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Living costs

See budget examples from other international students at the University of Southern Denmark.

Living costs in Denmark may be different from your home country, and it is advisable to become familiar with prices and the cost of living before you move here.

Below, you can get an impression of how much international students in SDU’s student cities spend each month on average – and get their best tips for keeping costs down when living in Denmark.

Monthly student budget in Esbjerg

Leonardo Recchia is a 24-year-old student from Italy studying Environmental and Resource Management at SDU Esbjerg:

“Take initial expenses into account. The beginning is always expensive. It takes time to find the best shops and spots.”

Average monthly expenses

Expense	Amount (DKK)	Notes
Rent	3,500	Student housing
Food	1,300	Mainly discount supermarkets
Phone & internet	0	Phone provided by Danish class, internet included in rent
Books & study supplies	0	Free access via library and online resources
Socialising & entertainment	600	Cafés, events and social activities
Transportation	150	Monthly costs + one-time Rejsekort deposit (DKK 150)

Best tips for saving money

Use the Too Good To Go app to buy discounted groceries. Netto and Lidl are among the cheapest supermarkets.
Buy a second-hand bike (approx. DKK 200–1,000). It saves money on transport and is good for your health and the environment.
Visit thrift stores for household items, clothes, books and gifts.

Monthly student budget in Kolding

Franka Erak is a 24-year-old student from Croatia studying IT Web Communication Design at SDU Kolding.

“Don't compare Danish prices to those in your home country – they are often much higher. However, wages are also higher. Once you find a student job (which I highly recommend), it becomes much easier to manage living costs and still treat yourself occasionally.”

Average monthly expenses

Expense	Amount (DKK)	Notes
Rent	4,000	Shared apartment in Odense (expenses split 50/50)
Food	1,000	Mostly home cooking
Phone & internet	250	DKK 100 phone + DKK 150 internet
Books & study supplies	0	PDFs provided by lecturers or books borrowed from the library
Socialising & entertainment	400	+ DKK 200 gym membership + DKK 200–300 subscriptions (Apple, Netflix, Spotify – shared)
Transportation	600	Commuting from Odense to campus in Kolding, work and sports activities

Best tips for saving money

Cook at home instead of eating out.
Use apps like Too Good To Go to buy discounted food.
Take advantage of student discounts – just show your student ID. Many cafés, restaurants, bars and streaming services (e.g. Spotify) offer discounts.

Monthly student budget in Odense

Eva Müller is a 23-year-old student from Germany studying International Business and Marketing at SDU Odense.

“Arrive with a small financial buffer. It may take longer than expected to find a student job – especially before you speak some Danish.”

Average monthly expenses

Expense	Amount (DKK)	Notes
Rent	3,800	+ DKK 30–60 per wash (shared laundry)
Food	1,400–1,800	Varies depending on discounts and eating habits
Phone & internet	79	30 GB + free calls, internet included in rent
Books & study supplies	60	Most materials available free online
Socialising & entertainment	700	+ DKK 119 for university gym membership
Transportation	60	Mainly biking

Best tips for saving money

Use the MineTilbud app to check weekly supermarket discounts and search for specific products.
Meat can be expensive – consider vegetarian meals or look for special offers.
Use Too Good To Go to buy discounted surplus food.
Choose the university gym – it is much cheaper than private gyms.
Buy or rent a bike. It saves money on public transport and gives you more flexibility.

Monthly student budget in Sønderborg

Pedro Duarte is a 20-year-old student from Portugal studying Mechanical Engineering at SDU Sønderborg.

“For the first months, I had extra expenses such as a rent deposit and furniture. My deposit was DKK 5,000, and I spent around DKK 4,000 on furniture and essentials when I moved in.”

Average monthly expenses

Expense	Amount (DKK)	Notes
Rent	2,500	Shared apartment in central Sønderborg
Food	2,000	Groceries and occasional eating out
Phone & internet	0	Free SIM card and phone from Danish class, WiFi included in rent
Books & study supplies	0	Notes taken digitally, materials provided online
Socialising & entertainment	1,000	Dinner, board games, cinema, pubs, clubs + DKK 200 gym membership
Travel	500–3,000	Optional monthly trips within Denmark or abroad (varies by destination)

Best tips for saving money

Shop at discount supermarkets such as Lidl, Netto and Rema 1000.
Make a shopping list and stick to it.
Use your bike instead of public transport whenever possible.
Buy furniture, clothes and household items second-hand or via Facebook Marketplace.
Consider a NightPay membership if you go out often – it offers discounts and free drinks at many bars and clubs.
Use MobilePay to split costs easily with friends.

SDU students shopping for food displayed outside a store in Odense

Compare prices with your home country

The student budgets above are personal examples. If you would like to compare living costs in Denmark with your home country, you can use international price comparison tools.

Compare the cost of living in Denmark on Numbeo

Learn more

Need help?

The admissions team at SDU is ready to help you with questions about:

admission requirements for international applicants.
how to apply through the admissions system.

You can contact SDU Admissions by email or phone.

See contact details

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Living costs

Monthly student budget in Esbjerg

Average monthly expenses

Best tips for saving money

Monthly student budget in Kolding

Average monthly expenses

Best tips for saving money

Monthly student budget in Odense

Average monthly expenses

Best tips for saving money

Monthly student budget in Sønderborg

Average monthly expenses

Best tips for saving money

Compare prices with your home country

Learn more

Need help?

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