--- title: "Socials Homes guides" description: "Guides to finding, renting and moving into a home in a new city." canonical: https://www.socials.homes/guides last-updated: 2026-05-27 --- # Guides 26 guides to finding a home in a new city. Each one is also available as markdown. ## Tips - [Short-stay vs long-stay housing: how to choose based on your situation (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/short-stay-vs-long-stay-student-housing.md): The honest decision guide for housing contract length. When 5 to 6 months beats 12, when long-stay saves money, and the five questions to answer before booking. - [15 cheapest cities in Europe for students: 2026 rent and budget](https://www.socials.homes/guides/cheapest-student-cities-europe-2026.md): Sofia: rooms from €250, €650 to €750 a month all-in. 15 European cities ranked by real monthly budget with rent, food and transport, up to Amsterdam. - [Housing in the Czech Republic: a complete guide for internationals (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-czech-republic.md): Housing in the Czech Republic 2026 for internationals. Prague prices (€250 to €700), Brno, the agency commission trap, Czech koruna, visas, and how to book before the midsummer rush. - [Housing in Latvia: a complete guide for internationals (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-latvia.md): Housing in Latvia 2026. Riga prices (€280 to €600), neighbourhoods, the informal rental market, address registration, the winter heating reality, and how to book safely from abroad. - [Housing in Central and Eastern Europe: why more internationals are choosing it (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-central-eastern-europe.md): Budapest, Riga, Prague, Warsaw, Krakow, Tallinn. Real budgets for internationals (€800 to €1,050/month), housing markets, and honest trade-offs. The 2026 CEE guide. - [Housing in Hungary: a complete guide for internationals (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-hungary.md): Housing in Hungary 2026 for internationals. Budapest prices (€300 to €650), districts, the rental market's quirks, address registration, banking in forint, and the best transit deal in Europe. - [How to settle into a new city as an international: the first 30 days (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/how-to-settle-into-a-new-city-international-student.md): Week-by-week guide for internationals arriving in a new European city. Address registration, banking, SIM, social connection, and what settled actually looks like at day 30. - [Erasmus 2026: everything you need to know before you go](https://www.socials.homes/guides/erasmus-2026-guide.md): Erasmus+ grant amounts 2026/2027 (€530 to €580 per month), how to find safe housing, EHIC explained, banking, packing, first-week admin. The honest mega-guide. - [Co-living for internationals: what it is, what it costs, and whether it's worth it (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/co-living-students-europe.md): What co-living is, what it costs in 2026 (€450 to €1,400 per month by city), and whether it's worth it for internationals. Honest comparison vs dorms, shared flats and studios. - [Top 5 housing providers in Budapest for internationals (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-budapest-top-5.md): Real prices, real trade-offs. The 5 housing providers in Budapest that actually deliver for internationals in 2026, Fuse Stays, Maverick, and more. - [Top 5 housing options in Riga for internationals (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-riga-top-5.md): Real prices, real trade-offs. The 5 housing options in Riga that actually work for internationals in 2026, from Fuse Stays to university dorms. - [What Documents You Need to Rent a Room Abroad](https://www.socials.homes/guides/documents-to-rent.md): Landlords ask for specific paperwork. Here's exactly what to prepare, and what to do if you don't have all of it yet. - [First-Time Renter Checklist: What to Check Before Signing](https://www.socials.homes/guides/first-time-renter-checklist.md): The 20 things every first-time renter should check before signing a contract, paying a deposit, or handing over ID. - [How to Find Roommates You Actually Want to Live With](https://www.socials.homes/guides/how-to-find-roommates.md): Finding a flat abroad is hard. Finding the right flatmates is harder. Here's how to vet roommates before you sign a 12-month lease together. - [How to Write a Message to a Landlord That Actually Gets a Reply](https://www.socials.homes/guides/landlord-message-that-works.md): Landlords get 100+ messages for every listing. Here's the exact structure for internationals, with a copy-paste template, that makes yours stand out. - [Housing Budget: How Much Should You Actually Pay?](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-budget.md): Rent ranges, hidden costs, and the one-month rule everyone should follow before signing anything. - [5 Housing Scams and How to Avoid Them](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-scams.md): Fake listings, advance-payment fraud, and phantom landlords cost internationals thousands every year. Here's how to spot them, and protect yourself. - [When to Start Looking for Housing Abroad: A Month-by-Month Timeline](https://www.socials.homes/guides/when-to-start-looking.md): Most internationals start too late. Here's the timeline that actually works for European cities, whether you move in September or February. - [What I Wish I Knew Before Looking for Housing Abroad](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-lessons.md): Real lessons from internationals who searched for housing in Europe. Tips on timing, budgeting, scams, and what actually works. ## Moving & paperwork - [How to find housing as a non-EU international in Europe (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-non-eu-international-students.md): The practical 2026 guide for non-EU internationals renting in Europe. The visa and housing bind, the cancellation reality, documents you need, and the most accessible cities. ## Germany - [Housing in Germany: A Complete Guide for Internationals](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-germany.md): Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne. WG culture, Anmeldung, Sperrkonto, and how to crack the German rental system as an international. - [How to Find Housing in Berlin: The Complete Guide for Internationals (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-berlin.md): How to find a room in Berlin: neighborhoods, realistic prices, WG culture, timing, and how to actually get a landlord to reply. - [How to Find Housing in Munich: The Complete Guide for Internationals (2026)](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-munich.md): Find housing in Munich: neighborhoods, prices, WG tips, dorms, and how to navigate Germany's priciest city as an international. ## Netherlands - [Housing in the Netherlands: A Complete Guide for Internationals](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-netherlands.md): Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Groningen, The Hague. Prices, neighborhoods, platforms, and the tight-market reality every international faces. ## Portugal - [Housing in Portugal: A Complete Guide for Internationals](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-portugal.md): Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra. Prices, neighborhoods, and how to navigate the fast-growing rental scene. ## Spain - [Housing in Spain: A Complete Guide for Internationals](https://www.socials.homes/guides/student-housing-spain.md): Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Seville. Prices, neighborhoods, NIE/TIE, padrón, and how the Spanish rental system works for internationals. Find a home with Socials: https://www.socials.homes/signup.