🏠 Housing — Portugal
How difficult is it to find student housing in Portugal?
Lisbon is the hardest and most expensive city. Porto is also competitive. Coimbra, Braga, Aveiro and Évora are usually more affordable and student-friendly. Students should start searching immediately after admission, especially if they need housing for September.
A 2026 Portugal housing guide reports that private shared rooms are commonly around €400 to €650 in Lisbon, €320 to €480 in Porto, €280 to €420 in Coimbra and €250 to €380 in Braga. MastersPortal gives broad ranges of around €200 to €500 for student halls, €250 to €650 for shared rooms and €500 to €1,200 for studios or one-bedroom apartments.
University residences
Public university residences are usually the cheapest option, but places are limited. Some are reserved for scholarship students, low-income students or students from specific programmes.
Typical prices:
- Public university residence: €150 to €350
- University-owned housing in big cities: €300 to €600
- Private student residence: €600 to €1,000+
Private student housing companies such as Xior operate student accommodation in Lisbon and Porto, but private residence prices can be high. Xior lists Portuguese student accommodation options and shows rooms from about €859.50 in some properties.
Private rooms and shared flats
Most international students rent a room in a shared apartment. This is often the most realistic option if university residence places are full.
Approximate prices:
- Lisbon: €400 to €750 for a room, €750 to €1,200+ for a studio
- Porto: €320 to €600 for a room, €650 to €1,000 for a studio
- Coimbra: €250 to €450 for a room
- Braga and Aveiro: €230 to €400 for a room
- Évora and Covilhã: often cheaper, depending on supply
Students should ask whether bills are included. In Portugal, some landlords ask for one or two months’ deposit plus first month’s rent.
Best platforms to find housing in Portugal
- University social services or accommodation office.
- Idealista.pt: one of the main rental platforms.
- Imovirtual: apartments and rooms.
- OLX Portugal: local listings, but be careful with scams.
- Uniplaces: student housing, especially Lisbon and Porto.
- Erasmus Play: compares student accommodation.
- HousingAnywhere and Spotahome.
- Livensa Living and Xior for private residences.
- Local Facebook groups.
Final advice
Portugal is still a great student destination, but Lisbon and Porto require realistic budgeting. If your budget is limited, consider Coimbra, Braga, Aveiro or smaller university cities. Always verify the contract and ask whether you can register your address. If you need help comparing Portuguese universities or planning your housing budget, we can help.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start looking for student housing?
Start as soon as you receive your admission. In competitive cities, apply for dormitories immediately and begin searching for private rooms 2 to 4 months before arrival. Never send money before verifying the landlord, the contract and the address.
This is starter guidance and changes often — always confirm on the official source before applying.
Use the free Scholarship Finder and country comparison, then get a personal plan.