Prime warehouse asking rents across Central Europe sit in a fairly tight band - roughly <b>€4.40 to €6.10 per m² per month</b> in 2026 - with Dubai higher at around €7.20. But two units in the same city can differ by 30% on rent alone, and the headline is almost always below what you actually pay, because logistics rents are quoted triple-net. Here are illustrative numbers and the drivers behind them.
Illustrative prime warehouse rents, 2026
Asking rent, €/m²/month (illustrative)
Prague — €6.10
Zagreb — €6.00
Budapest — €5.60
Belgrade — €5.50
Warsaw — €5.40
Bucharest — €4.40
Dubai — ~€7.20
The CEE range is roughly €4.40-6.10 per m² per month, with Bucharest at the value end and Prague at the top. Dubai sits above the CEE band. These are prime asking rents - older or secondary stock rents for less, and the best-located urban units rent for more. Live figures move; check the rent dashboard for the current view.
What actually drives the rent
- Location relative to motorway junctions. A unit minutes from a junction commands a premium over an identical shed 20 km away, because it saves transport cost every day.
- Big-box vs older units. A modern big-box with 10-12 m clear height and modern docks rents above an older 6-8 m unit - but stores far more pallets per m², so it is often cheaper per pallet.
- Land scarcity and proximity to the city. Urban and last-mile locations carry the highest rents because developable land near cities is scarce.
- Specification. Higher clear height, more docks, stronger floors, ESFR sprinklers and better power all push rent up.
- Lease length and covenant. A long lease from a strong tenant can secure a lower rent and better incentives.
Why the headline is below the all-in cost
Warehouse rents are almost always quoted triple-net: the tenant pays the rent, then separately covers the service charge (estate maintenance, security, common areas) and property tax, and is responsible for the inside of the unit. So the all-in monthly cost is higher than the headline €/m²/month, and you should model service charge and tax on top before comparing two buildings. See negotiating a warehouse lease for how the extras are capped.
Triple-net (NNN) — A lease where the tenant pays rent plus, separately, the property taxes, insurance and service charge - so the headline rent is below the true occupancy cost.
Prime rent — The top asking rent for the best modern space in the best location; secondary stock rents below this.
