How affordable is student life, really?

If you’re thinking about studying in Košice, one of the first questions is obvious: can I actually afford to live here as a student?
Short answer: yes.
Long answer: let’s break it down with real numbers you’ll actually care about.

 Groceries & Basic Food

Most students shop at Lidl, Tesco, Kaufland and Billa, or local grocery stores, like Fresh or Klas.

Typical prices (2026):

• Bread: 1.50 – 2.50 €
• Milk (1L): 1.20 – 1.60 €
• Eggs (10 pcs): 2.50 – 4.00 €
• Chicken breast (1 kg): 5 – 9 €
• Pasta / rice: 1 – 2 €
• Cheese (250 g): 2.50 – 4 €

 If you cook most of your meals, monthly groceries usually come to 150 – 220 €.

 Eating Out (Student Reality)

You won’t starve here—even if you don’t cook.

Daily lunch menus

• Student / lunch menu: 7 – 10 €
• Soup + main dish is very common

Fast food & cafés

• Burger: 8 – 12 €
• Pizza: 8 – 11 €
• Kebab: 5 – 7 €
• Coffee (latte/cappuccino): 2.50 – 4 €
• Beer (0.5l): 2.50 – 4 €

 Eating out regularly but not excessively: 200 – 300 € / month.

School cafeterias 

Here are a few helpful points about eating in the school cafeterias of the main universities in Košice:

 Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (UPJŠ)

• The university operates multiple student dining facilities across Košice with several kitchens and dining halls (e.g., locations on Medická, Moyzesova, Jesenná, Popradská, and Mánesová).
  
  
• Meals are typically ordered via the CARDPAY (PIK) system or directly at the self-service terminals in the cafeteria.
  
  
• You’ll find classic Slovak canteen menus with soups, main dishes, vegetarian options, sides, and desserts at student-friendly prices (around 7€ per lunch, with state subsidy it comes out at around 4€ per lunch).
• You can find more information here: https://www.sdaj.upjs.sk/jedalny-listok
  
  

 Technical University of Košice (TUKE)

• TUKE runs seven internal dining facilities and bistros across campus, including canteens on Němcovej 1, Jedlíkova 7, and Urbánkova.
  
  
• These cafeterias offer daily lunch menus, hot meals, salads, and snacks — with payment possible by cash, card, or meal vouchers in some locations.
  
  
• TUKE has also introduced regular vegan and plant-based options in some canteens as part of a “green canteen” initiative. 
• The prices vary based on the order, but lunch can cost around  8€, with state subsidy it comes out at around 5€ per lunch).
• More info can be found here: https://jedalen.tuke.sk/jedalny-listok

 University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice (UVLF)

• UVLF provides a student canteen and buffet where you can enjoy main meals and everyday lunch options. Catering is operated on campus (e.g., Komenského and Podhradová dining halls).
  
  
• There’s also a snack point/cafeteria where you can buy bagels, sandwiches, coffee, tea, and soft drinks — great for quick breaks between classes.
  
  
• Prices tend to be kept student-friendly, with occasional modest price increases in line with broader food cost trends.  
• More information can be found here: https://webkredit.uvlf.sk/webkredit/Ordering/Menu
  
  

 Transport (Very Student-Friendly)

Public transport in Košice is reliable and cheap.

• Student public transportation pass for month (with ISIC): ~ 15 € / month
• Single ticket: ~1.20 € in paper, 1.10 € in apps
• Single student discount ticket: ~0.60 € in paper, 0.55 € in apps
• Bolt (short ride): 3 – 6 €
• Bolt (across the city): 7 – 12 €

Most students combine public transportation + walking, especially if they live near campus.

 Free Time & Services

Life isn’t just lectures and exams.

• Cinema ticket: 6 – 9 €
• Fitness membership: 25 – 40 € / month, many gyms offer discount for students with ISIC cards. 
• Barber for men: haircut: 15 – 20 €, haircut with beard 25 – 35 €
• Hairdresser (women): 25 – 50 €
• Nails / beauty services: 25 – 45 €

Košice has plenty of cafés, bars, parks, and student events—without big-city prices.

 Rent (Quick Overview)

• Shared room: 230 – 280 €
• Private room in shared flat: 300 – 450 €
• Studio / 1-bedroom: 650 – 850 €

Utilities and internet are often included or add 50 – 100 €.

We went deeper in a separate housing guide, check it out: https://eduke.sk/a-guide-to-student-housing-in-kosice-2026/

Essential apps! 

You can use many apps for food and grocery delivery. We recommend these:

• Bolt Food – Same company behind Bolt taxi rides. It’s worth getting their premium subscription because you get better prices on taxi rides and you can use your taxi credits toward food orders – win-win!
  
  
• Wolt – Great for quick food delivery with a slightly different user experience than Bolt Food. Their premium plan also gives discounts on food and delivery fees.
  
  

You can also use several other handy local apps that help with transport, tickets, city info, and more:

• Bolt / Uber – for taxi rides. 

• Ubian – A very practical transport-oriented app where you can check public transport timetables (bus, tram, train), buy virtual tickets, top up your transport card, and even track vehicle departures. It simplifies planning and paying for travel across Slovak cities including Košice.
  
  
• Antik SmartWay – An all-in-one mobility app by ANTIK that brings together shared bikes, e-bikes, e-motocycles, e-scooters and other city transport devices. You can also buy public transport tickets directly in the app, manage credit, and ride shared vehicles all from one place.
  
  
• Naše Košice – A local city app that gives you an overview of what’s happening in Košice, including current news, events, public transport info, parking, shared services access, sports event details, and tips for leisure activities and trips. It’s like a one-stop hub for navigating life in the city. You can also buy public transportation tickets here.