Student Housing in Romania: Options, Costs and Contracts

University dormitories

Most Romanian public universities run their own dormitories (camine) through a student housing office, allocated first to students who apply early and meet income or merit criteria. A dorm bed is the cheapest housing option by a wide margin. At Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, 2025-2026 rates for Romanian and EU budgeted students run 140 lei a month for a standard room and 240 lei for a premium room, per the university's official rate list . Foreign fee-paying students pay more for the same room, typically 355-515 lei a month.

Most dorm fees include a bed, basic furniture, shared kitchen access and utilities, though some universities bill hot water or heating separately during winter months. Ask your student housing office exactly what the monthly fee covers before you count on it as your full housing budget.

Allocation criteria typically weigh your entrance exam score or prior grades alongside family income, with returning students who kept good academic standing often getting priority for the same room the following year. Check your specific university's dorm regulation for its exact points system.

Dorm places are limited, so apply through your faculty's student housing office as soon as you accept your university offer, and expect rooms to fill up fast in September before term starts. Rooms are usually shared between 2 and 4 students, with shared bathrooms and kitchens on each floor, and rules on visitors and quiet hours set by each dorm administration.

Private rentals

If you do not get a dorm place, or prefer more independence, you rent privately. A room in a shared flat typically costs 150-300 EUR a month, and a studio to yourself starts around 300-400 EUR in most university cities, rising in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca where demand from students and young professionals pushes prices up. Neighborhoods close to major campuses carry a premium specifically because of student demand, so widening your search a few tram or bus stops further out often cuts your rent noticeably without adding much to your commute. Utilities, including gas, electricity, water and internet, usually add another 60-100 EUR a month on top of rent, per Study in Romania's cost of living guide .

Search through university housing groups, local property listing sites, and agents that specialize in student housing near your campus. Visit or video-call a viewing before you send money, and never wire a deposit to a landlord you have not verified.

Short-term housing while you search

If your dorm application is still pending, or you want to view rooms in person before committing to a full year, book short-term housing for your first one to two weeks: a hostel, an extended-stay apartment, or a short-term rental near your campus. This buys you time to view several private options without signing a year-long contract sight unseen.

Contracts and deposits

Romanian rental contracts (contract de inchiriere) should specify the monthly rent, deposit amount, notice period, and who pays which utility bills. A deposit of one month's rent is standard, refundable at the end of the tenancy if you leave the flat undamaged and pay all bills. Ask for a written, signed contract even for informal-seeming arrangements, since it protects you if a dispute comes up over the deposit or an early move-out.

If a dispute over your deposit does come up, a written contract with both signatures gives you real standing to raise it with the landlord or, if needed, through Romania's consumer protection authority. Verbal agreements leave you with little to point to.

What to check before you sign

• Is the deposit amount and refund condition written into the contract, not just agreed verbally

• Does the rent include utilities, or are they billed separately and by whom

• Is the internet connection already active, or do you need to set it up yourself

• How much notice does either side need to give to end the contract early

• Does the landlord register the contract, which some Romanian cities require for tax purposes and which protects you as a tenant

Register your address with your university, and if you are a non-EU student, keep your accommodation proof on file, since immigration authorities may ask for it when you renew your student visa or residence permit.

Choosing where to live

Weigh a few practical factors before you commit to a location, especially if you plan to stay for more than one semester.

• Close to campus if you rely on walking or cycling, useful for early lectures or lab sessions

• Near a metro or tram line in Bucharest, since traffic makes surface transport slow at peak times

• Shared flats split rent and utilities, cutting your monthly cost well below a studio

• Furnished flats save you setup costs, ask before you sign if furniture and appliances are included

• Grocery stores and a pharmacy within walking distance, useful in your first weeks before you learn the wider area