With almost 40 universities, Prague is considered as a major student city in the Czech Republic. It does not matter if you come for Erasmus or start regular studies at one of the bachelor or master program. Usually, each public university has a campus and offers affordable accommodation. There are also many cultural events, sport possibilities, and many other things to do in your free time.
Student accommodation in Prague
It all depends on the university which you are going to study in. Most of them have a hall of residence close to the school and offer cheap rooms for their students. When reading information about study programs, have a look at the information about the possibility of getting student accommodation. It is needed to apply for it in advance! ČZU, ČVUT, and VŠCHT have beautiful campuses with hall of residence around Prague 6, VŠE accommodates students in Prague 4 or Prague 3. Charles University does not have one campus; it has several places around the whole of Prague. Room prices usually start around 3,500 CZK per month. If you share a room with others, you can get it cheaper than a single-bedroom.
If you prefer to rent a room out of campus, be ready to pay double the price or even more. The prices of accommodation in Prague are currently very high. If you are lucky, you will get a shared room for about 5,000 CZK. Regarding the single room, the price can be double or even higher. Try to check eSpolubydleni or Facebook groups which focus on flat sharing. For foreigners, it can be hard to find a suitable place. For those coming only for a few months for Erasmus, it is almost impossible to get anything else than a hall of residence.
Students discounts in Prague
As a student in Prague, you are eligible for an ISIC card. This is a great way to get discounts for everything that comes to your mind. It allows cardholders to get student discounts for transportation, restaurants, cinemas, museums, exhibitions, and concerts. On their websites, you can find the list of providers offering discounts.
Students also have cheaper tickets for public transportation. You can find the actual prices on the DPP official website. There are also discounts for bus, and train tickets when travelling out of Prague. With the student status, you can get advantageous phone tariffs or student bank account with free withdrawals.
Leisure activities in Prague
When not studying, there are many things to do during your free time in Prague, regardless of the day of the week. Do you prefer to do sports, go to the cinema, hang out with friends, or just relax, and read a book in the park? As a student, you get discounts to the cinema and theatres. All museums like the Museum of Communism, the Czech National Museum, or the Jewish Museum offer a special tariff for students. Take the opportunity and discover more about Czech history.
If you want to go out in the evening, there are several cheap places for students. Studentský klub Celetná is a café during the afternoons; in the evenings they organise cultural events and concerts. PopoCafePetl, and Milá tchýně are cocktail bars with very reasonable prices. Music Bar Nebe offers cheap cocktails too, and they have happy hours every day until 9 PM. Usually, each university campus has also its own club. Students of ČVUT and VŠCHT can party at Klub 007, ČZU has Klub C, and VŠE El Mágico.
Living costs in Prague
The rent price starts at 3,500 CZK if you decide to live in the halls of residence. The time ticket for students for a period of one-month costs 130 CZK, 360 CZK for three months, and 1,280 CZK for a full-year. Food can be quite expensive if you are eating in restaurants and fast foods (at least 150 CZK per meal). Instead of this, cook or eat in the university canteen which is financed by the state, and you can get food for 60 - 80 CZK.
Prices in Prague are quite high compared to other Czech cities. But if you avoid touristic areas, overpriced restaurants, and bars, you can enjoy Prague to the maximum. Numbeo can give you a basic overview of prices in the city. To sum up, the cost of living is at least 8,000 CZK per month for students on a budget. If you like parties, eating out, and drinking coffee at Starbucks, you will probably need double the amount.
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