Portuguese municipalities are expanding affordable accommodation schemes for university students, from subsidised residences to arrangements that let young people share homes with older residents.
These measures come as the cost of finding somewhere to live continues to weigh heavily on students moving away from home to attend university.
Portugal’s PBSA Report 2026 revealed that private student accommodation studios in Lisbon can cost between €740 and €1,500 a month, while prices in Porto range from €735 to €980.
As reported by ECO, only around 7% of higher education students in August had access to beds in student residences. Although the number of available rooms has increased in several university cities, this has not necessarily translated into lower rents.
Habitar Cascais
Cascais is among the municipalities seeking to offer students a more affordable alternative to the private rental market.
Through Habitar Cascais, the council provides accommodation at the Mosteiro de Santa Maria do Mar in Carcavelos and the Cascais Living Hub, with shared facilities such as kitchens, study rooms, communal areas, and Wi-Fi.
According to the municipality, the scheme offers 62 beds, with monthly rents ranging from €91.44 to €350, available to Portuguese and international students attending higher education institutions in the municipality, subject to applicable eligibility conditions.
This initiative began in the 2025/2026 academic year and accommodated 27 students in its first year.
The municipality subsequently made accommodation available to 32 students at the monastery and three at the Cascais Living Hub, alongside an agreement with the European Public Law Organization.
Furthermore, Cascais provides financial support to university students living in the municipality, with its scholarship programme representing an investment of approximately €1.8 million to assist 1,200 students.
Private institutions
Other municipalities and educational institutions are also developing lower-cost accommodation, including for students attending private institutions.
In Vila Nova de Gaia, the PIAGET Institute and Gulpilhares Parish Council have established two residences offering rooms for €250 a month, including cleaning and maintenance services.
Alfredo Rocha, President of Gulpilhares Parish Council, said accommodation costs could influence whether young people choose to study away from home.
Speaking to Diário das Notícias (DN), he stressed that housing should not prevent people from pursuing higher education, describing the partnership as an initial project with ambitions to expand either later this year or in the next academic year.
Figures from the National Statistics Institute (INE) show that the median rent for new contracts in the Porto Metropolitan Area reached €10.83 per square metre in the second quarter of 2026, which helps explain the pressure facing students and their families.
Intergenerational accommodation
In addition to subsidised residences, intergenerational housing schemes are offering a different approach to the accommodation shortage.
These programmes match university students with elderly people who have a spare bedroom in their homes, aiming to provide access to more affordable accommodation while giving older residents companionship and helping reduce social isolation.
Among the schemes are Conexões in Vila Real, Aconchego in Porto, Une. Idades in Lisbon, Abraço de Gerações in Coimbra, Laços para a Vida – Casa & Companhia in Évora and Unir. Gerações in Ponta Delgada.
The national Partilha Casa initiative brings together intergenerational home-sharing programmes, with arrangements tailored to students and older residents, including participant assessments and matches based on compatibility, accommodation needs, and availability.
Such schemes can benefit both generations, but their success depends on finding suitable matches and agreeing on expectations for sharing a home.
Most expensive city
The latest figures from the Student Accommodation Observatory underline the differences in rental costs across the country.
Based on data cited by DN, the average monthly price for a student room in Portugal stands at €411.
Lisbon remains the most expensive city, with an average of €500 and advertised prices reaching €700, followed by Ponta Delgada (€430), ahead of Funchal (€420), and Porto (€400).
Meanwhile, Faro and Setúbal average €375, while rooms cost €350 in Aveiro, €330 in Braga and €280 in Coimbra.
The Observatory also records prices of up to €600 in Funchal and Porto, €570 in Ponta Delgada, €550 in Setúbal, and €500 in Faro, showing how maximum advertised prices varied considerably.
This analysis draws on publicly available information from more than 20 property platforms and agency websites, covering over 100,000 advertisements for student rooms and apartments.