2026 back-to-school season in Lisbon and Porto: Homestays as a solution to housing shortages

At the dawn of this new academic year, the search for a place to live is once again becoming a real challenge for thousands of young people. Finding student housing in Lisbon or Porto is now quite a feat, given the skyrocketing demand and shrinking supply. At Roomlala, we are closely monitoring this tense situation, and we understand the anxiety of students and their parents. The 2026 back-to-school season in Portugal promises to be particularly complex in terms of real estate, with rents continuing to rise in major metropolitan areas. However, solutions do exist. Faced with this cruel lack of traditional university housing, long-term homestays and shared housing are no longer just alternatives, but the most viable, economical, and human responses to counter this student housing crisis.

An unprecedented student housing crisis for the 2026 back-to-school season

The situation is clear as of August 2026: Portugal is going through a student housing crisis of unprecedented proportions. The numbers speak for themselves and illustrate extreme tension in the real estate market. The country is currently suffering from a structural deficit estimated at 119,000 beds for students. This glaring lack of infrastructure is forcing almost all young people to turn to an already saturated private rental market. Universities, although aware of the problem, are struggling to build new buildings quickly enough to meet the constant influx of new students.

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Public student residences, historically designed to help low-income families, are now largely insufficient. Nationally, barely 7% of Portuguese university students have access to a spot in public housing. This already alarming figure hides even more worrying regional disparities: it falls to just 5% in Lisbon and 10% in Porto. In other words, 95% of students in the capital must fend for themselves to find a place to live, study, and thrive.

This shortage is hitting an increasingly mobile student population hard. Today, there are approximately 147,000 so-called "displaced" Portuguese students, meaning those studying outside their home city, in addition to nearly 80,000 international students who have come seeking academic excellence and the Portuguese quality of life. These two groups find themselves in direct competition in a market where supply is not keeping up. In the second quarter of 2026, the demand for rooms to rent in Portugal jumped by 27%, while supply, paradoxically, fell by 11%.

At Roomlala, we receive daily testimonials from distraught students who see the start of the school year approaching without a place to land. This situation generates immense stress that can impact academic success. That is why it is crucial to understand current price dynamics and turn to supportive and sustainable alternatives to ensure a peaceful 2026 back-to-school season in Portugal.

Prices are soaring: Private residences vs. traditional market

The real cost of student housing in Lisbon and Porto

The scarcity of supply has inevitably led to a dizzying rise in prices. In August 2026, the median rent for a standard student room is 550 euros per month in Lisbon and 450 euros in Porto. These amounts, while high for a young person's budget, currently represent the base rate for hoping to find accommodation in these attractive cities. It is important to note that these prices mainly concern the homestay or traditional shared housing market, which remain the most affordable options.

In parallel, the market has seen the emergence of many private student residences (PBSA - Purpose Built Student Accommodation). While these complexes offer high-end amenities (gyms, coworking spaces, 24/7 security), their prices are completely disconnected from the economic reality of the majority of students. In Lisbon, rents in these private residences soar between 740 and 1,500 euros per month! A financial abyss that is inaccessible to most families.

This dichotomy between the traditional market and ultra-modern private residences highlights the crucial importance of homestays. For a student looking for student housing in Lisbon with a realistic budget, PBSAs are simply not an option. It is therefore vital to make the distinction and focus searches on peer-to-peer platforms to find fair prices, located in the 450-550 euro range.

Let's take a concrete example: Tiago, an engineering student from Faro, was accepted to the University of Lisbon. Faced with private residences at 900 euros, his parents almost gave up on his enrollment. By turning to a homestay at 500 euros, utilities included, they were able to make his study project viable. This use case perfectly illustrates the necessity of these affordable alternatives.

State aid: Valuable but capped support

Aware of the social emergency, the Portuguese state has implemented support measures for the 2026 academic year. Housing aid is specifically intended for scholarship students who, due to a lack of space in public housing, are forced to rent in the private sector. It is an essential breath of fresh air, but one that comes with strict limits that must be understood to finalize one's budget.

This government aid is indeed capped to reflect the reality (or at least part of the reality) of market prices. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the aid ceiling is set at 500 euros per month for Lisbon and 419 euros for Porto. These amounts have been calculated to help young people cope with the median rents mentioned above, but they obviously do not cover the excess of private residences (PBSA).

The equation is therefore simple: for a scholarship student to be able to house themselves with no remaining cost (or a minimal remaining cost), they must imperatively target a homestay or shared housing whose rent corresponds to these ceilings. Renting a room for 550 euros in Lisbon with 500 euros in aid leaves a remaining cost of 50 euros, which is manageable. On the other hand, aiming for a private residence at 800 euros makes the aid insufficient.

