Rome Housing Guide for Exchange Students
1. Rome housing in one glance (our data)
From our Rome feedback, students rate:
- Overall exchange: 7.8 / 10
- Housing: 4.0 / 5
- Social life: 4.0 / 5
- University: 3.5 / 5
- Travel: 4.3 / 5
So in our data, housing is usually “good but expensive and messy”, not a disaster. The main themes:
- Finding a place is stressful and competitive. Students say things like “it’s very difficult to find housing in Rome” and “I really struggled because I started late”.
- Prices are high for students. We see monthly rents from 500€ in shared flats further out up to 1100€+ for big rooms in good areas.
- The area you pick matters more than the perfect apartment. Almost everyone says some version of: “live near a metro / tram / uni, buses are chaos.”
- The market is getting tighter. Recent reports show that a lot of landlords are turning long-term rentals into short-term ones, especially for the 2025 Holy Year. Rents in central Rome have jumped ~30% in a year, with small studios in central areas starting at around 900€ / month.
The goal of this guide is to help you land on the right combo of neighborhood + housing type, and to show you exactly where to look.
2. Where students actually live in Rome (by vibe, not by theory)
We don’t care about tourist maps. We care about where exchange students actually end up in our feedback.
2.1 Big picture: the zones
In our data, most students end up in one of these zones:
- Parioli / Trieste / Salario / Nomentana / Piazza Bologna
- San Lorenzo, Tiburtino (near Sapienza)
- Trastevere / Testaccio / Ostiense / Garbatella / Portuense
- More central: Monti, Prati, Aurelio, “first circle” around the center
External student guides also highlight San Lorenzo, Trastevere, Piazza Bologna and Pigneto as classic student / nightlife neighborhoods.
To make it super clear, here’s how these areas feel in our data.
2.2 Neighborhood cheat sheet
| Area | What our students say / vibe |
|---|---|
| Parioli / Trieste / Salario | Very popular for LUISS & Sapienza. Safe, residential, a bit upscale. Rents higher but lots of students. Good tram and bus access. Piazza Regina Margherita & Piazza Bologna area come up a lot. |
| Piazza Bologna / Nomentano | Classic student hub. Many Erasmus and young Italians, bars, Blue Bar, cheap places. Good for Sapienza & LUISS access. Very often recommended in our data. |
| San Lorenzo | Super student-y, cheap bars, big Erasmus scene, close to Sapienza. But several students explicitly say: “live there for going out, not for sleeping”. Some warn that it “crains un max” (feels sketchy). |
| Trastevere / Testaccio / Ostiense / Garbatella / Portuense | Great for nightlife (bars, San Calisto, etc.) and atmosphere. A Roma Tre and Erasmus cluster. Portuense is mentioned as cheaper but still near Trastevere/Ostiense. Can be a bit far from LUISS/Sapienza but nice if your uni is Roma Tre. |
| Monti / Centro storico / Prati | Beautiful, walkable, more touristy and expensive. Great if you want to live the postcard version of Rome and can pay more. |
| Aurelio | West side, on the A metro line. One student lived there for LUMSA – 25 min commute, more residential, quieter than center. |
| Farther out suburbs | Cheaper, but usually not in our feedback for Erasmus. You pay with time and less social vibe. |
2.3 Matching uni + area (rough, since we’re not targeting one uni)
In our data, students at:
- LUISS (Guido Carli / Business School) Talk all the time about Parioli, Trieste, Salario, Piazza Bologna, Nomentana. A lot of them say: “live close enough to walk or short tram, because buses are unreliable.”
- Sapienza Mention San Lorenzo, Nomentano, Bologna, Salario, sometimes Parioli / Prati. Advice is often: stay in the first circle and close to a tram/metro, not only buses.
- Roma Tre We see Portuense, Trastevere, Garbatella, Ostiense mentioned as being close-ish to campus and cool areas.
- LUMSA One student lived in Aurelio, 25 min from LUMSA, found through Spotahome.
You don’t need to hit these perfectly, but they’re strong starting points.
3. Types of housing you’ll choose between (and what it really feels like)
In our Rome data we see four main types of housing:
- Student residences
- Coliving / shared houses
- Classic shared apartments (coloc)
- Room with a local landlord / family
3.1 Student residences
These show up mainly for LUISS students.
- One student lived in a residence 10 min from Batteria Nomentana bus stop, found via the LUISS website, paying 761€ / month.
