Student housing crisis in Portugal: Some students spend 60 percent of their budget on rent alone

As universities in Portugal started the new academic year, the student housing issue became at the center of the agenda again. While students coming from outside the city have difficulty finding affordable rooms, especially in Lisboa and Porto, some students allocate up to 60 percent of their monthly budget only for rent.

It is reported that the average advertised price of a room for rent in August across the country reached approximately 527 euros.

Average room in Lisbon is 568 euros

According to the data shared by Imovirtual with Diário de Notícias, the average price of the rooms announced in August was around 527 euros across the country.

While Lisbon remains the most expensive city with approximately 568 euros, the average in Porto is approximately 491 euros.

These figures reflect the average of the listing prices on the platform, not the realized rental agreements.

However, students' experiences in the field show that finding housing is not just a matter of price.

Visited 15 houses for one room

21-year-old Joana Gonçalves, who moved from Lamego to Porto for her master's degree, said that she searched for about two months and visited approximately 15 houses to find a room suitable for her budget.

The student said that the advertisements were closed very quickly; He notes that some rooms are held within minutes after the message is sent.

Gonçalves eventually found a room closer to the university but smaller than he wanted, and the rent was monthly. It constitutes approximately 60 percent of its budget.

Approximately 147 thousand Portuguese students study away from home

It is stated that approximately 147 thousand Portuguese higher education students in Portugal moved from where they live to another city for education.

A significant portion of these students are concentrated in university centers such as Lisboa and Porto, where there is high rent pressure.

In 2026, 49,991 students were placed in the first stage of the higher education entrance system. This number is 13.9 percent higher than the previous year.

The entry of new students into the market in the same period increases the demand for rooms even more, especially in September.

Support extended to students renting rooms in the private market

In 2026, a significant change was made in the higher education social support system.

Accommodation support is no longer limited to certain students who cannot find a place in public dormitories, but can also include out-of-town students who meet the requirements and rent rooms on the private market.

Therefore, it is important for students looking for a room to check not only DGES dormitories, but also scholarship and complemento de alojamento conditions.

However, student representatives say that the basic problem has not changed: The supply of affordable housing in university towns is insufficient to meet demand, and the same problem arises again at the beginning of each academic year.

Resources

Renascença — Fernando Macedo — September 16 2026

https://rr.pt/especial/pais/2026/09/16/ha-estudantes-a-gastar-60-do-orcamento-na-renda-falta-de-alojamento-repete-se-todos-os-anos/485493/