Discover Portugal’s Most Budget-Friendly City for Students as Rents Soar

Lisbon Surges to the Top of Portugal’s Student Housing Expense Chart

New Record for Monthly Rent

The capital city of Portugal has breached a historic threshold for student lodgings: the average price for a single-room rental now exceeds €400 per month for the first time in the nation’s history.

Factors Behind the Price Spike

• High demand from international and local students seeking convenient access to universities.
• Limited housing supply in central districts, driving up rental rates.
• Inflationary pressures and evolving market dynamics affecting property values.

What This Means for Students

Prospective learners must prepare for a substantial adjustment in living costs, which could influence their academic planning and budgeting strategies.

Portugal Sees Surge in Student Housing Costs

What Students Are Encountering Today

As the deadline for the first round of the national university entrance exam approaches on 4 August, prospective students must weigh a variety of options when selecting their future campus. Once the institution itself was the main deciding factor, today’s choices are increasingly dictated by where a university is located and the cost of renting a room nearby.

Rising Private Rental Prices

Over the past few years, rents for private accommodation in Portugal have climbed steadily, making university life harder to afford. The Student Accommodation Report released this month — quoted by Público — shows that the average monthly rent for a single room has reached €415.

• For the first time since data began in 2021, the average price exceeds €400.
• The report pulled data from more than 20 real‑estate portals and industry sites.
• In total, 6,884 rooms were catalogued across the country.
• Last year’s July 2024 audit counted 5,684 rooms, with an average rent of €397 per month.

Why Public Housing Matters

“It is alarming to see how high the numbers have climbed,” noted Pedro Neto Monteiro, president of the Lisbon Academic Federation (FAL). “The increase in supply has not curbed rental prices, which is why we advocate so strongly for expanding public student housing.”

Implications for Students

The mounting cost of private accommodation forces many students to consider alternatives. Options now include:

• Living in shared family homes outside city centers.
• Seeking smaller, shared student residences.
• Looking into partially subsidised housing from local councils.

In short, the combination of higher rents and a more geographically dispersed population of universities is reshaping how students plan their academic futures in Portugal.

Which cities have the most expensive rooms?

Student Housing Prices in Portugal 2024

Key Findings on Rental Costs

• Lisbon: Private student rooms average €500 per month; in the capital district some rentals reach €714.
• Porto: Average cost of €400.
• Braga: €323.
• Coimbra: €280.

Regions with the Lowest Prices

• Guarda: Roughly €180.
• Bragança & Castelo Branco: Approximately €200 each.

Price Fluctuations Over the Past Year

• Lisbon – 4.6% change.
• Porto – 4.1% change.
• Braga – 1.1% change.
• Coimbra – 4.4% change.

Regions with the Largest Variability

• Ponta Delgada – a staggering 50.5% swing.
• Funchal – 26% rise, despite a limited number of rooms.

Legal and Market Challenges

The private sector is plagued by unlawful practices: landlords often refuse to provide receipts, blocking students from claiming state assistance for shared accommodations.

Government Response & Infrastructure Projects

Portugal’s highway system is expanding, with the Ministry announcing an extra 4,000 beds for student housing by September, complementing the 15,000 beds slated for addition by 2026 under the National Plan for Higher Education Accommodation (PNAES).

The PNAES estimates a current public capacity of 16,571 beds.

Public Residences: Issues & Perceptions

• Most new public blocks feature twin rooms, which many young students find unattractive.
• Manuel Matos, professor at ISEL (Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa), comments: “The rooms are only nine square metres, with beds spaced 60‑70 centimetres apart. Students dislike living side‑by‑side with a stranger.”
• Due to the high monthly fee (c. €200 per bed), some public residences remain vacant because non‑scholarship tenants are reluctant to pay.

These dynamics highlight the pressing need for affordable, well‑structured accommodation options that meet students’ expectations and address the market’s legal shortcomings.

115,000 displaced students in the 2023/2024 academic year

Portugal’s Higher Education: Housing Instability for Thousands of Students

Number of Displaced Students

During the 2023/2024 academic year, approximately 115,000 students were left without stable housing, amounting to almost one‑third of all higher‑education enrolments.

Public vs. Private Housing Costs

Students residing in public facilities typically pay between €100 and €400 per room, a range that is generally more affordable than private rentals.

Additional Support for Those Unable to Secure Public Accommodation

Higher‑education students moving for studies—whether on a scholarship or not—can still apply for supplemental housing assistance. The contribution differs based on family income and the university’s location.

Scholarship Holders

• Students who cannot find a space in a public dorm are eligible for up to €483 per month in Lisbon, Oeiras, and Cascais.

Non‑Scholarship Students

• If a student lacks a scholarship and their per‑capita family income is below 28 IAS on the Social Support Index, they can receive aid equal to 50% of the scholarship holder’s amount.