Living alone as a student: advantages, opportunities & challenges

Written by Kerstin Lakits, 02.10.2025

Living alone sounds like pure freedom. There are no flat share rules, no roommates blocking the bathroom, and finally your very own four walls. But with this newfound independence also come new responsibilities: From managing the household and doing the weekly shopping to paying for electricity and heating costs all on your own. 

Maybe you are currently wondering if living alone is the right option for you, or if a flat share might be a better fit for you. Or perhaps a student residence is exactly what you’re looking for? In this article, we will discuss all the opportunities and challenges of living alone and what you should definitely keep in mind before making your decision.

Table of Contents:

Why living alone during your studies is a big decision

Will you stay at Hotel Mum and Dad or take the big step toward independence? Many students face this decision when starting their studies. At home, the fridge is usually full, the laundry magically clean, and additional costs are often still covered by the family. On the other hand, having your own apartment means much more privacy, you can invite friends over anytime and don’t have to justify yourself for long party nights.

But living alone doesn’t just bring freedom, it also comes with plenty of responsibility. Handling rental contracts and utility bills, managing the cleaning and groceries is all up to you. At the same time, it’s a great way to learn independence, something that’s often harder to achieve while still living at home.

Whether moving out is the right choice for you depends on your personal situation, financial means, and what you expect of your student life. And if the time comes to move out, you’ll find the best tips for moving out of home right here!

Living as a student: student housing, flat share or your own place?

Before deciding on a type of housing, you should think about what matters most to you in everyday life. Each option comes with its own opportunities as well as challenges. Whether it’s community, costs, or privacy, depending on your personality and budget, one housing option might suit you better than the other.

Living in a Student Residence: Benefits and Highlights

Student residences are often an all-round carefree package. In most cases, there’s an all-inclusive rent, meaning you don’t have to worry about utilities, electricity, heating, or even internet. Many rooms come fully furnished, and in modern residences like STUWO Student Housing, you’ll even find extras such as in-house gyms, saunas, and common rooms. Another big plus is that residences are often located close to universities. On top of that, you’ll quickly meet new people, which is perfect if you’ve just moved to a new city. In all STUWO dormitories, even regular room cleaning is included, so you can fully focus on your studies.

That’s why a student residence is the perfect option for anyone who wants to enjoy a community feeling along with plenty of comfort! You can find more benefits and the most important info about student housing here!

At STUWO, you might even find your friends for life! ©Adobe Stock
At STUWO, you might even find your friends for life! ©Adobe Stock
Living in a shared flat isn’t just about sharing a space – it’s the little moments that count, like a spontaneous cooking night! ©Adobe Stock

Flat share as the Student Classic

A flat share is probably the most popular housing option among students. Here, you live together with others, usually fellow students, in one apartment. Everyone typically has their own room, while the kitchen, bathroom, and living room are shared. The rental contract is in the name of one or several of you, and you’re all responsible for everything together – paying rent, setting up the Wi-Fi, registering heating and electricity, grocery shopping, cleaning, and organising daily life. The biggest advantage is that rent and utility costs are shared, which often makes living in a flat-share more affordable. Plus, you have company in your daily life, whether it’s cooking, studying, or just hanging out together. With the right roommates, a shared flat can quickly feel like a small family.

Of course, living together also requires compromise, since different expectations of cleanliness or noise can become a challenge. Still, flat-shares remain a student classic because they combine community with a lot of freedom.

Living in a shared flat isn’t just about sharing a space – it’s the little moments that count, like a spontaneous cooking night! ©Adobe Stock

Living alone: Pure freedom or costly loneliness?

In your own apartment you have full control. You alone decide on the furniture, decoration, cleaning schedule, and you can have guests over whenever you like. No roommate to disturb you and nobody who interferes with your routines. This means pure freedom and full privacy. On the other hand, you bear all the costs, from rent to utilities on your own. Additionally, all the organisational tasks like going grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning are also solely your responsibility. You can’t just quickly ‘steal’ some pasta or an egg from your roommates. Plus, it can  be challenging to find connections, especially if you are new in town. You will have to actively seek out new friends. For some this is the perfect way to live independently, for others, and especially the ones who enjoy being surrounded by people, it can quickly become lonely and expensive.

Living on your own means: enjoying freedom and taking responsibility! ©Adobe Stock
Living on your own means: enjoying freedom and taking responsibility! ©Adobe Stock

Financing a flat as a student: how to create your own home

For many students, financing their own apartment is the biggest challenge. In addition to the monthly rent you also have to take utility costs like electricity, internet, and heating in winter, into account. On top of that you will also need to account for expenses for groceries, leisure, public transport etc. and sometimes also study materials. A good starting point is to create a small budget to realistically estimate how much money you will need each month. A simple example could look like this:  

  • Rent (incl. utilities): ca. €500
  • Electricity, Wi-Fi, phone ca. €100
  • Groceries: ca. €250
  • Leisure & other: ca. €150

That already adds up to around €1000 per month, which gives you an idea of the fixed costs you should expect. Don’t forget that you will also have to pay a deposit (usually around three months’ rent) and a small buffer for unexpected expenses.

