Student Housing in Europe by Country: Options, Costs and Contracts
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Oct 08, 2026
TL;DR
Compares student housing costs and rules across 39 European countries, from Bulgaria's ~€50/month dorms to Spain's 778-986 euros/month halls, with deposit and registration rules that vary just as widely.
This hub lines up 39 country guides on student housing across Europe, covering dorm rent, private rent, deposit and contract rules, and address registration for each country. Dorm costs span widely: Bulgaria's guide lists dorms at ~€50/month, while Spain's Valencia hall example runs 778-986 euros/month full-board, 2024-25. Private rent swings just as far: Norway shows ~18,900 NOK/month central Oslo versus ~14,500 NOK outside centre for a 1-bed. Deposit rules differ sharply too: Denmark calls for 3 months rent deposit + 3 months advance, while Ireland's guide notes deposits capped at 1 month's rent (RTB rule).
Start with the dorm rent column first for the cheapest baseline, then check private rent for off-campus cost, since each figure already shows a range rather than a single price. A dash means that country's guide does not state a figure for that column, not that housing is free or unregulated there, so check deposit and registration rules even when a rent figure is missing. Each country name links to its full guide, where the dorm, private rent, deposit and registration details sit alongside sources and dates for further checking.
Compare by country
| Country | Dorm rent | Private rent | Deposit and contract | Address registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | — | 600-860 EUR/month (central Tirana) | 1-2 months' rent | — |
| Austria | 330-435 EUR/month (OeAD, from) | 450-900 EUR/month (Vienna private room) | 1-3 months' rent (Kaution) | Register address (Meldezettel) within days of moving in |
| Belgium | 510 or 537 EUR/month (KU Leuven) | ~500 EUR/month median (Brussels, excl. utilities) | 2-3 months' rent, held in blocked bank account | — |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,850-3,000 EUR/year (IUS dorm, annual not monthly) | ~813 KM (~416 EUR)/month (Sarajevo centre) | 1 month's rent (typical) | Landlord may register stay for residence permit |
| Bulgaria | ~€50/month | €200-400/month (outside Sofia centre) | 1-2 months' rent | Register address with municipality after moving in |
| Croatia | 30-119 EUR/month (double room, varies by city) | 923 EUR/month average (Zagreb) | 1 month's rent (sometimes 2) | Landlord registers stay for residence permit (non-EU required) |
| Cyprus | ~€180/month (University of Cyprus, from) | ~€650/month studio (Nicosia) | — | — |
| Czechia | 150-300 EUR/month (avg ~190 EUR) | 200-370 EUR/month (CZK 5,000-9,000) | — | Report address to Foreign Police shortly after arrival (non-EU) |
| Denmark | — | DKK 4,000-10,000/month (Copenhagen) | 3 months rent deposit + 3 months advance | Register address with municipality after 3+ month lease |
| Estonia | EUR 150-350/month (utilities included) | EUR 350-750/month | — | Notify local government of address once you move in |
| Finland | 300 EUR/month shared, 480 EUR studio (HOAS, from) | — | Capped at max 3 months' rent (by law) | — |
| France | 150-500 EUR/month (CROUS) | 600-900 EUR/month (Paris studio/shared room) | Capped at 1 month (unfurnished) or 2 months (furnished) | — |
| Germany | 321-563 EUR/month (by city) | 550-776 EUR/month (shared flat room, by city) | capped at 3x monthly cold rent, payable in 3 instalments | register address (Anmeldung) at local Bürgeramt promptly after moving in |
| Greece | free or near-free (foititiki estia, limited to eligible students) | 300-500 EUR/month (shared room, Athens) | 1-2 months' rent, paid alongside first month at signing | written contract (misthotirio) must be registered with tax authorities |
| Hungary | EUR 80-150/month (kollegium) | EUR 350-550/month (shared room, Budapest) | 1-2 months' rent, held against damage/unpaid bills, returned at tenancy end | register address with immigration authorities as part of residence permit process |
| Iceland | — | — | amount not fixed; agreement must state rent, deposit, contract length and utilities | registering the contract with housing authority protects you if a dispute arises (no deadline) |
| Ireland | — | ~€430-769/month (typical student room, by city) | capped at 1 month's rent (RTB rule) | — |
| Italy | 200-350 euros/month (DSU dorms) | 300-600 euros/month (mid-size cities), 500-900+ (Milan/Rome) | 2-3 months' rent, held for lease term, returned minus damage | non-EU students register address with local anagrafe (permesso di soggiorno process) |
| Kosovo | around €110/month (RIT Kosovo dorm, utilities included) | €247-339/month (1-bed, Pristina, outside vs centre) | 1 month's rent, written lease required | — |