- Feedback: loved the experience – own room, private space, but still living with a lot of other students. Easy to meet people while keeping your privacy.
How to find them:
- Check your uni’s official housing page: often they list residences or partner providers.
Example platforms for Rome: many residences are also listed on websites like
Uniplacesunder the “residence” filter.
Pros:
- Very low scam risk.
- Admin often simpler (contract, receipts, registration).
- Social but not chaotic.
Cons:
- Limited spots, you must apply early.
- Often a bit more expensive than a random room in a shared flat.
- Sometimes less “local” feeling (international bubble).
3.2 Coliving / shared houses (Erasmus style)
These are the classic “coliving / shared house” options:
- Example: Aurelio coliving via Spotahome – 1000€/month, shared house, 25 min from LUMSA.
- Example: Portuense shared apartment near Trastevere / Garbatella / Ostiense – 500€/month, found via a website.
- Example: Trieste coliving – 750€/month, walking distance to LUISS, but not super clean, flat with “a lot of problems”.
In our data, coliving in Rome usually means:
- 3–7 people in one flat, or bigger shared houses.
- Shared kitchen and living space.
- Mix of Erasmus, Italians, and other internationals.
Pros:
- Big social life at home.
- Easier to find people to split Ubers, travel, go out.
- Often located in student hotspots (Piazza Bologna, Trieste, San Lorenzo, etc.).
Cons:
- Cleaning can be a disaster depending on roommates.
- Some flats have hidden issues (bad heating, no proper oven, old bathrooms, owners slow to fix things).
- Expensive for what you get in some areas (900–1100€ for a room).
3.3 Classic apartments in colocation
This is similar to coliving but often:
- Less “organized” than official colivings.
- You rent a room in a classic apartment (3–5 rooms).
In our data:
- Parioli apartment via Uniplaces – 1100€ for a huge room with double bed, private bathroom, shared flat with 4–5 women.
- Piazza Bologna classic flat – 900€, perfect for students, nice landlord, amazing location.
- Monti apartment via Immobiliare.it – 900€, classic apartment, central, near metro, works well for Sapienza.
Students often find these via:
SpotahomeIdealista(Italy’s biggest rental portal)Immobiliare.it(another big Italian real estate site)UniplacesHousingAnywhere- Local agencies like
StanzaSingolaRoma(www.stanzasingolaroma.it).
Pros:
- Feels like a “normal life” in Rome.
- Often slightly better value than flashy “Erasmus coliving brands”.
- You can sometimes find mixed flats (Italian + Erasmus).
Cons:
- You need to be more careful with contracts, deposits, scams.
- Quality can vary a lot between apartments.
3.4 Room with a local landlord / family
We also see students renting a room in a family’s home:
- Example: one LUISS student in Parioli found a room via Gens de Confiance (French private classified site).
- Feedback: “real Italian experience, in a good area, very positive overall”.
Pros:
- Usually safe (if recommended by previous students / trusted platform).
- More immersion in Italian culture & language.
- Sometimes cheaper than big student flats.
Cons:
- Less party / “bring friends at 3am” vibe.
- You have to respect house rules more.
4. How students actually find housing (step-by-step and precise)
Now the actionable part: where and how to search.
4.1 Step 0 – Use Studcasa the right way
We’re going to repeat this like a mantra:
In our data, the students who are happiest with their housing are almost always those who spoke to previous students first.
So before anything:
Go on Studcasa → Rome → Feedback tab.
Filter by your university & semester.
Open 3–5 reviews where students liked their housing and mention the area / platform / landlord.
DM 2–3 of them and ask:
- “Would you choose the same area again?”
- “Was the price fair for what you got?”
- “How did the landlord / platform behave with money and repairs?”
That’s 30 minutes that can literally save you 6 months of bad vibes.
4.2 Step 1 – Check official uni housing & residences
Almost every Rome uni has:
- Student residences or
- Partnerships with private residences / providers.
These are often listed on the university website or sent by email.
Platforms that often show these:
Uniplaces→ filter by “Residence”:https://www.uniplaces.com/accommodation/rome https://www.uniplaces.com/accommodation/rome/f/residence
Why start here?
- Safer, less chance of scams.
- They sometimes keep rooms specifically for Erasmus.
But: spots are limited. If you’re interested, apply as soon as your nomination is confirmed.
