Student Moves in Athens: Budget-Friendly Options
Every September, thousands of students move to Athens or switch flats within the city — from Ilisia and Zografou near the main university campus to Egaleo, Piraeus and Marousi. Budgets are usually tight and time is short. Whether you’re a Greek student or here on Erasmus, this guide brings together practical, affordable ways to handle a student move in Athens without the stress.
How much does a student move in Athens cost?
A student move usually costs about the same as a small move or a studio move, because the volume is small: a few pieces of furniture, some boxes, suitcases and maybe a bike. The cost drops even further if you pack yourself, pick a weekday and have a lift.
Check the indicative starting prices in our price list or try a quick cost estimate with your own details. Our free written quote gives you the final price.
What’s worth moving — and what isn’t
The most important question in a student move is what to leave behind. Many student flats are rented furnished and, even when they aren’t, some things are cheaper to buy here.
Worth moving:
- Clothes, bedding and towels.
- Books, notes and your computer.
- A good mattress, if yours is in good condition.
- A desk and office chair, if you’ll be studying for long hours.
- A bike, if you’ll be getting around near campus.
Usually not worth moving:
- Large, heavy furniture that may not fit in your new room.
- Old appliances that cost more to move than they’re worth.
- Anything the furnished flat already has.
How to cut the cost of a student move
- Share the move. If two flatmates are moving into the same place, one move costs less than two.
- Pack yourself. A student’s belongings can easily be packed in an afternoon.
- Choose a weekday. Saturdays in September are the busiest days of the year for student moves.
- Book early. As soon as you’ve signed the lease, book your moving date too.
- Use suitcases and bags. Clothes can travel in suitcases instead of boxes.
- Ask for a small move. If you don’t have much, a small move is often the cheapest option.
What about your things over the summer?
Many students go home for three months in the summer and keep paying rent on an empty room just to store their things. An alternative is to give up the flat in June, put your things into storage and have them delivered to your new address in September. A few months of furniture storage usually costs far less than three months’ rent.
A real-life example
A student finishes her exams in June and goes home for the summer. Instead of paying three months’ rent, she hands back the flat; her things — a desk, a chair, a mattress and ten boxes — go into storage and in September they’re delivered to her new flat, closer to her faculty. One trip in June, one in September and a few months of storage usually cost much less than the rent on an empty room.
A student move, step by step
- As soon as you’ve found a place: send us a list of what needs moving and both addresses.
- One week before: get boxes, tape and a marker; start with your books.
- Two days before: disconnect your computer and peripherals and keep the cables in a small bag.
- On moving day: keep your ID, keys, lease, laptop and chargers with you.
- Afterwards: update your address with the university office, your bank and your other services.
Tips for parents
If you’re helping your son or daughter settle in Athens from another city, organise the move so you don’t have to travel just for that. We can collect furniture from a shop in Athens and deliver it straight to the new flat, or move things from one address in Attica to another. Please note that we only handle moves within Athens and Attica.
Safety and flat-sharing
On a student move, the most valuable items are usually the computer and your documents. Always carry those yourself. If you’re moving into a shared flat, agree beforehand who’s bringing what, so you don’t end up with two fridges or two sofas in one living room.
Where students usually live in Athens
Students usually look for a place near their faculty or with good metro and bus links. As a rough guide: around the University of Athens and National Technical University campuses in Zografou, people often choose Ilisia, Zografou and Kaisariani; for the Athens University of Economics and Business, the centre and the area around Patision Street; for Panteion and Harokopio universities, Kallithea; for the University of Piraeus, Piraeus itself; and for the University of West Attica, Egaleo.
Wherever your new home is, we cover all of Athens and Attica in exactly the same way. Distance within the city makes very little difference to the price of a small move.
Furnished or unfurnished: what it means for your move
If you’re renting a furnished flat, your move is really just a few boxes, suitcases and some personal belongings — a small move is often enough. If the flat is unfurnished, you’ll need at least a bed, a mattress, a desk and a wardrobe. In that case, compare the cost of moving your old furniture with the cost of buying simple new pieces in Athens. If you buy, we can collect them from the shop and bring them straight to your new home.
Lease and handover: small steps that save money
- Photograph the flat when you move in and when you move out — every wall and every piece of furniture.
- Record the meters for electricity and water with a photo on the day you move in and the day you leave.
- Keep a copy of your lease and the receipt for your deposit.
- Leave the flat clean, as your lease requires, to make getting your deposit back easier.
Do I need to be there on moving day?
Yes — you, or someone you trust, needs to be there at pick-up and delivery to show what’s being moved and to hand over or collect the keys. If you’re still in your home town, a flatmate or relative can stand in for you, as long as you let us know in advance.
Ready for the new academic year?
Our student move is designed for small loads, flexible appointments and a low cost. Ask for a free quote — we usually reply the same day.
