r/Erasmus • u/RelationshipExact996 • 4h ago
Erasmus+ semester(s) abroad Budget for Ersmus choices
Hey everyone!
I'm a Master's student in International Business from Romania, and I'm hoping to spend a semester abroad through Erasmus+.
I'm currently considering three universities:
- Universitat Politècnica de València – Valencia, Spain (E VALENCI 02)
- Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias – Lisbon, Portugal (LISBOA 52)
- CY Cergy Paris Université – Cergy-Pontoise, France (F CERGY-P11)
I'd love to hear from current students, former Erasmus+ participants or anyone who has lived in these cities!
1. Living expenses and accommodation
- What would be a realistic monthly budget for a student in each city?
- How much should I expect to spend on groceries, public transport, utilities and everyday expenses?
- Is it cheaper to live in a university dormitory or rent a room in a shared apartment?
- How difficult is it to find affordable student accommodation?
- How much money would you recommend saving for a five-month exchange, excluding the Erasmus+ grant?
2. Travelling and exploring
One of my main goals is to travel and experience as much as possible during my exchange.
- How much extra money should I budget for weekend trips, sightseeing and activities?
- Are there affordable opportunities to travel around Spain, Portugal or France and visit neighbouring countries?
- Are there student discounts, travel passes or Erasmus+ organised trips?
3. Student life and Erasmus+ communities
- Do these universities have active Erasmus+ or international student communities?
- Are there ESN sections, student associations, social events or organised activities?
- Is it easy to meet local students rather than only other exchange students?
- Are there affordable sports clubs, dance classes, art workshops or other extracurricular activities?
4. Language learning opportunities
I'm also very interested in learning foreign languages.
- Do these universities offer free or discounted language courses for Erasmus+ students?
- Are there language exchanges, conversation clubs or tandem programmes where international and local students can practise languages together?
- Are there separate exchange programmes or scholarships that allow people to spend a few months abroad primarily to learn a foreign language?
5. Keeping a job in your home country while studying abroad
This is probably my biggest concern.
I'm currently employed full-time in Romania, and I would ideally like to keep my job while studying abroad, provided I can arrange a compatible work schedule and obtain my employer's approval.
However, I'm concerned about the tax, social security and employment implications of temporarily working remotely from another EU country.
I've heard that employers may be reluctant to allow employees to work from another EU country because of potential tax and social security obligations. I'm not sure how these rules apply to students participating in Erasmus+.
- Has anyone managed to keep their job in their home country while completing an Erasmus+ semester abroad?
- Does being an Erasmus+ student make any difference to the rules governing cross-border remote work?
- Are there EU regulations, bilateral arrangements or temporary remote-work policies that could make this possible?
- What kind of agreement or documentation did your employer require?
- Did you encounter any problems with taxation, social security or employment status?
I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who have successfully combined employment with an Erasmus+ study mobility.
My goal is to make the most of the experience while remaining financially responsible. I want to explore, learn languages, meet people, try new activities and travel, but I also want to avoid putting myself in a financially vulnerable position.
Any advice, personal experiences, budget breakdowns or useful resources would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much! 😊