How to compare student housing in Budapest and Riga
Compare student housing in Budapest and Riga on five numbers: the monthly price, what it includes, the money due before you move in, the shortest contract and when the deposit comes back. As a guide, a university dorm costs about €100 to €200 a month in Budapest and €85 to €525 in Riga, a room in a private flat about €300 in both cities before utilities, and at Fuse a private room from €465 in Budapest and €350 in Riga, or a place in a shared room from €380 in Budapest and €250 in Riga, with utilities and Wi-Fi included.
Fuse prices come from the live listings, checked on 23 October 2026.
The five numbers, with the public figures and Fuse's
| What to compare | University dorms and private flats | Fuse |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Dorm: €100 to €200 per person in Budapest, €85 to €525 per person in Riga. Room in a private flat: about €300 in both cities | A private room from €465 in Budapest and €350 in Riga, or a place in a shared room from €380 in Budapest and €250 in Riga, all-inclusive, depending on the contract length |
| What it includes | Dorm: basic furniture, internet, shared kitchen, laundry (Corvinus); RSU: heating, electricity, water, Wi-Fi, furniture and linen; University of Latvia does not say. Private flat: usually rent only: utilities and internet come on top | Rent, utilities and WiFi in one price, furniture, a linen set at check-in. Fair use applies in Budapest: if the utilities of your room or flat go above €70 in a month, the extra can be charged. At Gát utca 19 the allowance is 150 kWh of electricity and 5 m³ of water a month; use above that can be charged. Riga homes have no fair use limit. |
| Money before you move in | Dorm: the whole semester's fee in advance, plus a €100 to €200 deposit (Corvinus); first month's rent and a deposit of one month (RSU); payment on arrival, 2 months minimum (University of Latvia). Private flat in Budapest: deposits of at least two months' rent are common | A €295 membership fee once, then the first month's rent and a deposit of two times the base monthly rent in Budapest or one and a half times in Riga |
| Shortest contract | Not in the sources below | 5 months, or 6, 10 or 12; starting on the 1st or the 15th of a month |
| Deposit back | Not in the sources below | Within 30 days of move out, held in a separate account |
Fuse prices come from the live listings, checked on 23 October 2026; every dorm and private market figure is the source's own, checked on 11 October 2026.
Sources
- Corvinus University: dormitories and private accommodation
- ELTE dormitory prices (Vezér út, one of seven ELTE dorms)
- ELTE: living costs in Budapest
- ELTE Housing Office: deposits in private rentals
- Semmelweis University: housing
- BME: dormitories
- Numbeo: cost of living in Budapest (crowd sourced)
- University of Latvia: accommodation
- RSU Student Hostel, Dzirciems
- RSU Student Hostel, Āgenskalns
- RSU: life in Riga, cost of living
- Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (crowd sourced)
Questions to ask any provider before you pay, and Fuse's answers
| Ask | Fuse's answer |
|---|---|
| Which company is my contract with, and is that who I pay? | Fuse Living Kft. in Budapest (SaniTóth Novum Kft. at Gát utca 19), SIA Fuse Hotel Latvia in Riga. Rent and the deposit go to that company by bank transfer. |
| Do I pay anything before my documents are checked? | No. Nothing is paid until they are checked. |
| How is the first payment made? | The €295 membership fee, by card on Stripe's secure payment page. |
| Is there a limit on utilities? | Fair use applies in Budapest: if the utilities of your room or flat go above €70 in a month, the extra can be charged. At Gát utca 19 the allowance is 150 kWh of electricity and 5 m³ of water a month; use above that can be charged. Riga homes have no fair use limit. |
| Can I cancel, and what comes back? | Before you pay the €295 fee: walk away any time, at no cost. After the fee, before you sign: you only lose the €295 fee. Within 7 days of signing: change your mind and get your deposit and rent back. The fee is kept. After that, before you move in: your first month rent comes back, the deposit and fee do not. Plans change after move in? Pass your contract to someone eligible for a €50 takeover fee. |
| When does the deposit come back? | Within 30 days of move out, minus any deductions, which are itemised. |
| Where can I read reviews? | Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5 from 59 reviews, read on 22 October 2026. |
Corvinus lists Fuse among the private student housing providers on its accommodation page, where private residences cost €320 to €1,000 a month, mostly including utilities.
Questions students ask
What is the cheapest student housing in Budapest and Riga?
A university dorm, if you get a place: about €100 to €200 a month in Budapest and €85 to €525 in Riga. A room in a private flat costs about €300 in both cities before utilities, and at Fuse a private room from €465 in Budapest and €350 in Riga, or a place in a shared room from €380 in Budapest and €250 in Riga, all-inclusive.
How can I check a housing provider before I pay?
Ask which company your contract is with and its registration number, read the contract before you pay rent, and look for reviews on an independent site. Fuse names its companies with their numbers on its contact page, you sign the tenancy agreement before rent and the deposit are due, and Fuse is rated 4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 59 reviews, read on 22 October 2026.