This may sound a lot at first, but thankfully there are various ways to get support with financing your studies. In many federal states, you can apply for housing benefits, if your rent is high compared to your income. Study grants and family allowance can also provide important financial relief, provided you meet the requirements. In addition, many students take on a part-time job to cover monthly costs. You can find more tips on how to save money as a student here!

Everyday life and experiences: advantages and challenges of living alone

Living alone can be a great experience, as you have peace and quiet, can organise your daily life the way you want, and quickly learn what it really means to live independently. Here are some advantages for living alone:

Peace and Quiet

When you live alone, you can finally enjoy complete silence whenever you need it. Whether you’re preparing for an important exam, working on a paper, or just want to relax in silence after a long day, there are no noisy roommates or unexpected parties or guests. This makes it much easier to focus and recharge without any disturbance. 

Do Whatever You Want, whenever you want

Living alone means total freedom. You decide when to clean and whether you want to cook your favourite meal at 2 a.m. or have a jam session at full volume – all without worrying about disturbing anyone. Your daily routine is entirely your own, and this flexibility makes it much easier to balance studying, social life, and downtime exactly the way you like. Plus, you can invite friends, family, or your latest situationship whenever you want, without anyone asking questions.

Decorate However You Like

Want to hang fairy lights in your room, keep your favourite plants on every windowsill, or put up Christmas decorations that stay all year round? In your own flat you’re free to make the space feel personal and cosy. Adding little touches that match your style will quickly turn it into a place that feels like home.

Learn Responsibility and grow as a person

Taking care of everything on your own might sound daunting at first, but it’s one of the biggest learning experiences. You’ll handle rent payments, utility bills, grocery shopping, and housework, all skills that prepare you for real adult life. Over time, these tasks become second nature, and you’ll feel proud of how self-sufficient you’ve become. Living alone also means spending more time with yourself, which can be a great thing. You discover what kind of daily rhythm works best for you, how you handle challenges, and what truly makes you happy. Living alone is a great opportunity to really get to know yourself. 

At the same time, this also means that you have to take care of all tasks yourself. Household chores, bills, and other organizational responsibilities can sometimes become a burden in the midst of a busy student schedule. If you’re new to a city, you’ll also quickly notice that without roommates there are no spontaneous kitchen chats, and you need to be proactive in making friends and building your social life.

Compared to other housing options, the differences are clear: in a shared flat, you meet people quickly and almost always have company, while in a student residence, you benefit from a large community and numerous common areas. Living alone gives you more peace and privacy, but you also need to make sure loneliness doesn’t take over. A good balance is to consciously set aside time for friends, university activities, or hobbies, so that alongside studies and household tasks, your social life doesn’t get neglected.

Living alone: freedom with responsibility

Living alone as a student means far more than just having a roof over your head. It’s a step toward independence, where you learn to manage money, take responsibility, and organise your daily life on your own. Whether having your own apartment is the best solution for you also depends on your budget, personality, and individual needs.

Living alone gives you freedom, peace, and self-determination, but it also comes with challenges: loneliness, higher costs, and more organisation are all part of the package. In the end, it’s exactly this mix that makes student life exciting, because with every decision you make, you grow.

And no matter whether you choose the vibrant life of a student residence, the community of a flat shareflatsahre, or the quiet life in your own apartment, the important thing is that your home supports you during your studies and gives you space to develop. If you’re not quite ready for full independence, a student residence like STUWO can be the perfect middle ground. Community, affordable fixed costs, and still a taste of independence.

FAQ: answering your questions about student accommodation

That depends on your personality. Living alone means full freedom and privacy, but also higher costs and more responsibility. If you love independence, you’ll usually feel comfortable. If you need company often, a flat share or a student residence is often a better choice.

It varies depending on the city and lifestyle. As a rough guideline, you can expect around €900–1,200 per month, including rent, utilities, groceries, leisure, and university-related expenses.

At 18, you’re an adult and can officially sign rental contracts and live independently. If you’re still a minor, you need parental consent. Even if your parents aren’t on the rental contract, they often have a say as long as they provide financial support.

It depends on what matters most to you. In a student residence, you often benefit from affordable all-inclusive rent and a large community. In a flat-share, the constellation is usually smaller, but you take on more responsibility.

Start searching early! Check property websites like immoscout.at, willhaben.at, or wg-gesucht.de. Also text in your university WhatsApp groups, many flat-share rooms get given away faster there than on official platforms.

In Austria, you can apply for housing benefit if your rent is high compared to your income. Additionally, study grants, family allowance, and sometimes subsidies from cities or municipalities can provide extra support.

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