We compared rent, transport, groceries and a realistic student social budget across twenty European cities. The famous destinations did not come out on top.
Smaller university cities in Portugal, Poland, Italy and Germany offered the best balance between cost, student culture and connections. A low rent is less useful if every trip home costs a fortune.
The famous cities did not win.
The winner depends on your habits, but the method does not: price the full month, include deposits and insurance, and always ask current students what they actually spend.