Best Student Accommodation in Montpellier, France

Montpellier’s universities cover a wide range of academic fields, from sciences to humanities:

University of Montpellier (Université de Montpellier)

The University of Montpellier (UM) is one of the oldest universities in the world, and a leading university in the Occitanie region in France. It’s known particularly for fields like sciences, tech, and ecology. UM has a student population of over 51,000 students enrolled in 17 faculties, schools, and institutes.

Institut Agro Montpellier (formerly Montpellier SupAgro)

Institut Agro Montpellier is a French university specialised in agriculture, food systems, environment, and related sciences. Not only does the university collaborate with major research organisations, but it also does specialised research. It also prioritises international training and research, with a 23-30% international student population.

Paul Valéry University Montpellier 3 (Université Paul‑Valéry Montpellier)

Paul‑Valéry University Montpellier 3 is a public university in Montpellier focused on humanities, arts, languages, and social sciences. The university offers programmes including literature, history, languages, philosophy, sociology, psychology, and the arts. Paul Valéry hosts an international community of more than 4,000 students representing 128 nationalities.

Montpellier offers affordable student residences, catering to different budgets and preferences. Here are some of our Montpellier student housing recommendations:

• Montpellier Lazare - Private Room (3): A student accommodation offering private rooms with Wi-Fi and all-inclusive bills.
• Chambre 2 - Mourgues B: Offers en-suite rooms with student-friendly amenities such as Wi-Fi and laundry facilities.
• Chambre dans le 49 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jaumes: A student housing featuring fully furnished rooms with laundry facilities.
• Chambre 1 - Gaucelin R: Offers en-suite rooms with Wi-Fi and laundry facilities.

Choosing the right neighbourhood can make your student experience more convenient and enjoyable. Montpellier offers a variety of student-friendly areas, including:

Boutonnet

A residential neighbourhood north of the city centre, Boutonnet is popular with students for its student-focused amenities, affordable accommodation, and proximity to universities. The area features green spaces, including Parc Sainte Odile, and numerous shops to meet your needs. Rue du Faubourg Boutonnet, the main street of Montpellier’s Boutonnet district, is a student hotspot, with cafés, bars, parks, and tram stops.

Boutonnet is an ideal choice for students of the University of Montpellier’s pharmacy faculty, and its tram connections, especially Line 1, as well as bus routes and bike paths, make it convenient for Paul Valéry students.

Hôpitaux-Facultés

Hôpitaux-Facultés is a student neighbourhood in the northern part of Montpellier, and is a practical choice for many students, combining residential living, hospital facilities, many green spaces, and tram lines, as well as local buses. The Montpellier Zoo (Parc Zoologique de Lunaret) is among the attractions there. It’s also a great area for med students in Montpellier, home to the University of Montpellier’s medical, pharmacy, and science faculties. Paul-Valéry University students in humanities and arts are also among the student population in Hôpitaux-Facultés.

L’Écusson

L’ Écusson is the heart of Montpellier's historic centre, surrounded by medieval streets and main squares, with 19th-century Haussmann-style buildings. It’s also a student-friendly area with a walkable layout, plenty to explore, and excellent tram lines. The neighbourhood’s Place de la Comédie, a pedestrian square, is bustling with architecture, fountains, theatres, and the Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle, a central green space with shaded paths, outdoor sculptures, and seasonal market stalls. Nearby universities include some faculties of UM, and tram access to other universities like Paul Valéry University Montpellier 3 and the Institut Agro Montpellier.

Les Arceaux

With a village-like atmosphere and tree-lined streets, Les Arceaux is a quiet neighbourhood in Montpellier, west of the historic centre. Featuring farmer markets, local shops, and botanical gardens, it’s a place that offers a relaxing environment while satisfying your daily needs. The Aqueduct of the Arceaux and Place du Peyrou are student-friendly spots, with green spaces and scenery, and the Marché des Arceaux is famous for local produce.

Known for easy access to the city centre and nearby campuses, tram lines in Les Arceaux provide easy access to the city centre and nearby campuses, including UM science and health faculties or Paul-Valéry University’s humanities and arts programs.

The cost of living for a student studying in Montpellier depends on lifestyle and accommodation type. Here are estimated costs for student accommodation in Montpellier:

Student Accommodation

The estimated cost of living in Montpellier for a single person is €874 per month, excluding rent. According to Numbeo, here are the living expenses in Montpellier:

Groceries

Utilities

Transportation

Note: International students living in Montpellier with proof of local residence can travel for free on trams and buses using the Pass Gratuité.

Montpellier has a well-developed public transport network operated by TaM (Transports de l’Agglomération de Montpellier), making it easy to get around the city. Extensive tram and bus services connect residential areas to campuses, the city centre, and leisure zones.

Tram

The tram network has five lines and covers multiple neighbourhoods and university zones. Trams run daily from early morning until late at night, offering frequent and reliable connections between campuses, student areas, and central Montpellier.

Bus

Montpellier’s bus network, part of the TaM public transport system, includes various routes that link residential areas and transport hubs with tram stations and university zones.

Trains

The city is served by two major train stations: Montpellier Saint-Roch in the city centre and Montpellier Sud de France. Both are connected to tram and bus networks for easy regional and national travel.

Cycling

Montpellier also has an extensive network of cycle paths, making cycling a practical way to travel for both study and leisure. A bike-sharing service called Vélomagg lets users rent bikes 24/7 across the city, with discounted first hours for TaM pass holders.

Montpellier offers a mix of culture, outdoor spaces, and student-friendly spots:

• Marché des Beaux-Arts (in Montpellier): The go-to place in the Beaux-Arts district for a true French market experience, featuring delicious, locally-sourced food.
• Musée Art Brut: Showcases art by self-taught artists, uninfluenced by art schools or cultural trends, which is also known as “raw art”.
• Musée Fabre: A museum exploring European art, including Italian and French classics.
• Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier: The oldest botanical garden in France and the second oldest in Europe, it offers a beautiful landscape including flowers, trees, a bamboo forest, and 19th-century architecture.
• Le Polygone: A central shopping and leisure centre near Place de la Comédie, perfect for quick shopping and café breaks.
• Canal du Lez: A scenic waterside path ideal for cycling, walking, or picnics and an ideal chance to explore Montpellier by bike.