What's the cost of living in Bologna for international students?

Find out how to live in Bologna on a student's budget, including planning for rent, transport, groceries, night outs, and more.

Phoebe

10 minute read

·

Updated on 16 Sep 2026

·

Studying

Living in Bologna as a student costs around €800 to €1,100 a month in total once you add rent, food, transport, and going out, making it one of the more affordable university cities in Italy. For a more detailed breakdown, see typical monthly expenses in Bologna.

Decided to study abroad in Bologna? Amazing! It's not only one of the best cities in Italy but also one where the cost of living isn't high. More importantly, living in Bologna is considerably cheap for students — compared to other European cities — as you only need to budget approximately €509 excluding rent per month.

But as you prepare to study in Bologna as an international student (or want to know more, read the international student guide to studying in Bologna), you'll have to plan numerous things, such as university courses, best neighbourhood to live in, how to use the public transport, and more. So how do you plan your student budget and ensure you stick to it? Here're some tips on how to live on a student budget in Bologna.

• Total budget: plan for €800–€1,100 a month all-in, or €509 if you're only counting costs beyond rent.
• Rent: ranges from €250–€450 for a dorm to €655 for a private room and up to €1,235 for a studio.
• Best time to search: rooms get scarce and pricier around September and February, so start looking 3–4 months before you move.
• Public transport: students under 27 pay as little as €99–€220 a year instead of €300+, and exchange students can get a city ticket for just €10.
• Biggest saving lever: cooking at home and shopping at discount supermarkets can cut your food bill by roughly half compared to eating out daily.
• For exchange and Erasmus students: check Studenti Online early. It unlocks discounted transport tickets and other student-only prices that aren't advertised elsewhere.

Here's what a realistic monthly budget looks like depending on the type of accommodation you choose, combining the €509 baseline for food, transport, and leisure with different rent options:

Rent is your biggest lever. Choosing a dorm or a private room instead of a studio or apartment is the single fastest way to bring your total monthly cost down.

As Bologna is a bustling, international "student city," space for students is in high demand. And even though you may not be paying some of the higher prices that you'll find in other cities like Milan or Florence, it'll still be your biggest monthly expense.

The first tip is be wise about the type of room you rent as that can impact the rental price. Generally, renting a student accommodation costs less but it is very hard to reserve one. Here is the breakdown of average monthly rental prices in Bologna:

The second tip is to consider find a neighborhood that fits your budget. This is key when you want to stick to a budget. Try to steer clear of Via Indipendenza and Piazza Maggiore, areas known for their high prices.

The third and final tip is to start searching early for a room in Bologna. Begin looking 3 to 4 months before your move. Also, contact several landlords about different properties as students are rarely so lucky to get their first choice.

Demand spikes hardest around September and February, right when the academic terms start. Rooms disappear fast and prices climb during these windows, so if your move-in falls in either month, start your search even earlier than the usual 3 to 4 months and be ready to apply the moment you find something that fits your budget.

Rent is rarely the full story. For a typical two-bedroom apartment, a monthly bill covering electricity, water, gas, and garbage collection runs around €209, split between flatmates. Internet service adds roughly €37 a month on top.

If you're renting a private room or a place in student accommodation, ask upfront whether utilities and Wi-Fi are already included in the rent. Many student-focused listings bundle bills into a flat monthly price, which makes budgeting easier and avoids surprise costs during winter months when heating usage goes up.

Students in Bologna can expect to budget €192 for groceries per month. Here're some ways to save money:

1. Try discount grocery stores like the LIDL or Esselunga and avoid the convenient supermarkets in the city center.
2. If you live in an apartment with friends, buy groceries together from a shared budget, it's often cheaper.
3. Shop from local weekly farmer's markets, such as Campagna Amica. You'll get fresher produce for cheaper than the supermarket.

Eating out in Bologna

Bologna is known for its food and it's almost impossible to resist eating out! While it's tempting to skip cooking and relish the local cuisine, know that it can all add up! On average, here's what you can expect eating out will cost in Bologna:

Here're some tips on saving money on eating out: 1. Most restaurants will offer you bread and also charge you €1 - €2 for it. Skip this as the meal will likely be enough to fill you up! 2. Opt for the meal of the day, especially at lunch time, as these can be as cheap as €5. 3. Most restaurants will serve antipasti before your meal. This is often enough to fill you up a bit. 4. Use your student card! Some restaurants offer discount. 5. Eat from the street vendors. The area surrounding Piazza Verdi is full of kebab stalls and cheap restaurants called "trattorias."

1. Avoid the touristy shops and opt for more authentic shopping experiences. Via Farini offers a lot of shops, but visit Via Indipendenza instead for cheaper prices and much more variety.
2. Visit the several open-air flea markets, which offer much better prices than the regular shops.
3. Check out the outdoor vintage market on Piazza Puntoni, located just a few blocks down from Piazza Verdi. You'll be able to find vendors selling vintage clothes, accessories, books or vinyl records, all priced for the budget-conscious shopper.

If you plan on using the public transport in Bologna frequently, don't just buy individual tickets. Instead, get a seasonal or annual ticket. Here're some budget saving travel options for students in Bologna:

1. If you're enrolled at the University of Bologna, log in to Studenti Online to purchase the annual ticket for €180. Some students can also get it for €99 in certain circumstances.
2. If you're an exchange student, you can get a city transport ticket for only €10 if you log in via Studenti Online.
3. If you're under 27 years old, you can also get a monthly impersonal ticket for €27 instead of €36 or a annual personal card for €220 instead of €300.

