Finding a place to live has become a major financial challenge for students in Greece, where rent is often the largest fixed expense families face when sending their children to university in another city. Alongside utilities, food and transportation, housing costs can put sustained pressure on household budgets throughout the academic year.
The issue is fueling student protests over the rising cost of education and attracting growing investment in student accommodation. Plans for new university dormitories, the conversion of existing buildings and privately operated furnished apartment complexes could increase the number of available rooms. For families, however, their impact will depend on when the projects are completed and how much accommodation will cost.
Greece Plans More Than 8,600 Student Housing Places
The Ministry of Education has announced a €737.5 million student housing program through public-private partnerships.
The plan includes 4,846 places in Crete, 763 in Thessaly, 700 in Thrace, 750 in Western Macedonia and 1,100 at the University of West Attica. These projects account for 8,159 places, with another 450 beneficiaries expected from the renovation of a dormitory at the National Technical University of Athens, bringing the total to 8,609.
Private Investors Expand Student Accommodation
Private companies are also developing purpose-built student housing and furnished studios.
Premia Properties has seven student residences already operating, while five additional buildings are set to add 370 rooms. The company has plans for a total of 1,200 rooms during 2027–2028.
Other projects include furnished studios in Dafni, Kallithea near Panteion University, and the Zografou area of Athens.
Real estate developer Dimand is also examining the possibility of developing student accommodation at Votanikos Business Park, on the former Softex property.
At Ellinikon, the University of Nicosia, in cooperation with Lamda Development, is planning a student housing complex. The university’s official presentation envisages between 800 and 850 rooms.
Where Student Rents Are Highest
Data from Spitogatos Insights for August 2026 show substantial differences in average asking rents for student accommodation across Greece.
Chania, on Crete, recorded the highest figure among the cities listed, at €13.30 per square meter, followed by Rethymno at €13 and central Thessaloniki at €12.90. Corfu stood at €12.50 per square meter, while Patras, Volos, Ioannina and Larissa each recorded €10.
For a hypothetical 40-square-meter apartment, those rates translate into the following monthly rents:
- Chania: €532
- Rethymno: €520
- Central Thessaloniki: €516
- Patras, Volos, Ioannina and Larissa: €400
These figures are average asking prices per square meter, rather than guaranteed rental prices for individual properties.
Student Housing Allowance and Rent Rebate
Students who rent accommodation and meet the eligibility requirements can receive an annual housing allowance of €1,500 in the Attica region and the Thessaloniki regional unit. The amount rises to €2,000 for eligible students who share accommodation.
In the rest of Greece, the allowance is €2,000 for students living independently and €2,500 for those who qualify under the shared-housing provision.
Students may also benefit from Greece’s annual rent rebate, which covers student accommodation. The payment equals one-twelfth of the declared rental expenditure for the previous year, up to a maximum of €800, and is paid by the end of November.
For student housing, the rebate is subject to income criteria but has no property-ownership limit.
How Much Can Families Save?
Families who qualify for both forms of support can combine the two payments, reducing the effective cost of rent.
For a student living outside the main metropolitan areas without a roommate and paying €400 per month, annual rent totals €4,800. A €2,000 housing allowance combined with a €400 rent rebate provides €2,400 in support, equivalent to 50% of the annual rent.
In Chania, a student paying the illustrative monthly rent of €532 would spend €6,384 over 12 months. A €2,000 housing allowance and a €532 rent rebate would provide €2,532 in combined support, covering approximately 40% of the annual rent.
The family would therefore pay €3,852 toward rent after the two forms of assistance, before accounting for utilities, food and transportation.
While planned construction and private investment could expand the supply of student accommodation, the timing and affordability of these developments remain central to whether they will ease the burden on students and their families..
Source: tovima.com
