Three quarters of participants in a global survey cut other expenses to pay for housing

What the survey showed

The international organization Habitat for Humanity published a global study in October 2026 on what families have to sacrifice to pay for housing. The survey was conducted from April 10 to June 30, 2026 in 22 countries — including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Ireland, Nepal, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States — with 30,758 participants. According to the report, 75% of respondents had to cut at least one other expense category over the past year to cover housing costs.

What exactly is being sacrificed

The pattern of sacrifices looks like this: 33% of respondents cut spending on food, 32% used savings set aside for emergencies, 13% postponed medical treatment or gave it up entirely, and 31% had to take on extra work — that is, give up free time and rest. Two figures point to families' vulnerability: 48% said a single unexpected problem could leave them unable to keep their housing, while 40% admitted they were willing to take certain risks to obtain safer housing that had become unaffordable.

Differences across countries and the situation in Uzbekistan

According to Kun.uz, the picture varies by country: in Ireland people cut back on food, in Nepal they postpone medical treatment, and in South Korea they delay starting a family. Uzbekistan was not included in the survey, but the outlet notes that the question can be examined using data on housing prices, household incomes and mortgage payments in the country. The report shows that the real cost of housing is not limited to rent or a loan: if payments leave a family with no money for medical care, children's education or unexpected expenses, the scale of the problem extends far beyond the mortgage itself.