STUDENT HOUSING CRISIS IN CZECHIA
With the 2025/26 academic year set to begin in just a few weeks, students across Czechia are grappling with an unprecedented housing crisis. The sharp increase in rental prices, especially in university hubs such as Prague and Brno, has turned the search for affordable accommodation into a race against time. Many young people are now forced to choose between overpaying for a cramped room or commuting long distances from cheaper regions. Data from housing portals confirm that prices for student dorms and shared apartments have reached record highs, with double-digit increases recorded in many areas compared to last year. The issue has become so severe that some students are reportedly reconsidering their choice of university based on housing availability and affordability.
Prague and Brno lead the price hike
In the capital city of Prague, the cost of renting a studio apartment has skyrocketed, with average monthly prices now exceeding CZK 15,000. Even shared rooms, once the most economical option, have not been spared, with prices rising by approximately 5 percent year-on-year. A shared room in Prague now costs an average of CZK 8,751 per month, making it the most expensive city for student housing in the country. Brno follows closely, with studio apartments renting for around CZK 12,000 to 13,000, and shared rooms averaging CZK 6,631. This rise in rental costs is not just limited to these two major cities. Regional university towns like Pilsen, Olomouc, Liberec, and Hradec Králové have also seen noticeable increases, with shared rooms now typically priced between CZK 6,500 and 9,000 per month, an unsustainable figure for many students and families.
Commuting from the suburbs: a growing trend
In response to these soaring prices, a growing number of students are choosing to live in towns on the outskirts of university cities, commuting to school in an effort to save money. In the Central Bohemian region, for example, students can save up to CZK 5,000 per month by renting in nearby towns and commuting into Prague. However, commuting brings its own set of challenges, including time lost in transit and higher transportation costs. For many, this trade-off reflects the broader pressures facing students in an increasingly expensive rental market.
Drivers of the housing crisis
Several key factors are driving the student housing crisis in Czechia. Inflation has raised the costs of living and property maintenance, prompting landlords and universities to increase rent. In parallel, demand for student-friendly housing has surged, outpacing available supply. University dormitories have attempted to respond by renovating and expanding their facilities, but the pace has been too slow to meet growing needs. Meanwhile, landlords are redesigning apartments to feature co-living layouts, offering private bedrooms and shared kitchens, which are popular among students but come with higher rents. The overwhelming demand means that the majority of ideal student apartments have already been snapped up, leaving latecomers with fewer and more expensive options.
Limited dorm spaces and shrinking options
Dormitories remain a crucial resource for many students, with monthly prices ranging from CZK 2,800 to CZK 8,400 depending on location and room type. However, spaces are extremely limited, and securing a dorm spot has become increasingly competitive. Co-living remains the most accessible and cost-effective option for some, but the lack of affordable housing is reflective of a broader crisis in the Czech rental market, one that affects not only students but also young professionals and low-income workers. As the housing crunch intensifies, education itself may become a privilege, accessible only to those who can afford the skyrocketing costs of accommodation. Without immediate intervention, the current crisis threatens to erode social mobility and equal opportunity for the next generation of Czech students.
Sources: https://www.expats.cz/
