Europe gripped by cost-of-living turmoil

The wave of protests and unrest that swept through France and several other European countries in recent days may soon subside, but the economic pressure and widespread frustration that caused it remain.

For Laurent Mazzarolo, a train driver living in Paris, the demonstrations reflect the growing difficulty ordinary people face in maintaining their living standards, as prices rise and purchasing power weakens.

"Ten years ago, you could live quite comfortably on a salary of 2,000 euros ($2,247) a month. Now, even with 3,000 euros, life can be quite difficult, especially in Paris," he said.

"Before, you could go to a restaurant four or five times a month. Now, maybe once or twice, or sometimes not at all. People have less money to enjoy themselves, and that means less social interaction," he said.

Even with a stable job, Mazzarolo said he struggles to balance his monthly expenses, despite cutting back on leisure spending, and that makes him particularly concerned about people in younger generations, who face difficulties in securing a place at their preferred university and in pursuing the careers they want.

"They cannot imagine their future," he said. "I can understand why people are frustrated about the cost of living, but I don't like the way it's being expressed through violence. For me, that's not the right way."

Similar concerns are being voiced in Madrid, where the rising cost of housing has left young people worried about the prospect of living independently.

Rocio, an 18-year-old student who lives with her parents and brother, said she joined a protest because she fears she may eventually be unable to afford a home of her own.

"The prices just keep on getting higher, and I know by the time I can live on my own, they will be even higher," she said.

Richard, a Frenchman living in Brussels, Belgium, has similar fears.

"Today, when I go to (the supermarket) to buy three items, say a pack of milk and some cereal, I pay 15 euros," he said. "If you're a parent, the question arises: how can you teach your children that quality matters, and what values are you truly able to pass on? Ultimately, for someone like me in a comfortable income bracket, the question comes down to one word: dignity. Can you live with dignity when you work? That is, can your work enable you to pay your bills and provide for your children's needs, while still looking at life with some sense of hope, rather than being driven solely by day-to-day necessity?"

Economic indicators illustrate the situation. According to Eurostat data, annual inflation in the area that uses the euro for currency rose to 3.8 percent in September, after having been 3.2 percent in August. Energy prices increased in September by 18.8 percent year-on-year, after having been 14.3 percent the previous month. The high cost of energy is widely believed to add disproportionate pressure to lower-income households, leaving them less money for food, healthcare, education, and housing.

Rising rent

According to Deutsche Bank Research Institute's report Mapping the World's Prices 2026, a household with two earners receiving average local net salaries in Lisbon, Portugal, would have just 253 euros left each month after renting a three-bedroom apartment in the city center, which is the smallest amount of disposable income recorded among 28 European cities surveyed.

The pressure is also evident in Brussels, where the average monthly rent for newly signed leases through real estate agencies rose from 1,113 euros in 2021 to 1,376 euros in 2025, according to the CIB-Korfine Rental Barometer. That represents an increase of approximately 23.6 percent in four years, adding 263 euros to the average monthly rental bill for newly contracted properties.

Yan Xiaoxiao, an associate researcher at the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, who is conducting research in Europe, said the protests across the continent point to a common economic dilemma.

"With economic growth slowing, governments are finding it increasingly difficult to meet public expectations for living standards and social protection," he said. "On the one hand, people expect governments to improve public services and provide more public goods to ease the pressure on their daily lives. On the other hand, governments are under pressure to reduce fiscal deficits."

Yan noted that the current wave of protests has involved people from different age groups and occupations, reflecting discontent that extends beyond any single section of society. Past protests have tended to attract participants from specific sections of society.

"The latest unrest can be seen as an expression of dissatisfaction that has accumulated since its last breakout," he said.

"I paid 18.50 euros for a tube of eye ointment and 11.50 euros for a simple meal at McDonald's," Yan said. "I can't imagine my financial pressure if I were to live here for a long time."

Li Zhengdong, an associate professor at the Institute of Central and Eastern European Studies at Ningbo University, who is on an academic tour in Europe, noted: "The real test facing Europe today is not simply whether governments can contain street violence, but whether they can prevent mounting socioeconomic tensions from escalating into divisions between different social groups and, ultimately, a political crisis."

Back in Paris, Mazzarolo said he suspects "the government is doing what it can, but not enough".

He said policymakers should strive to be "closer to the people" and "act like normal people".

"Sometimes, we have the feeling that politicians are living on another planet," he said. "Even if you don't have the solutions, at least show more empathy."

Asked what he expects the government to do after the protests end, 22-year-old Jorge Salas in Madrid replied: "Right now, nothing. For years, we haven't received a real answer or any meaningful help. The demonstrations are about more than housing costs. They also reflect concerns over education, access to public services, and the opportunities available to ordinary people."

Salas pointed to the financial burden the purchase of schoolbooks places on low-income families, saying that providing children with a good education should be a government priority.

"We need books, we need food, we need help to buy a house and start a family," he said. "We are not simply asking for a better life. We are asking for a chance to improve our lives."

Huang Xiaodi contributed to the story.

Contact the writers at zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn.