Cost Of Living For a Student in Copenhagen 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: DKK
Average monthly spending for students in Copenhagen
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Copenhagen?
Students in Copenhagen spend around 23,000 DKK per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 3,600 DKK or as high as 250,000 DKK. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
How do students spend their money in Copenhagen?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (17% to 28%)
| LOW | $120 860 DKK |
| AVERAGE | $800 5,500 DKK |
| HIGH | $8,900 61,000 DKK |
| Per Month |
Students in Copenhagen typically spend from 17% to 28% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 22% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 5,500 DKK with expenditure ranging from 860 DKK to 61,000 DKK. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities5%
5% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $18 130 DKK |
| AVERAGE | $120 810 DKK |
| HIGH | $1,300 9,100 DKK |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Copenhagen ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 810 DKK with 130 DKK and 9,100 DKK being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel6%
6% of total expenses on average (5% to 12%)
| LOW | $35 240 DKK |
| AVERAGE | $220 1,500 DKK |
| HIGH | $2,500 17,000 DKK |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 240 DKK to 17,000 DKK in a month on commuting with 1,500 DKK being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 12%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost21%
21% of total expenses on average (15% to 25%)
| LOW | $97 660 DKK |
| AVERAGE | $620 4,300 DKK |
| HIGH | $6,900 47,000 DKK |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Copenhagen is 4,300 DKK. The cost of groceries can range between 660 DKK to 47,000 DKK. Students spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 15% and 25% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare7%
7% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $26 180 DKK |
| AVERAGE | $170 1,100 DKK |
| HIGH | $1,800 13,000 DKK |
| Per Month |
Students in Copenhagen allocate 4% to 10% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 7%. The range of medical expenses range from 180 DKK to 13,000 DKK with 1,100 DKK being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping4%
4% of total expenses on average (3% to 8%)
| LOW | $24 170 DKK |
| AVERAGE | $160 1,100 DKK |
| HIGH | $1,700 12,000 DKK |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 170 DKK to 12,000 DKK with 1,100 DKK being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $92 630 DKK |
| AVERAGE | $590 4,100 DKK |
| HIGH | $6,600 45,000 DKK |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 4,100 DKK per month with 630 DKK being the minimum spent amount and 45,000 DKK being the maximum.
Other Expenses16%
16% of total expenses on average (10% to 22%)
| LOW | $76 520 DKK |
| AVERAGE | $490 3,400 DKK |
| HIGH | $5,400 37,000 DKK |
| Per Month |
Low-cost alternatives in Copenhagen
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options62%
Few low-cost options38%
Based on the survey, 62% of the students living in Copenhagen have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 38% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Affordable living in Copenhagen
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Copenhagen?
Around 81% of surveyed students think that living in Copenhagen is affordable with proper budgeting while 19% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Copenhagen
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
| 290 DKK | 440 DKK | 1,800 DKK |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 110,000 DKK | 210,000 DKK | 280,000 DKK |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 130 DKK | 810 DKK | 9,100 DKK |
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
| 260 DKK | 360 DKK | 1,200 DKK |
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
| 230 DKK | 290 DKK | 1,500 DKK |
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 4,200 DKK | 6,300 DKK | 17,000 DKK |
1-bedroom apartment
| 6,500 DKK | 10,000 DKK | 26,000 DKK |
2-bedroom apartment
| 8,900 DKK | 13,000 DKK | 35,000 DKK |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 890,000 DKK | 1.3M DKK | 2.7M DKK |
| $130,000 | $190,000 | $390,000 |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1.1M DKK | 1.8M DKK | 6.8M DKK |
| $160,000 | $260,000 | $990,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 1.7M DKK | 5.1M DKK | 10M DKK |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 4,400 DKK | 5,400 DKK | 7,300 DKK |
Double Bed
| 3,000 DKK | 4,500 DKK | 5,600 DKK |
Single Bed
| 2,700 DKK | 3,500 DKK | 4,600 DKK |
Living Room
| 5,200 DKK | 6,700 DKK | 23,000 DKK |
Dining Table
| 2,200 DKK | 2,900 DKK | 5,400 DKK |
Sofa or Couch
| 3,000 DKK | 4,100 DKK | 8,900 DKK |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 3,000 DKK | 4,500 DKK | 9,000 DKK |
Fridge or Freezer
| 2,700 DKK | 4,200 DKK | 5,700 DKK |
Washing Machine
| 3,300 DKK | 4,700 DKK | 8,500 DKK |
Stove or Cooker
| 3,100 DKK | 4,000 DKK | 5,500 DKK |
Mobile Phone
| 3,700 DKK | 4,500 DKK | 6,400 DKK |
Laptop or Computer
| 4,200 DKK | 5,100 DKK | 9,200 DKK |
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy76%
We asked student guardians and parents in Copenhagen whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 24% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 76% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 24% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 76% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance24%
Easily manages finances76%
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes77%
No23%
Based on the survey, 23% of the students living in Copenhagen said that they don't have an emergency fund while 77% said that they do.
