Finding a place to live in Denmark starts with your host institution. Check its website and follow its housing advice first. Then use the housing portals and student housing offices we list below. Most students search online, and sharing a flat is common.
Start with your institution
Your university or college may have its own housing office or partnerships with residence halls. Ask the International Office what help they offer and by when you need to apply. Deadlines and services differ, so get the details in writing. Also, look at our universities page to see where you'll study.
If you're coming for a short stay, like an exchange semester, you could contact Danish students who are going abroad at the same time. Services like HousingAnywhere connect incoming and outgoing exchange students.
Where to look for housing
Several cities have student housing organisations. In Copenhagen, the Student and Youth Accommodation Office Copenhagen (KKIK) handles applications for 18 residence halls in and around the city. Collegium Juris is a mixed Danish and international collegium for University of Copenhagen students. In Aarhus, Student Housing Aarhus offers more than 8,000 homes exclusively for students in Greater Aarhus. In Aalborg, Studiebolig Aalborg assigns rooms and flats. In Odense, Boligoen.dk is a collaboration of seven student residence houses (Danish website), and Kollegieboligselskabet also offers rooms.
General portals include boligportal.dk, lejebolig.dk, bolighub.dk and dba.dk. Most charge a small fee to access landlords' contact details. You can also check ungdomsboliger.dk and studenterguiden.dk for links to student housing across Denmark.
How much does housing cost?
Study in Denmark's rough budget puts rent at DKK 3,000 to 6,500 a month, with utilities usually included. Housing in bigger cities is pricier, and the closer to the centre, the more you pay. If you want to live centrally, search for a room rather than a whole flat. Whole flats are hard to get and often expensive.
For a full breakdown of living costs, see our cost of living guide. It covers food, transport, insurance and more.
Deposit and prepaid rent
A landlord may ask for a maximum of three months' rent as deposit and three months' rent as prepaid rent. That means up to six months' rent in total. The deposit covers repairs and damage when you move out. Prepaid rent is the landlord's assurance that you won't leave without terminating the lease.
Utilities like water, heating and electricity are often prepaid on account (a conto). You pay an approximate amount based on average consumption, and once a year you get a refund if you paid too much, or an invoice if you used more.
Rent is normally paid on the first business day of the month at the latest. Punctuality matters to Danes, so pay on time to keep a good relationship with your landlord.
Know the contract
Before you pay anything, read the contract carefully. Make sure it states the rent, what's included, the deposit, and the notice period. Both you and the landlord must sign it. If you're subletting, make sure the owner knows about the sublease. That puts you in a better position if there's a conflict.
Don't sign under pressure. If someone demands you sign immediately, take a step back. You can check who owns a property at boligejer.dk.
Avoid housing scams
Scams do happen. Be alert if you get a text message with no visible phone number, or if the rent seems too good to be true. Never pay a deposit in cash. Pay by bank transfer so the transaction can be traced. Don't use services where you can't reverse the payment, such as Moneybookers, Escrow or Western Union. And never pay money under the table. It's illegal, and you have no legal way to get your money back.
If you need legal help, LEJKA.dk offers free legal advice and prepares tenancy agreements. Lejerens Frie Retshjælp is a free legal aid organisation for landlord-tenant issues. Both can help in English.
Budget for other costs
Besides rent, you'll need money for food, transport, books and insurance. Our cost of living guide gives a rough monthly budget. Also, check our healthcare and insurance page to understand what you need.
Open a Danish bank account as soon as you have your CPR number. That makes it easier to pay rent and receive money. Bring enough cash or a credit card for the first few weeks.
Housing vocabulary
Here are some Danish terms you'll see:
| Danish | English |
|---|---|
| Husleje | Rent |
| Depositum | Deposit |
| Forudbetalt husleje | Prepaid rent |
| Vand, varme, el | Water, heating, electricity |
| Lejlighed | Apartment/flat |
| Værelse | Room |
| Kollektiv/bofællesskab | Collective/community |
| A conto | Fixed prepayment for utilities |
| Kvadratmeter (Kvm) | Square meters |
Knowing these terms will help you read ads and contracts. If you're unsure, ask your institution's housing office or a student adviser.
Frequently asked questions
Does my university in Denmark arrange housing for me?
Not always. Study in Denmark advises you to start on your host institution's website and follow its recommendations. Policies differ, so ask the International Office what housing help it offers and by when you must apply. An admission letter is not a housing offer.
How much deposit can a landlord ask for in Denmark?
A landlord may ask for a maximum of three months' rent as deposit and three months' rent as prepaid rent, so up to six months' rent in total. Utilities are often prepaid on account (a conto) and settled once a year.
How do I avoid rental scams in Denmark?
Never pay a deposit in cash or by services where you cannot reverse the transaction, such as Moneybookers, Escrow or Western Union. Pay by bank transfer so it can be traced, never pay money under the table, and do not move in without a contract signed by both you and the landlord. Be alert to text messages with no visible phone number and to pressure to sign immediately.
What is the average rent for student housing in Denmark?
Study in Denmark's rough budget puts rent at DKK 3,000 to 6,500 a month, with utilities usually included. Housing in bigger cities is pricier, and the closer to the centre, the more you pay. Rooms in shared flats are easier to find than whole flats.
Sources
- Study in Denmark, Finding housing, Deposit and prepaid rent limits; scam advice; legal help
- Study in Denmark, Housing links, Housing portals and city student housing offices
- Study in Denmark, Bank & budget, Rent DKK 3,000 to 6,500 a month
Last checked: October 2026. Rules and amounts change; confirm them on the official page before you act on them. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
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