4.3 Step 2 – Use the big housing platforms (with a strategy)
These are the platforms that keep coming back in our data + external sources:
Spotahome – a big one for Rome. They personally visit flats and upload video tours.
https://www.spotahome.com/romeIdealista – Italy’s largest property site (rooms, apartments, shared flats).
https://www.idealista.it/en/affitto-case/roma-roma/Uniplaces – student-friendly platform with verified landlords.
https://www.uniplaces.com/accommodation/romeImmobiliare.it – another huge Italian portal used by locals.
https://www.immobiliare.itHousingAnywhere – used by many exchange students to pass flats from one cohort to the next.
Stanza Singola Roma – specialized agency for student rooms in Rome.
https://stanzasingolaroma.it
How to not drown:
Set clear filters:
- Location: Trieste / Parioli / Salario / Nomentano / Bologna / Trastevere / Ostiense / Garbatella… depending on your uni.
- Budget: your hard max (e.g. 900€).
- Type: “room in shared flat” or “student residence” if you don’t want a full apartment.
Check:
- Is it near a metro or tram? (A, B, or B1 lines, or tram lines like 3, 9 around Sapienza).
- Time to your campus on Moovit / Google Maps at 8:30–9:00 AM (not midnight).
Then screenshot + send to past students you found on Studcasa: “Hey, what do you think of this place / area?”
4.4 Step 3 – WhatsApp & Erasmus groups (the hidden goldmine)
In Rome, WhatsApp groups = housing machine. In our data, students say:
- “Best way to find housing is through WhatsApp groups where Erasmus students share flats they’re leaving”.
- “There are tons of these groups – people pass on their rooms and apartments, almost like a chain.”
Where to find them:
ESN and Erasmus associations:
- ESN Roma LUISS
- ESN Roma Tre
- ESN Roma ASE, etc.
Associations / groups like:
- Oasis (Spanish-speaking group – also on Instagram)
- ERA (Erasmus Roma Association)
Uni welcome weeks and orientation: they often drop QR codes to groups.
Facebook groups:
- “International Students in Rome”
- “Erasmus Roma 20XX/20XX”
Studcasa groups: we constantly see people posting “my landlord wants to keep renting, who wants my room?”
This is how the pattern often goes:
August: “I’m leaving my flat in Piazza Bologna / Trieste in September, here’s the video + landlord contact, who wants it?”
You want to be inside those groups early so you can grab these handovers.
4.5 Step 4 – Agencies & niche sites students mention
From our Rome feedback:
- StanzaSingolaRoma (
www.stanzasingolaroma.it) – recommended by a Sapienza student; they found a 7-person Erasmus flat in Salario, near Piazza Regina Margherita, for ~1000€ (their room was the largest). - Gens de Confiance (
gensdeconfiance.fr) – for French-speaking students; one LUISS student found a room in Parioli via this and loved it. - Immobiliare.it / Idealista / Spotahome are also used by agencies – sometimes they respond faster if you call rather than send message.
General tip: if you’re afraid of scams, choose platforms with:
- Verified landlord / video visits (Spotahome, Uniplaces).
Deposit protectedor similar labels.
4.6 Step 5 – The “Airbnb for the first weeks” strategy
Several students in our data say:
- “I booked an Airbnb for 2 weeks, then visited flats in person.”
- “I only trusted long-term contracts after seeing the place.”
This strategy works very well if:
- You arrive early (end of August / early September or late January).
- You’re willing to spend a bit more the first 2 weeks to avoid scams and see the vibe in person.
What you do during those 2 weeks:
- Visit 5–10 flats you found on Idealista / Spotahome / WhatsApp.
- Walk the neighborhoods at night to feel safety and noise.
- Sign once you’re fully comfortable.
5. How much you’ll actually pay (based on our data + current market)
From our student feedback + current market info:
- 500–650€ / month → lower end of shared flats, usually further from center or in less fancy areas (Portuense, more peripheral zones).
- 650–850€ / month → very common range for a room in a shared flat in Trieste / Bologna / Nomentano / San Lorenzo / Portuense / Ostiense.
- 850–1100€ / month → big rooms in Parioli / Salario / more central areas, or very nice flats.
- 900€+ for a small studio in central neighborhoods is now “normal” according to recent rental analyses.
In our own data:
- 500€ – shared flat in Portuense (near Trastevere/Ostiense).
- 600€ – coliving in Trastevere / central area.