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Copenhagen
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Copenhagen
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,200 DKK | 6,300 DKK | 17,000 DKK |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 6,500 DKK | 10,000 DKK | 26,000 DKK |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 8,900 DKK | 13,000 DKK | 35,000 DKK |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 11,000 DKK | 18,000 DKK | 50,000 DKK |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 21,000 DKK | 52,000 DKK | 100,000 DKK |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 17,000 DKK | 25,000 DKK | 73,000 DKK |
House monthly rent cost
| 21,000 DKK | 52,000 DKK | 100,000 DKK |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 25,000 DKK | 63,000 DKK | 100,000 DKK |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Copenhagen ranges between 4,200 DKK and 17,000 DKK, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 6,500 DKK to 26,000 DKK. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 8,900 DKK and 35,000 DKK per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 11,000 DKK to 50,000 DKK. The average rent of a townhouse in Copenhagen is around 25,000 DKK while house rental costs can be as high as 52,000 DKK per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 25,000 DKK to 100,000 DKK per month.
Apartment and house prices in Copenhagen
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 890,000 DKK | 1.3M DKK | 2.7M DKK |
| $130,000 | $190,000 | $390,000 |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 1.1M DKK | 1.8M DKK | 6.8M DKK |
| $160,000 | $260,000 | $990,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 1.7M DKK | 5.1M DKK | 10M DKK |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 5.8M DKK | 8.7M DKK | 26M DKK |
Townhouse price
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Copenhagen can range from 890,000 DKK to 2.7M DKK depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.1M DKK to 6.8M DKK. A villa can cost you 61M DKK on average with prices ranging from 11M DKK to 91M DKK.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Copenhagen will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 62 | x187 monthly income | 303 |
Property prices in Copenhagen can be x187 to x303 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x187 multiples of the average monthly salary in Copenhagen.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Copenhagen is around 41%. This means that people pay 41% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 29% to 53% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
32% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 72 DKK | 720 DKK | 11,000 DKK |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Copenhagen
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Copenhagen
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 130 DKK | 810 DKK | 9,100 DKK |
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 810 DKK. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 230 DKK to 610 DKK with 460 DKK being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 250 DKK but can range between 150 DKK and 750 DKK depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Copenhagen is around 4.7%. This means that people pay 4.7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.2% to 9.4% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Copenhagen
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Copenhagen
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Copenhagen is approximatly 88 DKK with meal cost ranging from 44 DKK to 150 DKK. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 150 DKK and 460 DKK with 230 DKK being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Copenhagen.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 290 DKK | 440 DKK | 1,800 DKK |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 290 DKK to 1,800 DKK with the average cost being 440 DKK for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Copenhagen.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Copenhagen is around 60 DKK. Price ranges between 38 DKK and 90 DKK depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Copenhagen is 37 DKK. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 46 DKK and the minimum being 31 DKK depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 29 DKK on average with 22 DKK and 44 DKK being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Copenhagen is between 52 DKK and 96 DKK depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 68 DKK.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 95 DKK. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Copenhagen costs around 32 DKK on average with prices rangeing between 23 DKK and 45 DKK depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 8.8 DKK to 22 DKK. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 21 DKK on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 660 DKK to 47,000 DKK with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Published: July 4, 2024 Last Update: March 15, 2025
