Being a student in Strasbourg is brilliant – but it doesn’t mean your budget has to suffer. From discounted meals to cheap travel, and even housing help, there are plenty of ways to stretch your euros without sacrificing your lifestyle. Whether you’re here for a semester or a full degree, here are some top tips and local tricks to help you live well – for less.

General Strategies

• Get a Student Card (Carte Étudiante)
  Essential for discounts on transport, food, museums, cinemas, sports, and even shopping.
  If you study at the University of Strasbourg or other institutions, your student ID already qualifies you.
• Apply for CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales) Housing Aid
  Students renting apartments (even just a room) can apply for APL or ALS housing subsidies.
  It can reduce your rent by €100–€300 per month, depending on your income and rent.
• Open a student bank account
  Banks like Crédit Mutuel, BNP Paribas, CIC, LCL offer student packages with free bank cards and zero fees for the first few years. Learn more about it in our article.

Transportation Tips

• Tram + Bus (CTS Network)
  Get the annual student subscription: around €276/year (~€28/month) for unlimited travel.
  Much cheaper than paying monthly.
  Just need it occasionally? Buy 10-trip packs instead of single tickets.
  More information is here.
• Vélhop (Bike Rental Service)
  Strasbourg is super bike-friendly! Learn more about it in our article.
  
  • 24h = €6
  • Monthly = €17
  • Yearly = €96 (with deposit)
• Carpool (Covoiturage)
  Use platforms like Blablacar for cheap travel to nearby cities (even across to Germany!).

Food & Grocery Savings

• CROUS University Restaurants (Resto’U)
  Full meal (starter + main + dessert) for only €3.30 with your student card!
  Vegan options available too.
  Popular locations:
  • Resto U Esplanade
  • Resto U Paul Appell
  • Resto U Gallia

• Budget Supermarkets
  Lidl and Aldi are the go-tos for cheap groceries.
  Grand Frais is great for fresh produce.
  Leclerc also offers competitive prices.
  More information is available on our website.
  
• Food Markets
  Local markets like Marché de la Marne often have better prices than supermarkets.
  Visit near closing time for the best deals!
  
• Too Good To Go App
  Buy leftover food from bakeries, restaurants, and supermarkets at heavily discounted prices.
  Strasbourg has tons of daily offers — it’s worth checking regularly!
  
• Envie Végane, Biocoop, Naturalia
  Go right before closing — you might find last-minute discounts on vegan products.
  

Accommodation Tips

Learn more about accommodation search, tenant rights & contracts, best websites & groups for housing, scam avoiding on our website

• CROUS Student Residences:
  • Cheapest option:
    150–300€/month.
  • Simple but central locations.
• Shared Apartments (Colocation):
  • Facebook groups like Colocations à Strasbourg.
  • Websites: LeBonCoin, La Carte des Colocs.
• Private student residences (like Nexity, Studélites):
  • Slightly more expensive (~400–550€) but safer and with more amenities.
• Electricity/Internet:
  • Always compare offers on Selectra or Hello Watt websites for cheaper deals.
  • Student internet promos with Free, SFR, Bouygues Telecom.

Study & Leisure Savings

• Libraries (BU – Bibliothèques Universitaires):
  • Free access to huge study spaces and free WiFi.
• Cultural Discounts:
  • Museums: Many are free for under-26 EU citizens.
  • Cinema:
    • UGC Ciné Cité offers student discounts.
    • Cinema Le Star is an independent cinema with cheaper tickets.
• Concerts/Theatre:
  • Théâtre National de Strasbourg, Opéra national du Rhin often have last-minute student tickets starting from 6€.
• Sports:
  • University sports pass (Sport U): around 25€/year → access to dozens of sports activities (fitness, dance, tennis, etc.).

Shopping & Second-Hand

More about Second-Hand shopping in Strasbourg in our article:

• Emmaüs Strasbourg:
  • Best place for second-hand furniture, clothes, kitchenware, bikes.
• Vinted:
  • Huge second-hand app for clothes.
• LeBonCoin:
  • For everything (furniture, electronics, appliances).
• Flea Markets (Marchés aux Puces):
  • Strasbourg has regular flea markets where you can find cheap everything.

