While the general population spends just under a quarter of its income on housing, that figure soars to 53% for students who live alone, the Federal Statistical Office found.

The figures, based on surveys on income and living conditions from 2024, show that 62% of student households are considered to be “overburdened” by their housing costs.

The measure applies for households where more than 40% of income is spent on housing.

Trainees living alone are similarly affected, spending an average 41% of their income on housing costs.

Shared accommodation makes a significant difference, however, bringing student housing costs down to just under 37% of income, according to the data.

Likewise, trainees living together with other trainees or students have a housing cost burden of 26% of income – only slightly above that of the general population.

Many young people have to manage with relatively small incomes. Half of the students living on their own had a median income of less than €930 ($1,078) per month, according to the data.

Students living with other students or trainees earned on average 42% of their income themselves, according to the statistics.

Private support such as maintenance payments from relatives accounted for 32%, while 14% came from state benefits or scholarships.

-dpa