Shared Flat or Student Accommodation? How to Make the Right Choice

Written by: Helene Ausserwöger, 22.01.2026

For many students, starting university means a big change: new city, new university, new faces everywhere, and then the question of where to live. Those moving out of their parents’ home often have to choose between a shared flat or student accommodation.

Both options are usually cheaper than renting your own apartment and are popular forms of student housing in Austria, especially for first-year students. Still, everyday life in a shared flat can feel very different from living in a student dorm. So which option is the better fit? A closer look at shared flats vs. student dormitories helps you decide.

Table of Content:

Student Living Explained: Shared Flats & Student Accommodation

Living in a shared flat means sharing an apartment with other students. Rent, electricity, internet, and other household costs are split between everyone, and you organize contracts and bills together. The kitchen, bathroom, and living room are all shared spaces. How well this works really depends on who you live with. Sometimes it turns into real friendships. Other times it’s simply a practical arrangement where everyone does their own thing.

A student dorm also offers plenty of community, but usually in a more structured way. Housing options can range from shared rooms and shared apartments to small private units with your own bathroom and kitchenette. Many things are taken care of for you: rent and utilities are clearly regulated and often bundled into an all-in rent. Moreover, there are shared kitchens, learning lounges, and common areas. Many dorms even come with extras like gyms, saunas, or other leisure facilities that make student life a bit more comfortable.

Which option suits you better really depends on your expectations and your lifestyle.

Shared Flat vs. Student Accommodation: A Direct Comparison

Shared flats and student accommodations both stand for communal living, but day-to-day life can feel very different. In a shared flat, a lot depends on your flatmates and how well you click. In a student dorm, it’s less about who you live with and more about what the residence offers. To make the decision a bit easier, here’s a clear comparison of the most important criteria:

CriteriaShared FlatStudent Accommodation
Monthly costsoften varied (depending on usage & billing)usually fixed
Utilitiesseparateoften included
Organisation effortrather high (contracts, bills, coordination)low (most things already taken care of)
Planning securitylow to mediumhigh
Communitystrongly depends on the flatsharestructured community & shared spaces
Privacydepends on flatsharedepends on the offer (shared rooms to private studios)

Furnishingoften partly furnished or emptyusually furnished
Quiet study areasdepends on flatshareoften dedicated study & quiet rooms
Extras & leisure
usually nonee.g. gyms, saunas or common areas
Wi-Fiseparateoften included
Support & servicesyou handle it yourself (contacting landlord, etc.)on-site support, e.g. management or maintenance

Student Accommodation: Advantages and Possible Drawbacks

A student dorm can make the start of university much easier, especially when everything is new and you don’t want to organise every little detail yourself. Still, this type of housing isn’t automatically the perfect fit for everyone. Taking a closer look at the pros and cons helps set realistic expectations.

Student Dorm Pros

  • Predictable costs: rent is usually clearly defined, and utilities like electricity, heating and internet are often included. That makes budgeting a lot easier.
  • Clear contracts: rental agreements in student dorms are designed with students in mind. Terms and notice periods are transparent, without complicated fine print or long back-and-forth negotiations.
  • Low organisational effort: compared to a shared flat, there’s much less you need to handle yourself. Billing, repairs and general issues are usually managed directly by the student dorm administration.
  • Community without flatshare obligations: you live alongside other students, with access to common rooms and social activities but without the typical flatshare discussions about cleaning schedules, shared shopping or household funds.

Student Dorm Cons

  • Less room for personal touches: rooms and apartments are usually furnished and can only be changed to a limited extent. Painting walls or drilling holes is often not allowed. If you love decorating freely and setting everything up your own way, this can feel restrictive.
  • Not always easy to get a spot: In popular student cities, dorm rooms are often taken quickly. Waiting lists are common, so it’s worth starting your search early and applying in good time.

Shared Flats: Advantages and Disadvantages in Everyday Student Life

A shared flat is, for many students, the first real step into independence. It offers plenty of freedom and room to shape your own everyday life, but it also comes with a few challenges. Whether a flatshare is the right fit for you depends a lot on your lifestyle and the people you live with. Here’s a look at the pros and cons.

Flatshare Pros:

  • Lots of flexibility: Shared flats are usually less strictly regulated than other housing options. Contract terms, move-in and move-out dates or even how rooms are used can often be handled quite flexibly, especially if everyone communicates well.
  • More freedom to personalise your space: Compared to a student dorm, flatshares usually give you much more freedom when it comes to furnishing. Swapping furniture, painting walls or adding your own decorations is often no big deal.
  • Choosing your flatmates yourself: Often, you get a say in who you live with. That can make everyday life much easier and sometimes even turn flatmates into close friends.

Flatshare Cons: 

  • Potential for conflict: Whenever several people live together, different habits and expectations come into play. Cleanliness, noise levels or visitors can quickly become issues if things aren’t clearly discussed.
  • Different lifestyles under one roof: Early birds meet night owls, exam phases clash with party moods – not every flatshare clicks automatically. Especially during stressful periods, living together can feel demanding.
  • Unclear cost sharing: Utilities, groceries and shared expenses have to be organised and split fairly. Without clear agreements, this can quickly get confusing or cause tension.
  • More organisation required: Handling contracts, finding new flatmates, sorting out bills or agreeing on household plans. In a flatshare, a lot of responsibility falls on you, which can take time and patience.

