Norway faces acute student housing shortage and rising costs

Norway is facing an acute shortage of student housing, driven by high rental costs and rising food prices. According to data from Lånekassen, 18,200 out of 197,600 students lived at home during the 2025/2026 academic year, a two-percentage-point increase over five years.

In Bergen, new temporary housing has been established to address the crisis. Within just four months of the idea's inception, the student organization Sammen set up two barracks in Møllendali. These barracks provide 88 rooms, including shared facilities like a kitchen, laundry, and a sauna. Rooms measure approximately eight square meters and cost 5,700 NOK per month, excluding electricity and internet.

Despite new developments, demand remains extreme. Samskipnadsrådet reports that 17,105 students are currently in queues for student housing, an increase of 921 compared to last year. Large student cities continue to face the longest queues, leading some institutions to prepare temporary overnight accommodations.