Lisbon's Student Housing Crisis: Rents Soar to €714, Pushing Education Out of Reach

The Soaring Cost of Student Accommodation in Portugal

Never has it been more expensive for a student to rent a room while pursuing higher education away from home. The national average cost stands at 415 euros, but in Lisbon, prices are prohibitive, starting from 500 euros. According to a survey by the Observatory of Student Housing, nearly 6,000 rooms were available last month, with over half located in the Lisbon region, home to around 50,000 displaced students.

Alarming Conditions and Sky-High Prices

Beyond the high costs, many accommodations lack minimum conditions, with rooms packed with numerous beds and even converted balconies serving as living spaces. The Observatory, which tracks private student housing offerings and rents nationwide, reports that a room in Lisbon averages 500 euros per month, but some listings reach up to 714 euros. Lisbon had 2,768 rooms for rent out of a national total of 5,514, making it the most expensive city. In contrast, Porto's average is 400 euros, and Faro's is 380 euros.

Prohibitive Prices Across Regions

Even in autonomous regions, prices are steep: 465 euros in Funchal and 400 euros in Ponta Delgada. To address this, the government plans to add 2,000 more beds in student residences by September.

Impact on Higher Education Access

Housing costs are deterring applicants from pursuing studies. This year's first phase of the national higher education access competition saw 9,000 fewer candidates, a drop that student leaders attribute to accommodation expenses. Pedro Neto Monteiro, president of the Lisbon Academic Federation, stated, "A family will certainly face great difficulty in supporting their children's education."