| Latvia | 70-120 EUR/month | 100-350 EUR/month (shared flat to solo flat) | size set by contract; due alongside first month's rent, signed lease required | declare residential address with local authorities after moving in (no deadline stated) |
| Lithuania | ~105-180 euros/month (Kaunas dorm rooms) | — | about 1 month's rent, refundable if flat left in same condition | register address with municipal authority as part of residence permit process (non-EU) |
| Luxembourg | 350-700 euros/month (university or city residence) | from around 356 euros/month (private room, Belval) | around 2 months' rent, paid upfront and returned if undamaged | register address with local commune within days of moving in |
| Malta | — | — | amount not fixed; contract must state deposit and refund conditions | confirm registration requirements with UM international services (differ for EU/non-EU) |
| Moldova | around 60 EUR/month (MSU hostel, international students) | roughly 140-180 EUR/month per person (shared apartment, Chisinau) | no fixed amount; deposit and rent agreed by mutual consent, written into lease | landlord must register lease with State Tax Service within 3 days of signing |
| Montenegro | — | €200-300/month (studio); €450-700/month (1-bed), Podgorica | Deposit = 1-2 months' rent, paid with first month when signing | Temporary residence permit needed after 90 days; uses landlord's address |
| Netherlands | — | about 550 euros a month on average (student room) | Temporary contracts can't have minimum-stay clause since 1 Jul 2024; notice up to 1 month | Register address with local municipality if staying more than a short period |
| North Macedonia | — | Shared room in Skopje: 150-250 EUR/month | Deposit = 1 month's rent, refundable at end of tenancy if undamaged | Register address with local authorities if staying beyond a short visit |
| Norway | — | ~18,900 NOK/month central Oslo; ~14,500 NOK outside centre (1-bed) | Deposit = set number of months' rent, held in locked deposit account, not landlord | Register address with National Population Register (Folkeregisteret) after moving in |
| Poland | Shared room EUR 60-80/month; single room EUR 100-150/month | Shared room EUR 150-200/month; 1-bed apt from EUR 300/month in Warsaw | Deposit = 1 month's rent, paid before move-in, refunded if undamaged | Register address (zameldowanie) with local authorities if staying longer than a few months |
| Portugal | — | ~730 euro/month avg outside centre; ~1,090 Lisbon; ~860 Porto (1-bed) | Security deposit (set in contract) plus first month's rent in advance before move-in | — |
| Romania | 140 lei/month standard room; 240 lei premium room (EU/Romanian), Cluj-Napoca | Shared room 150-300 EUR/month; studio from 300-400 EUR/month | Deposit = 1 month's rent, refundable if flat undamaged and bills paid | Register address with your university; non-EU students keep accommodation proof on file |
| Serbia | 70-90 EUR/month, Belgrade dormitories | From ~300 EUR/month outside centre to up to 1,200 EUR/month central Belgrade (1-bed) | Security deposit + first month's rent, refundable at lease end if flat in good condition | — |
| Slovakia | 60-140 euros/month (dormitory bed) | Studio from 400 euros/month; 2-bed flat from 550 euros/month (incl. utilities) | Deposit = 1-2 months' rent, refundable if flat undamaged and rent paid in full | EU/EEA students register temporary residence with Foreigners' Police after 90 days |
| Slovenia | avg 197 euros/month (foreign students); range 119-231 euros, Ljubljana | Shared room 80-500 euros/month, Ljubljana (varies by size/location) | Deposit = 1-2 months' rent, refunded after move-out once checked for damage | Landlord should help register temporary residence at local administrative unit |
| Spain | 778-986 euros/month full-board, Valencia hall example (2024-25) | Shared room 300-600 euros/month | Legal deposit = 1 month's rent; landlords may ask up to 2 extra months as guarantee | — |
| Sweden | 4,500-6,500 SEK/month corridor room, Stockholm | 7,000-10,000 SEK/month studio apartment, Stockholm | Deposit = 1 month's rent, refunded after move-out inspection minus damage costs | — |
| Switzerland | From CHF 480 a month (ETH Zurich WOKO cooperative) | CHF 750-1,100 a month (Zurich shared flat) | 1-3 months' rent, held in blocked Swiss bank account | Register with local commune within deadline after arrival |
| Turkey | 750-1250 TL/month (KYK state dorms, 2025-26) | — | 1-2 months' rent deposit, plus first month's rent upfront | Register with local authorities after moving in |
| the United Kingdom | £800-£1,000 a month (London halls); £400-£600 outside London | Up to £1,200 a month (London shared room); £400-£600 outside London | Around 1 month's rent, varies by landlord and city | — |
How to use this table
Each row summarises one guide in this series. The figures are the ones quoted in that guide when it was written, and a dash means the guide does not state that item. Open a guide for its sources, the full detail and its latest update date.