CostTrek

★ Best places to live

Best cities for students in Europe

Affordable, walkable, well-connected cities with fast internet — ranked for students and young movers on a budget.

The Best cities for students in Europe, ranked by Student score across 34 cities we track in the region. Tallinn leads with 78/100, ahead of Budapest and Valencia.

By region🌍 Best cities for studentsAsiaNorth America
RankStudent score
  1. 1TallinnEstonia78/100
  2. 2BudapestHungary76/100
  3. 3ValenciaSpain72/100
  4. 4ViennaAustria72/100
  5. 5PortoPortugal71/100
  6. 6LisbonPortugal69/100
  7. 7WarsawPoland69/100
  8. 8PragueCzech Republic69/100
  9. 9BarcelonaSpain67/100
  10. 10MadridSpain65/100
  11. 11LyonFrance64/100
  12. 12CologneGermany64/100
  13. 13BordeauxFrance64/100
  14. 14AmsterdamNetherlands63/100
  15. 15ManchesterUnited Kingdom63/100
  16. 16HamburgGermany63/100
  17. 17RotterdamNetherlands63/100
  18. 18TurinItaly63/100
  19. 19StuttgartGermany63/100
  20. 20AthensGreece62/100
  21. 21FrankfurtGermany62/100
  22. 22BerlinGermany61/100
  23. 23MunichGermany61/100
  24. 24IstanbulTurkey61/100
  25. 25NiceFrance61/100
  26. 26MarseilleFrance61/100
  27. 27FlorenceItaly60/100
  28. 28ParisFrance58/100
  29. 29ZurichSwitzerland58/100
  30. 30MilanItaly56/100
  31. 31RomeItaly54/100
  32. 32LondonUnited Kingdom53/100
  33. 33NaplesItaly53/100
  34. 34DublinIreland52/100
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? Frequently asked questions

Which cities top this ranking?

Tallinn leads at 78/100, followed by Budapest and Valencia. The full ranking of 34 cities is listed above.

How is this ranking calculated?

We sort all 34 cities in our index by Student score. Figures are calibrated estimates, refreshed as we expand coverage — a practical guide, not official statistics.

Can I compare these cities in detail?

Yes. Open any city for its cost of living, rent, taxes, visas and quality of life, or use CostTrek’s side-by-side comparison to weigh two cities against each other.