Bucharest has entered for the first time the European ranking of cities analysed for real estate investment in the Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe 2026 report, recently published by PwC and the Urban Land Institute.
According to a press release from the consultancy firm, the report highlights a favourable context for Central and Eastern Europe, as manufacturing and logistics companies are paying closer attention to the region due to more affordable utility costs and a well-trained workforce. Thus, Romania benefits from positive prospects and greater visibility among investors in the real estate sector.
Although the Romanian capital ranks only 30th, followed by Istanbul and Sofia, it is now more visible on the radar of international investors, who can compare it with other European cities in terms of investment attractiveness using the same criteria, the report reveals.
The figures in the ranking show that Bucharest's main appeal lies in its projected population growth, for which it received a score of 2.53 - by far the highest among the 30 cities analysed. However, the Romanian capital is at a disadvantage compared with other European capitals due to modest economic growth prospects over the next two years, evaluated with a score of 0.4.
In addition, the total value of transactions recorded over the past two years is significantly lower than in other European cities included in the ranking, which discourages many investors seeking markets with higher liquidity.
London, Madrid and Paris remain this year the most attractive European cities for real estate investment, followed by Berlin and Amsterdam. From Central and Eastern Europe, Warsaw ranks highest in 12th place, followed by Prague in 23rd, while Budapest comes 29th, just ahead of Bucharest.
Market size and liquidity, mentioned by 56% of study participants, are the main factors investors consider when choosing a city for real estate investment or development, followed by the city's economic performance (48%) and the availability of assets or new development opportunities (34%).
The report identifies three major directions that will shape investment decisions in the real estate sector: digitalisation, decarbonisation (energy) and demography, with safety becoming an increasingly visible factor.
Demographics, increase in defence spending in Europe - amid global political instability and conflict escalation - as well as sustainability are also among factors investors take into account, according to the report.
According to Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe 2026, the coming year brings clear themes that are driving real demand: digitalisation, clean energy and demographic change. For Romania, the timing is favourable: Bucharest is gaining visibility through its inclusion in the ranking of European cities, interest in the Central and Eastern European region is growing, and loan financing is becoming more accessible. The factors mentioned above provide fertile ground for building resilient investments in the coming years, the pillars that will define the attractiveness of European real estate markets,' the document points out.
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