Where to Live in Olsztyn? Student Neighborhood Ranking

Choosing a district to live in Olsztyn comes down to a simple choice: do you want to live in the very center of the student world (Kortowo and Podgrodzie), or do you prefer a slightly cheaper rental in sleeping districts with direct access by tram (Jaroty, Nagórki)?

Ranking of Student Districts in Olsztyn 2026/2027

The following ranking has been prepared on the basis of an analysis of rental prices, travel time to the Kortowo Campus, availability of public transport and event and catering infrastructure.

1st place: Kortowo – Absolute number one

Kortowo is not just a district – it is a lifestyle. Choosing this location means that you don’t have to spend money on public transport tickets.

• Advantages: All faculties of the UWM, the Main Library, dormitories, tennis courts, a marina, a beach and iconic clubs (e.g. Rakor, Antyk) within a 5-10 minute walk. It is here that the legendary Kortowiada takes place – the best juvenalia in Poland.

• Disadvantages: Difficult availability of vacant apartments on the private market (UWM dormitories dominate).

• Room prices: Renting a private room in the vicinity of Warszawska or Słoneczna Street is PLN 1,100 – 1,500. A place in a UWM dormitory costs only PLN 500 – 850.

2nd place: Suburb – Best compromise

The district is directly adjacent to Kortów from the north-east.

• Advantages: You can walk to the university in 10-15 minutes (along Warszawska or Prawocheńskiego streets). The Old Town is less than 10 minutes away. The district has full commercial facilities (Biedronka, Lidl, PSS Społem).

• Communication: Bus and tram lines running along Tuwima and Warszawska Streets.

• Room prices: PLN 1,000 – 1,350 for a single room in a block of flats.

Place 3: Jaroty and Nagórki – Cheap bedrooms connected by tram

The largest housing estates in Olsztyn located in the southern part of the city.

• Advantages: The widest database of cheap apartments and rooms for rent. The large tram network of Olsztyn connected Jaroty directly with Kortów and the Main Railway Station.

• Communication: Tram lines 4 and 5 (running along Wilczyńskiego, Sikorskiego and Tuwima Streets) take students to the Kortów Gate in 12-18 minutes.

• Room prices: PLN 850 – 1,150 for a single room – the most attractive rates in the city.

Place 4: Downtown and Old Town – For nightlife fans

The central part of Olsztyn is concentrated around Piłsudskiego Avenue, Pieniężnego Street and the charming Old Town on the Łyna River.

• Advantages: Direct access to restaurants, pubs, cafes, the Stery Jaracz Theatre and Podzamcze Park.

• Disadvantages: Higher rental prices, older buildings (tenement houses), difficulties with parking a car.

• Access to Kortów: 8–12 minutes by buses or tram line 2.

• Room prices: PLN 1,150 – 1,600.

5th place: Lake District and Zatorze – Budget options

Districts located in the north-eastern part of the city. Zatorze (located “behind the tracks” of the Main Railway Station) is famous for its atmospheric red tenement houses and progressive revitalization.

• Advantages: Very low rental prices and atmospheric premises.

• Disadvantages: The longest travel time to the Kortowo Campus (the need to change at the Main Railway Station or a longer ride by buses 103, 109, 128).

• Room prices: 800 – 1 100 PLN.

Comparative Comparison of Districts in Olsztyn (2026/2027)

UWM Dormitories in Kortów – Prices, Standard & Rules (2026/2027)

The University of Warmia and Mazury has one of the most extensive academic systems in Poland. The campus houses 11 Student Dormitories (DS 1 – DS 119, including the cult DS 2, DS 3 or DS 119 “Gravity”).

Why is it worth choosing a dormitory in Kortowo?

• Prices: The cheapest option to live in Olsztyn. The cost of a place in a 2-person room is PLN 500 – 680 per month with all utilities and high-speed academic internet.

• Standard: Most of the student dormitories at UWM have undergone thorough modernization. The apartments are divided into so-called segments (2 rooms with a shared bathroom and kitchenette).

• Social life: Direct access to student events, co-study in quiet work rooms and no travel costs to lectures.

Public Transport ZDZiT Olsztyn – Trams, Buses and Student Ticket

Olsztyn’s public transport network is modern and punctual. An extensive system of tram lines connects the southern sleeping districts with Kortów, the Center and the Main Station.

What is the cheapest way to travel around Olsztyn?

• Olsztyn City Card (OKM): A document necessary to encode discounted long-term tickets.

• Monthly Student Ticket (Personal Ticket for the entire network): The cost of a personal monthly ticket for a UWM student for all tram and bus lines within the borders of Olsztyn is only approx. PLN 50 – 60.

• Tram Lines to Kortów:

  • Line 4: Connects Jaroty (Wilczyńskiego Street) via Tuwim with Kortów (Uniwersytet-Prawocheńskiego / Uniwersytet-Słoneczna stop).

