Cost of Living as a Student in Europe: 2027 Breakdown by Country
Tuition is only half of your study-abroad budget. Rent, food, transport and insurance decide whether your money lasts the whole year, and embassies check that you can cover them before they issue a visa. This guide compares typical student costs across the European destinations we work with, using the same figures as our destination pages.
Monthly living costs and yearly tuition
| Country | Living cost / month | Tuition / year |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | €500 – €800 | €2,000 – €6,000 |
| Hungary | €500 – €900 | €3,000 – €10,000 |
| Latvia | €600 – €900 | €2,500 – €6,000 |
| Lithuania | €600 – €900 | €2,000 – €5,000 |
| Germany | €700 – €1,100 | €0 – €3,000 (mostly semester fees) |
| Cyprus | €700 – €1,100 | €5,000 – €12,000 |
| Malta | €800 – €1,300 | €5,000 – €14,000 |
| Austria | €900 – €1,400 | €1,500 – €5,000 |
Ranges are wide because capital cities cost more than smaller university towns. Warsaw or Vienna sit at the top of each range; cities such as Lublin, Rzeszów or Debrecen sit near the bottom.
Where the money goes
- Accommodation (40–50%): a shared flat or student residence is the biggest cost. Dormitories are cheapest but fill early, so apply as soon as you accept your offer.
- Food (20–25%): cooking at home and using student canteens keeps this low. Supermarkets such as Lidl and Biedronka are popular with students in Poland.
- Transport (5%): most cities offer student discounts of 50% or more on monthly passes.
- Health insurance: required for your visa or residence permit. Budget for it before you arrive.
- Phone, books and personal costs: smaller items that add up to €50–€100 a month.
Proof of funds is not the same as your budget
Most countries ask you to show a minimum amount before granting a visa. Germany, for example, requires a blocked account with €992 per month for 2026 (€11,904 for a year). Austria expects about €722.58 per month if you are under 24 and €1,308.39 if you are 24 or older. Latvia asks for roughly €780 per month. These are legal minimums, not comfortable budgets, so plan to have a little more.
Five ways to stretch your budget
- Choose a smaller city: the same degree often costs far less to live on outside the capital.
- Look for scholarships early. Our scholarships page lists open awards, including Stipendium Hungaricum and Erasmus Mundus.
- Check part-time work rules. Full-time students in Poland on a residence permit can generally work without a separate permit, and Germany allows 140 full or 280 half days a year.
- Pay tuition yearly if your university offers a discount for it.
- Arrive with an emergency fund of at least one month's costs.
Plan your numbers
Our 2027 intake planner builds a month-by-month plan with budget estimates for your chosen country. If you are not sure what you can afford, the readiness check looks at your budget alongside your grades and suggests realistic destinations.