3,979.22 PLN – that’s the average monthly expenditure of a student in part-time studies in Poland, according to a survey by the Warsaw Institute of Banking (WIB) and the Polish Bank Association. This is less than 30 PLN more than a year ago. As in previous years, housing costs remain the greatest burden, which is why 40% of students live with family or friends. Despite rising living costs, 4 in 10 students say their financial situation has improved compared to last year.
“The monthly budget of a Polish student, which we have been tracking with the Polish Bank Association in the Student’s Wallet report for many years, has not yet exceeded 4,000 PLN this year. Compared with 2016, when we first ran such a simulation and the cost hovered around 1,600 PLN, the increase is significant,” says Michał Polak, vice president of the Warsaw Institute of Banking.
Out of the 3,979.22 PLN, 560 PLN goes to tuition fees. For full-time students, average living costs are 3,419.22 PLN.
“These amounts are certainly high from the perspective of the average student budget,” notes Polak.
Housing and Food Take the Largest Share
The biggest expense is housing—a room, apartment, or dorm—typically in the range of 1,200–1,500 PLN, though almost one in five students spends more. The second-largest cost is food. Despite student creativity, family support, and help from grandparents, food costs remain substantial.
Data over recent years show that while costs continue to rise, the pace of growth has slowed slightly. Encouragingly, 41% of students now rate their financial situation as better than a year ago, compared with 24% who say it has worsened. The share of students considering dropping out for financial reasons also declined slightly to 17% (-1 pp). More young people say that taking up work allows them to stabilize their budgets.
“When it comes to accommodation, over 40% live with family or friends. The next most common arrangement is renting an apartment or room, chosen by about 30% of students,” Polak explains.
Rental Market Choices
According to Amron research, students renting accommodation most often (48%) choose an apartment or house with three or more rooms, each around 10–20 m², to share with others. 39% opt for two-room flats (usually shared with one other person), while 13% rent a studio.
As for financing, the main source is parental support (about 65%), followed by income from work (40%). Every fifth student relies on scholarship funds.
About 10% of students live in dormitories.
“This low percentage doesn’t reflect a lack of interest, but simply the limited availability of dorms,” says Polak.
Experts estimate a shortage of around 400,000 dorm places in Poland, including 60,000 in Warsaw alone. Demand often exceeds supply by a factor of four. Private dorms are emerging, but in Warsaw costs can reach up to 4,000 PLN per month—out of reach for many.
Student Numbers and Demographic Trends
The dorm shortage is also linked to a slight increase in the number of students in Poland, which this year may reach 80,000 more than before. Although still far below the peak of the late 1990s and early 2000s, the long-term downward trend has been broken.
“Most of these are foreign students. While demographic decline is evident—fewer applicants per place each year, even in popular programs—the influx of international students helps to balance the numbers. Many of them, accustomed to sufficient dorm provision in their home countries, want to find dorm accommodation in Poland first, rather than rent privately, which involves more formalities,” explains Polak.
