Study in Portugal: Housing & Living Costs

Compared to many other European nations, students who choose Portugal as their study abroad destination can look forward to a more budget-friendly experience overall.

From the price of rent, cinema tickets, the average price of beer and beyond, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about how to budget for your study abroad experience in Portugal in one convenient place!

Student Housing in Portugal

Portugal offers a variety of housing options for international students, from university-owned residences, private apartments, and student halls run by private companies. The average prices for student housing and accommodation options are:

• University-owned student halls of residence: Averaging from 400 EUR per month (sometimes lower depending on location);
• Renting a private room or apartment: Starting from 400 EUR per month in Lisbon, and 300 EUR in Porto;
• Student halls run by international operators: Starting from 595 EUR per month for a standard studio room.

No two accommodations are exactly alike and depending on your preferences there are pros and cons to each housing option. Read on to discover which housing option is right for you!

University-owned accommodation

Most universities own residence halls which are rented out to students. There is no centralized service for housing applications, so students hoping to rent a room in a university-owned hall should contact their institution’s international or housing office to find out how to apply. Student housing is probably the easiest and most sociable option for students and will allow you to quickly make friends with Portuguese and international students alike. Furthermore, with rents as low as 400 EUR per month (and sometimes lower), living in a university-owned hall will leave more room in your budget for exploring everything Portugal has to offer.

University-owned accommodation is not as readily available in Portugal as it is elsewhere in Europe or North America. It is rare for a university to have a central campus with housing facilities on-site. Instead, accommodation is usually spread across a city or town, with the price corresponding to proximity to the university. There is a limited amount of student accommodation set aside for international students which may offered on a first come, first served basis. Once you’ve been accepted into an institution in Portugal, start your housing hunt as early as possible to keep your transition to your new home smooth and worry-free!

Renting a privately-owned room or apartment

Another option for international students looking for accommodation in Portugal is renting a privately-owned room or apartment – this is something that your university will usually be able to help you with. Contact your institution’s housing office to get a hold of the resources they have available to help you find a private accommodation. The rental market in Portugal is cheap – it should not be too difficult to find a place for under 450 EUR per month. However, in order to save money, many students opt to share an apartment, which usually entails a private bedroom and shared kitchen, bathroom and living facilities.

Student halls run by international operators

If you don’t have any luck with getting accommodation in a university-owned hall, privately-owned residence halls are a growing alternative for international students looking for a place to stay while they study in Portugal. While the rents are slightly higher, beginning around 600 EUR for a standard single room, these accommodations often offer more on-site amenities like fitness centers and storage rooms.

Accommodation portals

Uniplaces is a housing portal that offers a fresh approach to booking student accommodation online. It’s fast to book, safe to pay, and lets you browse through thousands of trusted properties in Europe’s best student cities, including Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto.

HouzeStudent is a Portuguese company that provides housing and accommodation for students in Lisbon, Costa da Caparica and Cascais. They manage over 500 rooms (singles, doubles, suites, studios) in fully furnished centrally-located apartments. Prices range from 210 EUR to 890 EUR (discounts available) – all the bills and weekly cleaning of the common areas are included.

Student Room Flat is a booking platform offering mid & long-term rental solutions for international students and interns. All Hosts and Properties are verified by their team assuring a safe stay to their tenants. They have already welcomed thousands of international students in their flat-sharing apartments and Co-living spaces in Porto and Lisbon. Their goal is to make international students feel at home, becoming part of their large community of tenants!

Living Costs in Portugal

Like most countries around the world, the cost of living in Portugal can fluctuate significantly depending on where you are. If you’re studying in the seaside capital of Lisbon or in a tourist hub like the Algarve, you may run into higher prices than in other regions of Portugal. Despite these differences, no matter where you’re studying in Portugal the cost of living is much friendlier towards your wallet in comparison to many other countries in Western Europe. Budget is an all-important consideration for many international students, and average prices for some common student expenses include: