Student housing in Oslo: house-share, studio or residence?

SiO student housing, house-share or studio: the options for studying in Oslo, rents and the rules to know before signing.

The Remoters editorial team

Published on

21 October 2023

Updated on

6 October 2026

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As a student in Oslo, you have three ways to find housing: SiO student housing, the student organisation that manages residences across the city, a room in a house-share on the private market, or a studio for yourself. Student housing is often the most practical solution when you arrive from abroad, provided you apply early. House-sharing lets you split a high rent. The studio is the most expensive option.

Oslo has the highest rents in Norway. According to the annual survey by Statistics Norway (SSB) published in December 2025, a two-room apartment in Oslo and Bærum rents for 29% more on average than the national average. According to the city sheet, a room in a house-share generally costs between 7,000 and 12,000 NOK per month, and a studio between 13,000 and 18,000 NOK.

Here is how to choose between the three options, which neighbourhoods to look at and which rules to know before signing.

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SiO student housing: the first option to try

SiO (Studentsamskipnaden i Oslo) offers student housing across the city of Oslo and in Lillestrøm. You can live alone or in a shared apartment, and there is also housing for couples and for students with children. Part of the offer is grouped into large student villages, such as those at Kringsjå and Sogn.

How to go about it

Apply as soon as you are admitted through the SiO portal: you can state your neighbourhood and housing type preferences there.
Stay flexible on the neighbourhood and type of room: the broader your wish list, the better your chances of getting an offer.
Plan a fallback solution in case no offer arrives before the start of term: a room in a house-share, even for a few months, while you wait for an offer.

If you are an exchange student, also check with your institution's international office, which generally explains how to proceed for housing.

Together we will find your home

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Get help!

House-share or studio: what the private market costs

On the private market, house-sharing (bofellesskap) is the most common way to cut the budget. The ranges from the city sheet:

Room in a house-share: 7,000 to 12,000 NOK per month.
Studio: 13,000 to 18,000 NOK per month.
One-bedroom apartment: 17,000 to 23,000 NOK per month.
Two-bedroom apartment: 24,000 to 32,000 NOK per month, a common basis for a house-share of two.

The gaps between neighbourhoods are clear. According to SSB, a standard 50 m² two-room apartment is estimated at 16,700 NOK per month in the most expensive areas (Frogner, Ullern, Sentrum, St. Hanshaugen), and about 2,200 NOK less in the cheapest areas (Søndre Nordstrand, Grorud, Stovner, Alna). SSB also notes that in Oslo, 36.4% of tenants surveyed rent from a professional landlord and 40.3% from a private individual.

How to choose

A house-share splits the rent and often the charges. Check whether electricity, heating and internet are included, because they are added to the rent when they are not.
A studio leaves you in sole charge of the home, but it costs nearly double a room. It is mainly justified if you are staying several years.

The neighbourhoods to look at

According to the city sheet, west Oslo is more expensive than the east. For a student budget:

Grünerløkka: in the east, along the Akerselva river, with an active cultural life and more accessible rents than in the west.
Sagene: family-oriented, moderate rents, good transport.
Tøyen and Grønland: multicultural, among the most affordable rents in the centre.
St. Hanshaugen: residential, with a large park; ranked by SSB among the most expensive areas, it remains popular for its location.
Majorstuen: lively and full of shops, in the west; for a higher budget.

The rules to know before signing

The security deposit: the Tenancy Act (husleieloven) caps it at six months' rent. It must be paid into a blocked account opened in the tenant's name at a bank, which neither the landlord nor the tenant can use during the lease. According to the city sheet, it generally equals three months' rent.
The written lease: ask for a written contract that states the duration, rent, included charges and notice period.
The inventory: do a move-in inventory with photos, which protects your deposit when you leave.
Listings that look too good: never pay money before viewing the home or having it viewed, and be wary of a rent far below the neighbourhood's prices.

The documents to prepare

a passport or ID card;
the admission letter or enrolment certificate;
proof of means: grant, bank statements or a parental guarantee;
if possible, a reference from a former landlord.

Search fast and well prepared

On the private market, listings are found mainly on FINN.no, and Hybel.no completes the offer for rooms and studios. Viewings (visning) are often group viewings and homes go fast: set up alerts, check listings several times a day and arrive at viewings with your complete application. Demand is strongest in the weeks before the start of the university year: start searching several months ahead.

Getting help on site

Searching from abroad, without being able to attend group viewings, is difficult in Oslo. Remoters puts you in touch with a home finder based in Oslo, who spots the listings that fit your budget, visits for you, helps you put together the application and reviews the lease. The first conversation and the quote are free.