--- title: "Student Housing Costs: Budapest vs Riga | Fuse" description: "Fuse room prices in Budapest and Riga side by side for every contract length, with the deposit, the student transport pass, dorm and private flat figures. Sourced." url: "https://fusestays.com/student-housing-costs/budapest-vs-riga" updated: 2026-10-23 --- # Budapest or Riga: what student housing costs in each city Fuse rooms start lower in Riga than in Budapest: from €250 a month against €380 on a 12 month contract, for a place in a shared room in both, and from €310 against €475 on a 5 month contract, all-inclusive. Outside Fuse, a university dorm costs about €100 to €200 a month in Budapest and €85 to €525 in Riga, and a room in a private flat about €300 in both cities, usually with utilities on top. A private room at Fuse costs from €465 in Budapest and €350 in Riga, all-inclusive. The Fuse deposit is two times the base monthly rent in Budapest and one and a half times the base monthly rent in Riga. Fuse prices come from the live listings, checked on 23 October 2026; every dorm, private market and transport figure is the source's own, checked on 11 October 2026. ## Fuse prices in Budapest and Riga, side by side **Fuse monthly prices in Budapest and Riga by contract length** | Contract | Budapest from | Budapest typical | Riga from | Riga typical | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 5 months | €475 | €580 | €310 | €485 | | 6 months | €460 | €560 | €300 | €470 | | 10 months | €405 | €495 | €265 | €415 | | 12 months | €380 | €465 | €250 | €390 | All-inclusive, per month. From the live listings, checked on 23 October 2026. Shorter contracts cost more per month; 12 months is the lowest rate. * [Fuse prices by room type](https://fusestays.com/pricing) * [Every room and its price](https://fusestays.com/rooms) * [Student housing in Budapest](https://fusestays.com/cities/budapest) * [Student housing in Riga](https://fusestays.com/cities/riga) ## What else differs between the two cities **Student costs that differ between Budapest and Riga** | | Budapest | Riga | | --- | --- | --- | | Fuse deposit | Two times the base monthly rent (the all inclusive price less €135 utilities) | One and a half times the base monthly rent (the all inclusive price less €135 utilities) | | Fuse fair use on utilities | If the utilities of your own room or flat go above €70 in a month, the extra can be charged at the utility rates. 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. | | Fuse late rent | €25 a day after the 27th | 0.5% a day after the 27th | | Fuse membership fee | €295, paid once | €295, paid once | | Student transport pass | 3,450 HUF: a monthly BKK student pass, with a Hungarian student card, or an EU, EEA or Swiss one and a Hungarian address | €12: a monthly public transport pass for students in higher education, against €30 full price | | University dorm | €100 to €200 per person | €85 to €525 per person | | Room in a private flat | About €300 for a room, about €500 for a studio in the central districts | About €300 for a room in a shared flat, about €500 not shared | | Bills in a private flat | Usually rent only: utilities and internet come on top | Rent only: RSU's guide budgets €200 to €300 a month for utilities and services | RSU's cost of living guide suggests a minimum total budget of €1,200 a month for a student in Riga, including accommodation. Sources: * [BKK: the student transport pass, checked on 11 October 2026](https://bkk.hu/hirek/2026/06/valtoznak-a-kulfoldi-diakok-altal-vasarolhato-berletek-feltetelei-a-bkk-jaratain.16751/) * [Rīgas satiksme: the student transport pass, checked on 11 October 2026](https://www.rigassatiksme.lv/en/tickets-and-e-ticket/types-and-prices-of-tickets-1/one-month-ticket/) * [Corvinus University: dormitories and private accommodation](https://www.uni-corvinus.hu/post/landing-page/dormitories/?lang=en) * [ELTE dormitory prices (Vezér út, one of seven ELTE dorms)](https://www.elte.hu/en/dormitory-centre/vezer) * [ELTE: living costs in Budapest](https://www.elte.hu/en/about-budapest/costs) * [ELTE Housing Office: deposits in private rentals](https://www.elte.hu/en/housing-office) * [Semmelweis University: housing](https://semmelweis.hu/admission/life-at/housing/) * [BME: dormitories](https://www.imt.bme.hu/accommodation/dormitories/) * [Numbeo: cost of living in Budapest (crowd sourced)](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Budapest?displayCurrency=EUR) * [University of Latvia: accommodation](https://www.lu.lv/en/studies/student-life/accommodation/) * [RSU Student Hostel, Dzirciems](https://www.rsu.lv/en/student-hostel-dzirciems) * [RSU Student Hostel, Āgenskalns](https://www.rsu.lv/en/student-hostel-agenskalns) * [RSU: life in Riga, cost of living](https://www.rsu.lv/en/life-riga) * [Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (crowd sourced)](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Riga?displayCurrency=EUR) * [Fuse vs a dorm vs a private flat, city by city](https://fusestays.com/student-housing-costs) ## Questions students ask ### Which city is cheaper for a student room, Budapest or Riga? For a place in a shared room at Fuse, Riga: from €250 a month in Riga and €380 in Budapest on a 12 month contract, and a private room costs from €465 in Budapest and €350 in Riga, all-inclusive. University dorms cost about €100 to €200 a month in Budapest and €85 to €525 in Riga, and a room in a private flat about €300 in both cities. ### Is the Fuse deposit the same in Budapest and Riga? No. In Budapest it is two times the base monthly rent, in Riga one and a half times the base monthly rent; the base monthly rent is the all-inclusive price less €135 for utilities. In both cities it is held in a separate account and returned within 30 days of checkout. ### Do I pay the membership fee again if I move from Budapest to Riga? No. You pay the €295 membership fee once and it stays with you. If you move to another Fuse city later, your membership moves with you and you do not pay the fee again. ## More from Fuse * [Student housing in Budapest](https://fusestays.com/cities/budapest) * [Student housing in Riga](https://fusestays.com/cities/riga) * [Fuse prices](https://fusestays.com/pricing) * [Every room and its price](https://fusestays.com/rooms) * [Erasmus housing in Budapest](https://fusestays.com/erasmus-housing/budapest) * [Erasmus housing in Riga](https://fusestays.com/erasmus-housing/riga) * [How to book safely from abroad](https://fusestays.com/book-safely) * [Fuse vs renting a flat yourself](https://fusestays.com/compare/renting-a-flat-yourself) * [Fuse vs student dorms](https://fusestays.com/compare/student-dorms) * [How to compare student housing](https://fusestays.com/compare/how-to-choose) * [Fuse vs a dorm vs a private flat](https://fusestays.com/student-housing-costs)