At Roomlala, we strongly encourage eligible students to prepare their aid application file as early as possible. Administrative procedures can take time, and having a rental promise or a properly executed homestay contract is essential to unlock these funds. Our hosts are accustomed to providing the necessary documents to facilitate these procedures.

Shared housing and homestays: Sustainable alternatives

Why choose a homestay?

Faced with the student housing crisis, homestays are no longer a backup plan; they are a real solution for the future. The principle is simple: a host with a spare room in their main residence rents it to a student. Financially, it is the assurance of finding rents that respect the market median (450-550 euros), often with all utilities included (water, electricity, internet), which avoids unpleasant surprises at the end of the month.

But beyond the economic aspect, it is the human experience that prevails. For a student leaving the family nest, sometimes for the first time, or for an international student arriving in an unknown country, living with a host offers a reassuring framework. Hosts are often great at offering advice on how to discover the neighborhood, explaining how public transport works, or helping with cultural and linguistic integration.

At Roomlala, we make it a point of honor to secure these connections. We verify profiles, secure online payments, and offer a trusted framework. Hosts, for their part, find in this process a way to monetize an unoccupied space and deal with inflation, all while doing a huge service to the younger generation.

Take the case of Maria, a French student on Erasmus at the University of Porto. Finding no student room in Porto in traditional residences, she rented a homestay with Dona Rosa through our platform. Not only does she pay 420 euros per month (perfectly within her budget), but she has also made huge progress in Portuguese thanks to dinners shared with her host, turning a logistical constraint into an unforgettable experience.

The rise of shared housing in Portugal

Alongside homestays, shared housing in Portugal is experiencing meteoric success. Renting a large apartment together allows you to divide the cost of rent, as well as all ancillary expenses: internet subscriptions, home insurance, and even groceries if roommates organize well. It is an extremely resilient economic model in the face of skyrocketing real estate prices.

Shared housing also meets a fundamental need for socialization. University studies can be stressful, and coming home at night to an empty apartment can weigh on your morale. In shared housing, you create a surrogate family. You share moments of conviviality, help each other with revisions, and forge bonds that often last well beyond your study years.

However, finding the right shared housing requires method. It is not just about finding a room, but about finding people with whom you share the same rhythm of life and the same values (cleanliness, noise, organization of chores). Many apartments in Lisbon (in neighborhoods like Alameda or Arroios) or Porto (near Paranhos, near the university center) have historically been dedicated to this way of life.

We always advise our users to chat with the current roommates before committing. A video call or a meeting over coffee makes it possible to ensure the fit is good. On Roomlala, shared housing listings often detail the atmosphere of the apartment, which greatly helps in making the right choice and ensuring a harmonious academic year.

Our tips for finding your room before the start of the school year

The key to success in finding housing in a context of shortage is anticipation. Even if demand has increased by 27% and supply has dropped by 11%, there is always movement in the market. New listings are published every day on Roomlala. If you are doing it at the last minute, don't panic: stay connected, activate alerts, and be extremely responsive when a room matching your criteria is posted online.

Preparing your rental file is a step that should not be overlooked. Hosts receive many requests and favor organized candidates. Make sure you have a digital version of all your documents ready to be sent: identity document, proof of university enrollment, proof of your guarantors' income, and possibly proof of a scholarship if you are counting on state aid. A well-completed Roomlala profile, with a smiling photo and a short description of yourself, often makes the difference.

Show geographic flexibility. Everyone dreams of living in the historic center of Lisbon or by the Douro in Porto, but that is where prices are the most inaccessible. Expand your search area to neighboring municipalities that are well served by public transport. In Lisbon, towns like Almada (on the other side of the Tagus) or Odivelas offer much more affordable homestays, just 20 or 30 minutes by metro or boat from the university.

Finally, the security of your process must be your absolute priority. Unfortunately, the housing crisis also attracts scammers on social networks or unmoderated classifieds sites. Never send money by direct bank transfer before having visited or signed a contract. By using a secure platform like Roomlala, your payments are protected and are only released to the host after your successful arrival. Here is a small checklist for an effective search:

• Define a strict budget by including utilities and taking into account state aid (500€ cap in Lisbon, 419€ in Porto).
• Prepare a complete, clear, and translated file if necessary (for international students).
• Expand your search perimeter by carefully studying metro, bus, or suburban train lines.
• Prioritize human contact by writing personalized messages to hosts to explain your study project.
• Secure your transactions by using Roomlala's payment system exclusively.

In conclusion, although the 2026 back-to-school season in Lisbon and Porto presents major housing challenges, homestays and shared housing stand as effective shields against student precariousness. At Roomlala, we are proud to facilitate these intergenerational and intercultural encounters that allow young people to focus on the essential: the success of their studies.