  • Line 5: Connects the Main Railway Station and Pieczewo with Kortów.

• City Bike and Scooters: In the spring and autumn season, the most popular means of transport between Podgrodzie, Centrum and Kortów are city bikes and electric scooters, running along Łynostrada Avenue.

Cost of living in Olsztyn – Real monthly budget of a student

Olsztyn is a city friendly to the student wallet. The total cost of living here is significantly lower than in neighbouring Gdańsk or Warsaw.

Jobs and earnings for a student in Olsztyn (2026)

Olsztyn offers stable opportunities to add to the student budget. The service, gastronomy and tourism sectors generate a constant demand for young workers.

Real rates on a mandate contract (with zero PIT up to 26 years):

• Gastronomy / Barista in the Old Town and Kortów: PLN 30.50 – 34.00 / net hour + tips.

• Work in trade (Galerie Warmińska, Aura Centrum): PLN 30.50 – 33.00 / net hour.

• Tourist traffic service (Marinas on Lake Ukiel / Hotels): PLN 32.00 – 38.00 / net hour (especially in the season from May to September).

• Logistics and production (e.g. Michelin Olsztyn): PLN 33.00 – 40.00 / net hour for selected auxiliary positions.

How to look for an apartment in Olsztyn and not be deceived?

• Search from the turn of July and August: The housing market in Olsztyn is experiencing its biggest peak before the autumn Kortowiada and the start of the year. The best deals in Podgrodzie disappear in a few hours.
• Check the distance from the stop of line 4 or 5: If you are renting an apartment in Jaroty or Nagórki, make sure that you walk no longer than 5 minutes to the tram stop.
• Inquire about service fees (Administrative rent): Some of the ads state the amount of the severance fee itself (e.g. PLN 1000), hiding the rent to the cooperative (e.g. PLN 400) and electricity and gas fees.
• Pay attention to heating: The most cost-effective are apartments with heating from the municipal network of MPEC Olsztyn. Avoid old tenement houses with electric heating.

Analysis of micro-locations around Kortów – street by street

Choosing a specific street within a kilometer radius of an academic town is crucial for the daily comfort of a UWM student. The differences in the time to get to lectures can range from 3 to even 25 minutes.

1. Słoneczna Street and Prawocheńskiego Street (Zone Zero)

Absolutely the most desirable residential addresses in Olsztyn.

• Characteristics: Flats and single-family houses adapted for student rooms located directly at the entrance to Kortów I.

• Walking time to the faculties: 3–5 minutes on foot to the Faculty of Biology, the Rector’s Office and the Old Town.

• Prices: Due to the unique location, the prices of private rooms here reach the highest rates in Olsztyn (PLN 1,200 – 1,550 with fees).

2. Tuwima Street and Warszawska Street (Zone One)

Strategic streets connecting Kortowo with Podgrodzie and the city center.

• Characteristics: Blocks of flats and newer multi-family buildings dominate here. Along Tuwima Street runs a key tram line that takes students to Jaroty and the Main Railway Station.

• Walking time to the faculties: 8–12 minutes on foot to the UWM Conference Centre and the Main Library.

• Prices: Single rooms cost an average of PLN 1,050 – 1,350.

3. Słoneczny Stok and Dajtki Housing Estate (Outer Zone)

Quiet housing estates of single-family houses and low blocks of flats located west of Lake Kortowskie.

• Characteristics: Ideal for students who value silence, green areas and proximity to the recreation complex on Lake Ukiel.

• Access to Kortów: 15–20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by ZDZiT bus (lines 107, 113).

• Prices: Low rental prices (900 – 1,150 PLN per room).

Seasonality of the rental market in Olsztyn – when to book an apartment?

The Olsztyn real estate market is governed by a specific dynamics caused by the rhythm of the academic year of the University of Warmia and Mazury.

How to negotiate a lease agreement in Olsztyn?

• 10-month contracts (October – June): More and more often, owners of apartments in the vicinity of Podgrodzie and Jaroty agree to sign a contract only for the duration of classes. This allows you to save from PLN 2,000 to 3,000 during the holiday period.

• Holiday parking (Zero rent or 50%): In the case of 12-month contracts, the standard on the Olsztyn market is to negotiate the so-called holiday break for July and August (you pay 50% of the rate for the possibility of keeping your belongings in a locked room).

Quiet learning zones in Olsztyn – where to prepare for the session?

For those renting double rooms or living in bustling student housing estates, finding a quiet study space is crucial.

1. Main Library of the UWM – 128 Oczapowskiego Street

Located in the heart of Kortów II, it is considered one of the most modern university libraries in Northern Poland.

• Infrastructure: Air-conditioned Free Access Zone, glazed cabins for individual work, computer workstations with access to international scientific databases (Elsevier, Scopus, Web of Science) and a relaxation zone with a view of Kortów Park.

