Between 2020 and 2023, apartment prices increased by 15.7%, driven by low rates and changing preferences after the pandemic. People were looking for more space and comfort. By 2026, the picture had changed. Apartment prices reached an average of 5,252 euros per square meter against 4,331 euros in 2020, meaning a total increase of 21.3%. However, another important thing is that, unlike many markets, there was no price correction in Nice. Over the past three years, growth has slowed to 4.8%, but this is not a decrease, but rather a transition to selectivity mode. The city is still attractive, but it has become more difficult to buy housing in it, and it's not just about prices, but about the sharply increased cost of credit.
The situation on the rental market looks a bit different. The rent increased from 16.9 euros per sq. m. m in 2020 to 20 euros in 2026, that is, by 18.4%. Moreover, if in the first half of the period the increase was 5.6%, then in the second it was already 12.1%, which indicates growing competition among tenants.
Of course, the housing market does not depend solely on interest rates. Local politics, urban planning, permitting, transport infrastructure, and the attractiveness of neighborhoods also play a role. However, in the case of Nice, in the period from 2020 to 2026, the macroeconomic background remained decisive: first, the era of almost free loans and high demand, then the time of expensive borrowing. Local factors are important, but they only fit into this broader trend.
French Riviera Real Estate: what can I buy in 2026?
Source: SeLoger