- 750€ – coliving in Trieste (close to LUISS).
- 761€ – LUISS student residence.
- 800€ – sublet in San Giovanni (LUISS) via WhatsApp group.
- 900€ – Monti / Piazza Bologna-type apartments.
- 1000€–1100€ – big rooms in Salario / Parioli / central.
What we suggest as a realistic budget per month for rent:
- If you insist on a central or LUISS/Sapienza hotspot: plan 750–1000€ to have some choice.
- If you’re OK being a bit further and commuting: you can aim for 500–700€, but you’ll need to hunt and act fast.
Also: Rome’s market is currently very tight because a lot of landlords switched to short-term rentals for tourism and 2025 Holy Year pilgrims. That’s why long-term rents shot up, especially in central districts.
So: if you see an actually decent, well-located room around 700–800€ with a normal contract and real photos… that’s pretty standard now.
6. Timeline: when to start and how fast to move
From our data, people who struggled the most did two things:
- Started searching late (waiting for final uni confirmation).
- Wanted a perfect flat in Parioli / Bologna / Trastevere at 500€.
Our recommendation as Studcasa:
As soon as your nomination is confirmed:
- Check the uni housing page + residences.
- Start browsing Spotahome / Idealista / Uniplaces to see price levels.
- Join Erasmus / ESN / Studcasa WhatsApp groups for Rome.
2–3 months before arrival:
- If you want a residence, apply now.
- If you want a specific neighborhood (Parioli, Bologna, Trastevere), start actively writing to landlords / platforms.
1–1.5 months before arrival:
Either:
- Book a place online you really trust (with verified platform + good reviews).
- Or book 2–3 weeks of Airbnb / hostel and line up visits for your arrival.
On arrival:
- Visit everything fast. Good rooms go in 24–48h in popular student neighborhoods.
7. Red flags & scams (what our students wish they had known)
Rome has amazing landlords and also some “pièges à étudiants”.
From our data + common sense, here’s what to watch out for.
7.1 Clear red flags
- Landlord refuses video call and won’t show the flat live.
- They ask you to send money via Western Union / cash transfer to reserve without a contract.
- The price is way below market for the area (e.g. 350€ in a clean modern flat in Parioli or Monti – too good to be true).
- Only polished stock photos, no real pictures of the rooms.
- Landlord pushes you: “you must decide now or I give it to someone else, send the deposit today” while refusing details.
- No discussion of contract, deposit, and how/when you get it back.
- No address until after you’ve paid.
We also have a few reviews where:
- Descriptions say “refurbished” but the student arrives to poor-quality work, no proper heating, and months-long delays on deposit returns.
7.2 How to protect yourself (simple checklist)
Whenever possible, use trusted platforms (Spotahome, Uniplaces, StanzaSingolaRoma, etc.) that verify flats and protect deposits.
Ask for:
- A written contract (in Italian, but you can translate the key points).
- Exact amount of deposit and conditions for getting it back.
- Who pays bills (and how much they usually are).
If the contact comes from a previous student you trust, it’s usually much safer.
For private rentals outside platforms, never send big sums before:
- You see the place (in person or proper video),
- Or a friend / contact in Rome visits for you.
8. Location tricks that make your daily life easier
We’re still talking about housing, but now in terms of micro-strategy.
8.1 Prioritize metro / tram over bus
Our Rome students are very aligned on this:
Buses are seen as:
- Late,
- Unreliable,
- Sometimes not even showing up.
Metro and tram are much more predictable.
So when you evaluate a flat, ask:
- “What’s the nearest metro station?” (A, B or B1 line matter a lot)
- “Is there a tram nearby (like 3 or 9 for Sapienza)?”
Being close to a bus stop is not enough. Look on the map, not just in the ad.
8.2 Keep an eye on your campus – but not obsessively
Our data shows two reasonable approaches:
Live 10–20 minutes from campus (Parioli / Trieste for LUISS, Bologna / Nomentano for Sapienza, Ostiense/Garbatella/Portuense for Roma Tre). → You’ll walk or do short tram/metro, and still be in areas with some nightlife and students.
Live in a slightly more central area (Bologna, Trieste, Trastevere, Monti) and accept 20–40 minutes to campus. → You’ll be closer to the historic center, bars, and other Erasmus.
Most students in our data aim for something like:
~20 min to campus, ~20–30 min to main nightlife areas.
