A month in Copenhagen, in numbers
| Item | Monthly (DKK) | Approx. EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Room in a shared flat or kollegium | 4,000-6,500 | 535-870 |
| Food | 2,000-2,800 | 270-375 |
| Transport | 350-500 | 47-67 |
| Phone and internet | 150-300 | 20-40 |
| Personal and other | 800-1,500 | 105-200 |
| Total | 7,500-10,500 | 1,000-1,400 |
Housing is the real challenge
Demand for student housing in Copenhagen far exceeds supply and waiting lists are long. What actually works:
- 1Apply through your university's housing foundation the day your offer arrives. Many universities reserve a limited number of places for international students, and that is the best route available to you.
- 2Book temporary accommodation for the first one or two months, on the assumption that you will find something permanent after arriving.
- 3Scams are common. Verify the address and the ownership before sending money, and never pay a deposit on a place you have not seen.
- 4Amager, Nørrebro, Valby, outer Frederiksberg — and Malmö in Sweden, 35 minutes by train — are all real options.
The universities
- University of Copenhagen — broad, research-led
- Technical University of Denmark (DTU) — engineering, on the Lyngby campus
- Copenhagen Business School — business and economics
Work, honestly
Work rights come with the residence permit, for a defined number of hours, with more allowed in summer. Danish wage rates are among the highest in Europe, so a job here genuinely changes your budget — but the competition is real and Danish is a significant advantage. Cafés, cleaning, delivery and campus work are the usual starting points.
The honest bits
- 1The first year is expensive. Do not talk yourself into a lower number than the real one.
- 2The housing shortage matters more than the price.
- 3Dark, windy winters.
- 4On the other side: high wages, English used widely, and provision for staying on to look for work after graduating — the rules change, so read SIRI and nyidanmark directly.
Before you fly
- 1Apply for housing the day you accept.
- 2Have the full year funded; Denmark's financial requirement is strict — see proof of funds.
- 3Read the Denmark residence permit guide.
Official sources — check for yourself
Rules and figures change. We review these articles periodically and show the date above, but always confirm the current requirement with the official source before you act on it.
Common questions
How much does a student need per month in Copenhagen?+
Typically DKK 7,500-10,500, roughly EUR 1,000-1,400 — the highest among our nine countries. Rent is the bulk of it, and getting a kollegium place is the main way to control the total.
Is it really that hard to find housing in Copenhagen?+
Yes, and it is a bigger problem than the cost. Student housing waiting lists are long, so apply the day your offer arrives and hold temporary accommodation for the first month or two. Never pay a deposit on a place you have not seen — scams are common here.
Does Denmark use the euro?+
No, the Danish krone. The rate is closely pegged to the euro so it does not swing much, but every bill and rent payment is in kroner, so budget in that currency.
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