• Accessibility: Free access for every UWM student after activating an account in the library system.

2. Voivodeship Public Library (WBP) – 5 1 Maja Street

Located in the very center of the city, near the Old Town.

• Advantages: An excellent place for students living in Śródmieście or Zatorz. It has quiet reading rooms, a rich literary collection and a space with wi-fi zones.

Sports and recreation base and the location of the apartment

Olsztyn, as the capital of the Land of a Thousand Lakes, offers a unique sports infrastructure directly connected to public transport routes.

Łynostrada – Bicycle and pedestrian main line of the city

The famous Łynostrada is a paved, illuminated pedestrian and bicycle route running along the Łyna River from the edge of the Municipal Forest, through the Old Town and Podgrodzie, to Kortów itself.

• Significance for the student: Residents of Podgrodzie and Śródmieście reach Kortów by bicycle or scooter in 6-10 minutes via Łynostrada, avoiding any traffic and street intersections.

UWM Sports Centre in Kortów

Residents of Kortów and Podgrodzie have direct access to the sports infrastructure of the university:

• Indoor swimming pool with hydromassage function at Tuwima Street.

• Tennis courts (indoor and open) at Oczapowskiego Street.

• UWM Sailing Center on Lake Kortowskie with rental of floating equipment (kayaks, pedal boats, omegas).

Housing scholarships at UWM – support for landlords

The University of Warmia and Mazury runs an extensive protection program, financially supporting students renting rooms on the private market or living in dormitories.

Housing Allowance to the Social Scholarship

A UWM student in a difficult financial situation, who commutes to the university from a place that makes it impossible to return home every day (or lives in Olsztyn for rent), may apply for an Increase in the Social Scholarship for Residence.

• Amount of the benefit: In the academic year 2026/2027, the amount of the housing allowance at UWM ranges from PLN 350 to PLN 600 per month.

• Procedure: The application is submitted electronically in the USOS UWM system, attaching an apartment lease agreement or a certificate of accommodation in a Student Dormitory.

The choice of a place to live in Olsztyn in the academic year 2026/2027 directly translates into the quality of studying. The Kortowo Academic Town and the adjacent Podgrodzie provide a unique, green climate of student integration, while the southern districts (Jaroty, Nagórki) connected by an efficient tram network are an ideal economic buffer for the thrifty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do medical students (UWM) live in Kortów?

Yes. Although some of the clinical classes take place in the Municipal Hospital and the University Clinical Hospital at Warszawska Street, the teaching base of the Faculty of Medicine is located in Kortów and Podgrodzie. Podgrodzie is the most popular location among medical students.

2. What are the chances of getting a dormitory in Kortów at UWM?

Very high. UWM has one of the largest academic bases in Poland. The allocation of a place is determined by the criterion of distance from the permanent place of residence and income per person in the family. Recruitment is carried out electronically via the USOS system.

3. How long does it take by tram from Jaroty to Kortów?

Tram line 4 or 5 covers the route from the stop at Wilczyńskiego Street (Jaroty) to the Uniwersytet-Prawocheńskiego stop in Kortów in just 12 to 16 minutes.

4. Do I need a car in Olsztyn for my studies?

No. The complexity of Kortów means that you can handle most of the matters on foot. Access to the Centre, Galeria Warmińska or the Main Railway Station is provided by punctual trams and buses of ZDZiT Olsztyn.

5. What is the difference between Kortowo I and Kortowo II?

These are conventional terms defining the old and new academic town. Kortowo I is an older, charming part with historic red brick, a park and a rector’s office. Kortowo II is a modern part with a zone of faculties, social sciences and new laboratories. Both areas are directly adjacent to each other.

6. Where is the cheapest place to shop for groceries in Olsztyn?

In addition to popular discount stores (Biedronka, Lidl in Podgrodzie and Jaroty), students are happy to use local markets (e.g. Ryneczek at Grunwaldzka Street) and PSS Społem Olsztyn stores.

7. Is it safe in Kortów at night?

Yes. The Kortowo Academic Town has its own, round-the-clock monitoring system and a dedicated University Guard, which makes it one of the safest areas in Olsztyn.

8. How much does it cost to enter student clubs in Kortów?

For UWM students with an efficient ELS card, admission to iconic student clubs in the campus (e.g. Rakor) is usually free or symbolic (PLN 5–10 during thematic events).

Studying in Olsztyn in the academic year 2026/2027 is a unique experience on the scale of the whole of Polish. No other academic city offers such a high level of living comfort, a combination of nature and science, and a fully integrated student campus.

If you care about a unique student atmosphere – choose a dormitory or a private room in Kortów or Podgrodzie. If the lowest rent is a priority – choose a room in Jaroty or Nagórki along tram lines 4 and 5.