Shared Flat or Student Accommodation: What Costs Should You Expect in Austria?

When it comes to student housing, it’s not just about how much you pay, but also about how planable your monthly expenses are. Shared flats and student dormitories often differ less in the base rent than in how the costs are structured.

Costs in a shared flat

In a shared flat, your monthly expenses are usually made up of several parts. Shared flat costs in Austria often include rent, utilities, internet and one-off payments such as furniture or buy-in fees. That means some months are cheaper, while others can suddenly be more expensive, for example when a utility bill arrives or someone moves out.

If you live in a shared flat, it helps to expect a bit of variation in costs and to stay on top of things. How much you actually end up paying often comes down to everyday habits – how mindful everyone is about heating and electricity, how bills are handled, and whether costs are shared in a fair and transparent way within the flat.

Costs in a student accommodation

In a student dorm, costs are usually much easier to keep track of. You often pay a flat-rate rent that already includes utilities and internet. That gives you more planning security and takes a lot of the financial organisation off your plate. Prices can vary depending on the type of room and facilities, but in most cases you know exactly what to expect each month, without surprise extra charges.

Before deciding, it’s worth doing a quick mental cost check: What’s included in the rent? How much can monthly costs fluctuate? And are there any expenses that might come up later on? Asking yourself these questions makes it easier to find the housing option that really fits your budget.

Living in a STUWO Student Residence

Living in a student dorm with STUWO is all about arriving and starting to live. One of the biggest perks is the clear all-inclusive rent: utilities like electricity, heating, hot water, and even the ORF fee are already covered. You also don’t have to worry too much about cleaning, as regular room cleaning is included. That leaves more headspace for uni, friends and everything else that comes with student life.

Another big plus: the free extras available in many STUWO residences. These include Wi-Fi throughout the building, communal spaces, fitness and wellness areas with saunas or steam baths, learning lounges, music practice rooms and even rooftop terraces. With several locations across Austria, STUWO residences are usually close to universities or very well connected by public transport.

Moving in is easy, too. Most rooms and apartments come fully furnished, so there’s no need to organise furniture first. Depending on the location, you can choose between different living options, such as:

  • Single apartments with private bathroom, toilet and kitchenette
  • Shared flats (2- or 3-person flatshares) with shared kitchen, bathroom and toilet
  • Double or couple apartments for two people
  • In some locations, rooms with a balcony or terrace

You can find detailed information about the different room options at STUWO here.

What many students appreciate most, though, is the strong sense of community. Shared and party rooms make it easy to meet new people and quickly feel at home, especially if you’re new to the city.

Here you’ll find even more advantages and helpful tips for living in a student dorm!

Decision Guide: Shared Flat or Student Accommodation: What Suits You Best?

In the end, there’s no right or wrong choice. Whether student housing or a shared flat suits you better depends on your lifestyle, budget and how much organisation you want to handle.

So, picture this …

  • You’re a first-year student and new in town: everything feels unfamiliar and a bit overwhelming. A student accommodation, for example with STUWO, offers structure, clear routines and many chances to meet people quickly.
  • You’re moving from abroad or from far away: When language barriers, paperwork and logistics are already a challenge, a student dorm is often the more relaxed option. Clear contracts and fixed costs make settling in much easier.
  • You want maximum flexibility: If you like choosing your flatmates yourself, decorating freely and reacting spontaneously to changes, a shared flat might suit you better.
  • You don’t mind organising things: Contracts, bills, finding new flatmates and endless “let’s talk about it” moments don’t scare you off? Then shared flat life could be a good match.

The quick if–then decision guide

  • If you want fixed costs and planning security → student accommodation
  • If you’re new in the city and want to connect quickly → student accommodation
  • If flexibility matters most to you → shared flat
  • If you have time (and patience) for organisation → shared flat

What matters most is what works for you right now. Many students change their housing situation during their studies, from dorm to flatshare or the other way around. That’s completely normal. The key thing is that your living situation supports your studies instead of adding extra stress.

FAQs: Shared Flat vs Student Accommodation

Fixed, easy-to-plan costs, clear contracts and very little organisational effort. Many dorms are furnished, located close to universities and offer common areas where it’s easy to meet other students.

Potential conflicts due to different lifestyles, less predictable costs and a higher organisational effort when it comes to contracts, bills or finding new flatmates.

That depends very much on your personal situation.
Student dorm = structure, planning security and community.
Shared flat = maximum freedom and individuality.

In a dorm, many things are organised and included; in a shared flat, most things are handled by the residents themselves.

Not necessarily. The base rent in a shared flat can be lower, but there are often additional or fluctuating costs. In a student dorm, many expenses are already included, which makes costs more plannable.

First-year students, students who are new in the city, or anyone who doesn’t want to spend much time on organisation.

Yes. Student dorms are often an ideal option for international students, as contracts are clearly regulated, organisation is simple and it’s easy to make new connections quickly.

Questions?

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