And they really try to avoid:
45–60+ minutes of bus-only commute each way.
8.3 Safety: realistic but not paranoid
What our students say:
- Rome feels generally safe in the main student areas.
- Areas like Parioli, Trieste, Salario, Bologna, Trastevere, city center are repeatedly described as safe.
- Around Termini and some parts of San Lorenzo, it can feel less comfy late at night (homeless people, more chaos) – but still, many students go out there regularly.
Basic rules:
- Don’t walk totally alone at 3–4am in random unknown suburbs.
- Keep your phone in your bag, not in your pocket on night buses.
- If you feel unsure, take a taxi/Uber (they’re more expensive than public transport but normal for late-night).
9. How to use Studcasa to “win” at housing (killer exchange tips, housing edition)
Let’s plug in our general Studcasa philosophy, adapted to Rome and housing.
9.1 Before you leave: use past students as your “cheat code”
In our data, the best housing decisions come from talking to students who already lived there:
- They know which areas felt safe and fun.
- They know which platforms and landlords are reliable.
- They know which residences and colivings are worth the price (and which are overrated).
- Sometimes, they literally pass their apartment directly to you.
So your move:
- Go to Rome on Studcasa.
- Filter by your university (LUISS, Sapienza, Roma Tre, LUMSA…).
- Open 3–5 housing reviews that look like what you want (coliving, residence, Bologna, Trieste, etc.).
- DM 2–3 students. Example messages you can send:
“Hey, I’m going to LUISS next year and saw you lived in Trieste. Would you recommend the area? Was the rent fair for what you got?”
“Hi! I’m going to Sapienza and saw you used Spotahome in Piazza Bologna. Would you book through them again or would you change something?”
- If they say “yes I’d book the same place again”, that option jumps to the top of your list.
9.2 Use the group – do NOT be a ghost
Studcasa groups (and Erasmus / ESN groups) are not just for memes. They are:
- A marketplace for rooms getting freed.
- A way to find flatmates before landing.
- A reality check on prices and scams.
What works well in our groups:
- Saying what you’re looking for: area, budget, uni, vibe (party / calm).
- Asking who’s leaving a room in your dates.
- Teaming up: “Anyone wants to search together for a 3-room flat near Piazza Bologna?”
Every semester we see new flatshares forming inside the groups. It reduces stress and gives you allies for visits and decisions.
9.3 Your first weeks: use housing to turbocharge your social life
Even though this guide is housing-only, housing and social life are connected:
- If you live in a big shared flat / coliving, your social life starts at breakfast.
- If you live alone in a studio, you’ll need to go harder on uni + group events to meet people.
Our advice:
- During the first 2–3 weeks, say yes to a lot of invites.
- Use your flatmates as your first friend group.
- Don’t be afraid to switch housing after a semester if the vibe is off and you find something better – you’re not stuck forever.
10. Putting it all together – your Rome housing gameplan
To make it super concrete, here’s a full mini-checklist you can literally follow:
1. Understand the map. Decide which cluster fits you best: – LUISS / Sapienza hotspot → Trieste, Parioli, Salario, Piazza Bologna, Nomentano – Sapienza cheaper nightlife → San Lorenzo (with eyes open) – Roma Tre / vibe → Trastevere, Ostiense, Garbatella, Portuense – LUMSA / central feel → Monti, Aurelio, Prati, “first circle”
2. Decide your budget. – 500–700€ → more peripheral / shared flat, maybe Portuense or less central areas – 700–900€ → classic Erasmus range in good student areas – 900–1100€+ → big room / more central / higher comfort
3. Decide housing type. – Want built-in community + structure → student residence / big shared flat – Want freedom + “normal life” → classic shared apartment – Want immersion → room with a local family / landlord
4. Use the right tools. – Uni housing page + residence options – Platforms:
Spotahome,Idealista,Uniplaces,HousingAnywhere,Immobiliare.it,StanzaSingolaRoma– WhatsApp & Erasmus groups (ESN, Oasis, ERA, Studcasa groups)
5. Talk to alumni BEFORE signing. – DM 2–3 people who lived in the same zone, same uni – Show them the link and ask: “Would you book this?”
6. Protect yourself. – No big transfers without contract – Avoid “too cheap” miracles in top areas – Use verified platforms when possible
7. Be flexible. – Accept that Rome is expensive and imperfect – Prioritize good area + okay flat over cheap but sketchy location