Bonus Tip

• Strasbourg is close to Germany (Kehl is just across the bridge)!
  • Groceries are cheaper in Kehl’s Lidl/Aldi/Edeka.
  • Many students cross the border by tram (tram line D goes directly).

Free & Low-Cost Activities – Museums, concerts, and cultural events.

Free or Discounted Museums

Most Strasbourg museums are either free or very cheap for:

• Students (with valid ID)
• EU citizens under 26

Top Museums (Free for Students or <26)

Museum	Highlights	Normal Price	Student/Under 26
Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain	Modern art, Picasso, Monet	7€	Free
Musée Alsacien	Local history, folk art, reconstructions	6,50€	Free
Musée Historique	Strasbourg’s history + interactive exhibits	6,50€	Free
Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame	Gothic art, medieval sculpture	6,50€	Free
Musée Zoologique	Animals, taxidermy, educational	Free (during renovations)	Free
Musée Tomi Ungerer	Satirical/illustration art	6,50€	Free

First Sunday of every month:

All city-run museums are free for everyone!

Concerts & Music

Free or Cheap Classical/Jazz/Modern

• Cité de la Musique et de la Danse
  → Frequent free student concerts and rehearsals.
  → Look for events from Haute École des Arts du Rhin (HEAR) or Conservatoire.
• Théâtre National de Strasbourg (TNS)
  → Student tickets often 6–8€
  → Sometimes free shows from acting students.
• Opéra national du Rhin
  → Last-minute student tickets: 10€
  → Occasionally free open rehearsals.
• JAZZDOR (Jazz festival, usually November)
  → Many free public shows & student rates for the rest.
• Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra
  → Special “Young Audience” concerts at 5–10€

Theatre & Performances

• Le TAPS (Théâtre Actuel et Public de Strasbourg)
  → Cutting-edge plays, €6–€10 with student card.
• L’Étoile (Student Theatre Festival)
  → Student-run performances – often free or donation-based.
• University Culture Service (Service Culturel Unistra)
  → Offers free shows, exhibitions, and workshops.
  → Website: https://www.culture.unistra.fr

Art & Exhibitions

• HEAR (Haute École des Arts du Rhin)
  → Art school with free student exhibitions, performances, and workshops.
• L’Artichaut Galerie
  → Free indie art gallery with regular vernissages.
• La Semencerie
  → Artist collective – free entry to their creative space + events.

Festivals (Many Events are Free!)

• St’art Art Fair (November)
  → Contemporary art – students sometimes get free or 50% tickets.
• Festival des Artefacts (spring)
  → Eclectic music festival — many free outdoor performances.
• Festival Musica (September–October)
  → Avant-garde music & sound art – many free concerts.
• Strasbourg Mon Amour (February)
  → Romantic-themed events, some free concerts & shows.
• Marchés de Noël (Christmas Markets)
  → Entire city turns festive — concerts, parades, street art — free entry.

Cinema & Screenings

• UGC Ciné Cité Strasbourg
  → Student ticket: ~6–7€
  → “UGC Illimité Jeunes” pass: ~17€/month for unlimited movies.
• Le Star / Star St-Exupéry
  → Indie and international films – often 5.50€ for students.
• Ciné-Club Universitaire
  → Free or low-cost screenings for students at various campus locations.

Other Free Must-See Spots

• Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg
  → Free to enter. Climb tower = 5€, or free with city pass.
• Parc de l’Orangerie
  → Perfect for relaxing or picnicking. Free stork park + mini-zoo.
• La Petite France district
  → Walk around and admire the architecture, bridges, canals — totally free.

Bonus: Cheap Cultural Tips

• Carte Culture (University Students)
  → For ~7€, get access to hundreds of cultural events across Alsace for a 1-year period.
  → https://www.carte-culture.org
• Keep an eye on:
  • https://strasbourg.eu – official city calendar
  • https://jeunes.strasbourg.eu – Strasbourg youth info
  • Facebook pages: “Strasbourg Étudiants”, “Sortir à Strasbourg”, and “Université de Strasbourg – Culture”
    

If you want to earn money, read our article about it!

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

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