For more practical tips, see how to get around Bologna on a budget.

Bologna is also one of Italy's best-connected rail hubs, so weekend trips don't need to break your budget. Regional trains to Florence take about 35 minutes and can cost as little as €10-15 one way. High-speed trains to Milan or Venice take around 1 to 1.5 hours and start from roughly €20-30 if you book in advance, which is worth it if you want to explore beyond Bologna during your semester.

Besides food, rent, and the occasional shopping, you should also budget for how much you want to spend on leisure in Bologna. With so many things to do in Bologna, here're some things to consider if you want to budget conscious:

1. Get yourself an ESN card, which gets you discounts for several things, such as Ryanair when you want to travel, Skill Share when you want to upskill, Just Eat when you want to order in!
2. Instead of getting a membership at an expensive gym, look for university gyms. They're much cheaper and usually on campus.
3. Take your student card to the cinemas as students pay €4.50 on weekdays and Sunday instead of €7.
4. The Bologna Musei Institution will let you visit several museums for free as long as you carry your university card and proof of registration for the current academic year.
5. Interested in theatre? Get discounted entry tickets at the Arena del Sole theatre for selected shows by showing your student card.
6. Check out your university's events, especially those put on by the student organisations. You'll find no shortage of fun-filled activities, many of which won't cost you a thing after you join!
7. Head to the many green spaces popular with students, such as Giardini Margherita and Parco Montagnola. Check the calendars of these parks for free events, like concerts. Besides this, the parks are great places to exercise, get together to study or even have a weekend picnic.
8. Meet at Piazza Verdi, the buzzing square located at the center of the University of Bologna, Europe's oldest university. This is a great place to meet other students when you don't want to spend much or at all. (If you're curious about Italian university rankings, see the best universities in Italy for international students.)

Beyond your monthly budget, plan for a few one-time costs in your first weeks. Bedding, towels, and basic kitchenware typically run €100-150 if you buy new, or less if you shop second-hand or split costs with flatmates. A second-hand bike (€50-100) pays for itself quickly given how bike-friendly Bologna is.

If you need a new local SIM card (which we highly recommend due to the cheaper costs), there are a lot of mobile phone stores around the city centre. Prices may vary from location to location, so be sure to shop around a bit. If you're renting privately, also budget for a security deposit, usually one to two months' rent, since landlords hold this until you move out.

Between EU and non-EU eligibility, Emilia-Romagna's regional student agency, ER.GO, runs the DSU scholarship scheme open to both Italian and international students at the University of Bologna. If you meet the need-based (ISEE) requirements, it can cover a cash grant, subsidised or free university canteen meals, and help with accommodation, on top of everything else in this guide.

Combine that with the tips above: cook more than you eat out, always ask if a student discount applies, use your ESN and university cards everywhere, and buy your transport pass annually instead of month by month. Together, these habits are what separate a €1,100 month from a €800 one.

Bologna consistently comes out cheaper than Rome or Milan while still giving you a lively, well-connected student city to live in.

With so many tips, we're sure you can have a memorable time in Bologna, even if you're on a tight budget. Start your search for homes for rent in Bologna early, since the best-value rooms go fast around September and February.

Once you've found a place you like, you can book it before you even land in Italy. HousingAnywhere lets you apply, sign, and pay online, with your first month's rent held safely under Tenant Protection until 48 hours after move-in, so you have time to confirm everything matches the listing before that money is released to the landlord.

If you’re ready to move forward, here’s how to find student housing without the headache.

Best of luck on your international study abroad experience and have a great time exploring the less-expensive side of Bologna!

How much does it cost to live in Bologna per month as a student? Budget €800-€1,100 a month all-in if you include rent, or around €509 a month if you're only counting food, transport, and leisure on top of rent you're already paying.

Is Bologna cheaper than Rome or Milan? Yes. Bologna's average total monthly budget (€800-€1,100) runs lower than Rome (€1,000-€1,400) and noticeably lower than Milan (€1,200-€1,600), while still offering strong transport links and a big student population.

How much is a shared room in Bologna? A private room in a shared apartment averages around €655 a month, though prices can range from €250-€450 for dorm-style housing up to €850 depending on the neighbourhood and amenities.

What is the cheapest neighbourhood in Bologna for students? Areas outside Via Indipendenza and Piazza Maggiore tend to be more affordable, since those two are the priciest due to their central location. Check our Bologna neighbourhood guide for a full area-by-area breakdown before you commit.

Do I need a transport pass, or is a bike enough? Many students combine both: a bike for short daily trips around the city center, and a discounted annual or monthly transport pass (from €99-€220 a year for students) for longer trips or bad-weather days.

When is the best time to find a room in Bologna? Start looking 3-4 months before you move, and even earlier if your move-in date falls in September or February, when demand and prices both spike around the start of academic terms.

Why is Bologna so popular with students? It's home to the University of Bologna, Europe's oldest university, plus a lower cost of living than Milan, Rome, or Florence, a compact and walkable city centre, and one of the liveliest student social scenes in Italy.

Is Bologna expensive for students? Not compared to other major Italian or European cities. Rent is the biggest cost, but choosing a dorm or shared room, cooking more than you eat out, and using student discounts keeps your monthly spend well within the €800-€1,100 range.