How to find Housing for Exchange Students in Florence, Italy

Florence is a world-class educational destination, home to prestigious institutions like the University of Florence (Università di Firenze). Despite its appeal, exchange students frequently run into landlords who prefer long-term tenants over single-semester rentals. Furthermore, navigating online listings from a distance carries the risk of encountering rental scams designed to target incoming internationals. These obstacles shouldn't discourage you from experiencing study abroad life in Tuscany: knowing where and how to search makes all the difference!

Resources and practical guidance for exchange accommodation in Florence

1. Your host institution’s international office is a crucial starting point: (University of Florence (Università di Firenze))University of Florence exchange portals frequently provide specific advice, temporary housing directories, or direct contacts for student support services. Reaching out to their international mobility coordinators before arrival can uncover verified leads, even if your formal enrollment is still pending.
2. Check the information of your host city Florence.Local municipal sites and civic mobility offices also publish valuable information regarding tenant rights and city rental structures
3. Beware of scams. While many exchange students resort to broad social media groups or message boards, these channels require extreme caution due to unverified listings and deposit scams. Always avoid transferring money before verifying the legitimacy of an apartment or working through a secure, student-focused service.
4. Dedicated exchange platforms like Exchange Rooms aim to eliminate these risks by hosting peer-verified, short-term listings provided directly by fellow university students.

Key local details: student life in Florence

Estimated Cost of Living

Living in Florence as an international student generally requires a monthly budget between €850 and €1,300.

• Utilities & Bills: Electricity, heating, water, and internet usually run between €70 and €120 per month per person in shared flats. Older Tuscan buildings can get surprisingly cold in the winter, which can drive up heating costs.
• Groceries & Food: Weekly food shopping averages €180 to €280 a month if using budget-friendly supermarkets like Esselunga, Conad, or Lidl. Fresh produce can be picked up at local spots like the Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio.

Cost of Student Housing

• Single Room in a Shared Flat:€400 to €650 per month, depending on proximity to the historical center (Centro Storico).
• Shared Room:€300 to €450 per month.
• Studio or Private Apartment:€700 to €1,100+ per month.

Best Student Neighborhoods

• San Marco & San Lorenzo: Situated in the heart of the university district near main academic faculties. It is central, lively, and highly convenient for walking to class.
• Santa Croce & Sant'Ambrogio: Famed for vibrant street life, historic markets, and student-friendly cafes. Room rates here sit on the higher end of the spectrum.
• Novoli: Located northwest of the city center, Novoli houses the modern Social Sciences Campus (Polo delle Scienze Sociali). It offers lower rents (€350 to €500/month) and modern apartment complexes.
• Oltrarno (Santo Spirito & San Frediano): Located across the Arno River, this bohemian area features artisan workshops, nightlife, and a slightly more local feel.
• Rifredi & Campo di Marte: Residential areas slightly outside the main tourist paths, offering green spaces, lower prices, and direct transit access to campus buildings.

Transportation

Florence is a compact, pedestrian-friendly city where most students walk everywhere in the central districts. However, the local public transit system (Autolinee Toscane / bus and tramway network) connects outer districts like Novoli and Careggi seamlessly.

• Single Ride Ticket: €1.50
• Monthly Student Pass: Approximately €25 to €35 per month (or ~€42 for a standard monthly pass).
• Trams: Line T1 and Line T2 provide fast links between the main Santa Maria Novella train station, university campuses, and the airport.

The bonus tip you might not expect

A practical approach to securing housing abroad involves leveraging your current living situation. If you have a room available in your home city during your exchange period, listing it on Exchange Rooms and sharing the details with the international office at the University of Florence can yield direct results: spreading the word directly increases the exchange network between both universities.

Even if you do not have a room to sublet, creating a profile on collaborative student networks expands the overall pool of verified short-term rentals available to exchange participants worldwide. Sharing these housing networks with both home and host university student groups helps strengthen the community-driven housing pipeline for everyone involved.

Exchange Rooms

Exchange Rooms can help you secure housing in Florence. Search for rooms in the area or learn more and make an account!

Good luck finding housing, we’re rooting for you!