property market as factors helping to keep mortgage rates low.The country also has a much lower share of variable-rate lending than the Baltic states, insulating borrowers from rapid changes in ECB policy rates.A reminder that monetary union is not a financial union yetThe ECB&#8217;s data highlights a paradox at the heart of the euro project.While monetary policy is centralised in Frankfurt, the transmission of that policy remains highly fragmented.For homebuyers, that means location still matters enormously.A family purchasing a home in Riga may pay more than twice the interest rate charged to a household in Valletta, despite borrowing the same currency under the same central bank.Three decades after the euro&#8217;s creation, the cost of buying a home remains one of the clearest examples of how national financial borders continue to exist within the monetary union.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2026\/06\/18\/where-are-the-eurozones-cheapest-and-highest-mortgage-rates&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/30\/68\/1200x675_cmsv2_f49f553e-09b5-59b6-93b6-ed15eaeb0051-9803068.jpg&#8221;] Health news US to invest over $700mn to tackle mental illness and homelessness Iran US and Iran sign deal, but who really won? 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