Student experiences with housing/finances in Wroclaw

I will be applying to the Wroclaw University of Economics for the fall term (in Poland they call it winter term?) in 2009. I know it's early to ask, but I would like have a reasonably clear picture of what to expect.

My friend Lukasz manages to do just fine on about 1300-1400 PLN a month in Poznan, living in a dormitory, but I know little about the situation in Wroclaw. I will have a monthly budget of, minimum 1500 PLN, maximum 2200 PLN.

Would any current/former students in Wroclaw recommend renting an apartment over staying in a dormitory? If so, what can one realistically expect for quality of life (food, entertainment, etc.) in Wroclaw on such a budget?

I appreciate any perspectives you may be able to share.

Thanks!

With such budget you won't be able to rent whole flat, but if you don't want to live in a dormitory you can just rent a single room in shared apartament with other syudents. If you do so, you will have enough money to live a good STUDENT life :) I mean enough for food and a lot of partying.

I think Wrocław is one of the best cities to live in, much going on there. Lot of events and the city itself is very beautifull.

Thanks so much! I supposed a flat-sharing arrangement would probably be the most likely scenario... I will be in Poland in early December, so I plan to get a good look at my (hopefully) future home - and a taste of the fun.

when i was there last week the students were out on the streets complaining of the high rent costs in wroclaw.

That is why flat-sharing is the best option. In Poznań rent prices are getting up too :(

Just curious...why is it that rents are so high? Has the median income of urban Poles increased so much that is justifies such high rents, or is another factor involved?

apparently there is alot of exploitive speculative housing practices here. Foreign companies from portugal for instance bought up alot of flats in warsaw. dormitories are cheap however 400zl or so per month untilities included. as well timing is important. at this time students are scrambling for housing so the old law of supply and demand comes in to the picture. best time is june july. its took me 2 months. you probably will have to pay a fee but dont pay ahead of time only when you sign the contract and 50% is pretty standard fee

On further examination, the university web site mentions the option of "Single" dorm rooms. If this means what I optimistically think it does, I should be fine - privacy and finance-wise. Shame about the exploitation...

hmm i dont know about single dorm rooms you should ask polish people to be sure good luck

Thanks...you're right...optimism shouldn't cloud my skepticism ;)

why is it that rents are so high?

In my opinion, there are few cities in Poland known as a "student cities", because they have many different universities, like Wrocław, Poznań or Warszawa. And as there are so many students in one place, they have to live somewhere, and there are no enough dorms. (For example in Olsztyn, there is population of 170 000 people + over 40 000 students - it DOES make difference for a small town) So people got smart, and if they have a flat to rent, they want as much money as they can get, because students will rent it anyway. I was living in dorms back in high school, 4 people in small room :P it was fun, but... NO MORE! Maybe single room is an option, but dorms are always so loud. The choice is yours! Good luck!