Priced out? Students in Czechia face pressure as dormitory, accommodation costs surge

Students preparing to start the new school year in Czech university cities are confronting significantly higher rental prices, with some areas seeing double-digit increases compared to last year. 

As demand for student housing outpaces supply, particularly in Prague and Brno, experts warn that those who delay their search may struggle to find suitable accommodation.

Over the past year, student housing costs have climbed noticeably, with the sharpest increases hitting studio and small independent apartments. In Prague, renting a studio now often exceeds CZK 15,000 per month, while shared rooms rose more moderately, by about 5 percent year on year.

In Brno, similar trends show studios reaching CZK 12,000–13,000, while a shared room costs around CZK 9,000. 

Regional university towns like Pilsen, Liberec, Olomouc, and Hradec Králové also saw steep rent hikes, with shared rooms now often priced between CZK 6,500 and 9,000. By contrast, the most affordable student housing lies Ostrava, Opava, and Ústí nad Labem, where students might pay as little as CZK 5,000 to CZK 6,000 for a shared room. 

With Prague rents now about one-third higher than in the Central Bohemian region, some students are opting to commute from surrounding areas, where monthly rents can be CZK 3,000–5,000 cheaper, analysts say.

Rental prices are climbing due to a combination of inflation-driven cost increases, limited availability of student-friendly apartments, and growing demand. Universities have responded by raising dormitory fees and renovating or expanding their facilities, but supply remains tight. 

Meanwhile, landlords are upgrading apartments and offering more co-living layouts with separate rooms and kitchens, a setup preferred by many students. This heightened demand and limited stock have driven prices upwards across major university cities.

“Those who have not secured housing for the next school year now will have a hard time finding accommodation just before the start of the semester. The vast majority of apartments with the requested layouts are already booked,” Jiří Krejčí of real estate site UlovDomov.cz told Czech media.

Co-living remains the most cost-effective choice for many, offering shared apartments with furniture and separate communal spaces. Dormitories continue to provide an alternative, with monthly rents ranging between CZK 2,800 and CZK 8,400 depending on the university and accommodation type, though spaces are extremely limited.

With rents surging and affordable housing scarce across the country, students' accommodation struggles are microcosmic of workers around Czechia, too.