Student dormitory costs in Latvia range from 85 to over 500 euros a month

Students in Latvia who live in university dormitories face very large price differences, according to a comparison by the newspaper Latvijas Avīze covering Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA), Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) and the University of Latvia (LU). The cheapest options cost just under 100 euros a month, while more private and comfortable housing can exceed 500 euros.

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences

ViA students live in two dormitories with 300 beds in total. A bed in a room shared with one other person costs 105 euros a month, while a single occupant pays 180 euros. The price covers all utilities and maintenance, as well as internet and security. The units are two-room apartment-style, each with its own shower and toilet, and every floor has a shared kitchen. Prices have risen by 16% since 2023, when they were previously raised.

Riga Stradiņš University

RSU has three dormitories with around 1,000 beds. The cheapest bed, in a triple room at the Mežciems dormitory, costs 85 euros a month, while a single room at the Dzirciems dormitory costs 525 euros, a difference of 440 euros. Rooms are grouped into classes (A, B, C), and the price depends on the level of amenities. Over the past three years the fee has risen by 15% on average. Student complaints mostly concern noise from neighbours, differing daily routines and order in shared spaces.

University of Latvia

LU offers five dormitories in Riga, housing up to 1,200 students at a time. Rent has risen by about 8% since 2024. Under the price list valid until 30 June 2027, the cheapest bed, on Tālivalža Street 1b, costs 130 euros for LU students and 154 euros for other tenants. Rooms are divided into classes D1 to D4, and the price also depends on the number of occupants. The most expensive offer is an apartment of more than 36 square metres at Buļļu Street 5 for 570 euros a month, used by foreign lecturers. LU says it has received no complaints about housing conditions in the past five years, though disagreements about cleanliness in shared areas sometimes arise.