Copenhagen

1. Bicycle Culture: Copenhagen is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, with over 62% of its residents commuting by bicycle daily. The city has an extensive network of bike lanes and even dedicated bike traffic signals. 2. Green Roofs Initiative: The city promotes the use of green roofs on buildings to improve urban biodiversity, reduce heat, and manage rainwater. Many new developments are required to integrate green roofs into their designs, contributing to a greener urban landscape. 3. Culinary Scene: Beyond its famous restaurants, Copenhagen is home to the world's first "food market" concept with Torvehallerne, where visitors can explore a variety of local and international foods under one roof. This market showcases the city's commitment to fresh, sustainable, and locally sourced produce.

Copenhagen’s housing market remains highly competitive due to strong population growth, limited supply, and steadily rising prices. Currently, about 56% of people nationwide own their homes, while 44% rent; in Copenhagen specifically, the rental share is higher, with social (public) housing making up roughly 20% of the city’s housing stock. Homeownership is thus less common in the capital compared to the national average. The latest data shows the median price to buy an apartment in Copenhagen is approximately DKK 42,769 per square meter, which is around €5,735. In prime central areas, prices can exceed DKK 60,000 per square meter (€8,040). Median annual rent in Copenhagen city is about DKK 2,160 per square meter, which is roughly €290 per year, or approximately €24 per square meter per month. Publicly owned housing, often called social housing, plays a significant stabilizing role by providing affordable homes for lower- and middle-income residents and key workers. Social housing is not strictly synonymous with public housing: in Denmark, social housing is owned by non-profit organizations but heavily regulated and partly funded by municipalities. Such housing is allocated based on need and municipal priorities. Recent policies have further strengthened municipal control, sometimes allowing up to 100% allocation by the city to manage social mix and priority groups. Copenhagen faces a persistent shortage of both affordable rentals and moderately priced owner-occupied homes, with long waits for access to social/public housing.

The housing crisis in Copenhagen is characterized by a significant shortage of affordable housing options, strong population growth, and rising property prices. The city's population has been increasing steadily, with a growth rate of about 0.74% annually, creating high demand for housing. However, the supply of new homes is limited due to high construction costs and regulatory restrictions, leading to a gap between supply and demand. This situation primarily affects renters and those seeking affordable housing, including lower- and middle-income families. As of 2025, property prices in Copenhagen are rising, with apartments experiencing 6-9% growth and houses up 12.8% year-on-year. The median price for an apartment is approximately €5,735 per square meter, while rents average about €24 per square meter per month. The shortage of affordable options is exacerbated by the competitive nature of the rental market and long waiting lists for social housing, which accounts for about 20% of the city's housing stock.

Copenhagen’s city administration is tackling affordable and sustainable housing through a mix of ambitious targets, new funding mechanisms, and strict sustainability criteria. The city’s current housing policy aims to build thousands of new affordable and sustainable units, with a clear mandate that 20–25% of all new residential projects must be affordable. The city aligns these targets with broader climate ambitions, including carbon neutrality. Key concrete activities include the Mixed Cities Fund, which allocates €241 million by 2031 for non-profit housing organizations to buy land in expensive areas for social housing, with half the funds reserved for permanently lowering rents for new social units. A separate pool targets accessible and elderly-friendly housing. Copenhagen has also introduced stringent environmental requirements: new social housing must meet high climate and energy efficiency standards, while demonstration projects like “Living Places” showcase ultra-low-carbon construction. The Danish government supports these efforts by providing €2.5 billion in land purchase loans and co-financing through Landsbyggefonden, and a dedicated taskforce is being created to fast-track the construction of already-approved social housing in Copenhagen. Initiatives also aim to convert commercial properties into affordable housing and prioritize mixed-use developments. These multi-pronged actions are intended to both increase supply and ensure long-term affordability and sustainability in Copenhagen’s housing market.

Andelsboliger (housing cooperatives) spiller en væsentlig rolle i Københavns boligmarked, især i etagebyggeri. Mere end en tredjedel af byens lejlighedsbygninger er andelsboliger, hvilket faktisk udgør en større andel end ejerlejligheder. Mens andelsboliger nationalt udgør omkring 7-8% af boligmassen, er andelen betydeligt højere i København, hvor byen sammen med Frederiksberg rummer to tredjedele af landets andelsboliger. Sektoren har været forholdsvis stabil de senere år, men oplever aktuelt øget efterspørgsel og prisstigninger, hvilket gør det svært for førstegangskøbere og yngre at få adgang. Andelsboliger fungerer som et mellemled på boligmarkedet, hvor man får en mere overkommelig boligform end traditionelle ejerboliger, men med større brugerdemokrati og fællesskab. Københavns Kommune bakker op om andelsboligsektoren som en del af strategien for at bevare social diversitet og dæmpe spekulation. Bl.a. stilles der krav om, at 20–25% af nye boligprojekter skal være almene eller opnåelig bolig, hvor andelsboliger også tæller med. Kommunen benytter desuden planlægning og fleksibilitet i boligstørrelser for at fremme andelsboliger og andre boligformer, der understøtter social blanding og adgang til byen for flere befolkningsgrupper.