How to Find an Apartment in Copenhagen as a Foreigner

Finding an apartment in Copenhagen can be described as a lot of things. “Fun” is not one of those. However, it is a skill that I’ve become very good at—both as a newcomer and when settled into life in the Danish capital. 

Let me tell you a bit about my story so that you know I can help you out. My first experience of actually trying to find an apartment in Copenhagen was in August 2020. With just two weeks before moving, I sat in my bedroom in London with no idea what I was doing. However, I found somewhere to stay with minimal fuss before the plane landed. Then, three and a half years later, I was looking for my dream apartment. Again, that took very little time. 

Now that you know I’m not some clueless bot, let’s help you find a place to stay in Copenhagen. I’m going to give you the information you need to find an apartment as a newcomer (e.g. you’re moving to Copenhagen for work/study and need a place to register as a resident). If you’re already settled, I’ll walk you through what I did to find my dream apartment in the city centre. 

First Thing’s First: Can You be Selective or Not? 

How you look for an apartment in Copenhagen depends on whether you can be selective. The answer to this question is yes if you already live in the Danish capital and are simply looking for a nicer place to live. If your current housing contract is ending in six months or so, you also have more flexibility. In these circumstances, I recommend a more fine-tuned approach where you look for what you actually want. 

On the other hand, you have less wiggle room if you’re about to move to Copenhagen and haven’t registered as a resident. You need an address in Denmark to get the yellow CPR card and MitID (and trust me, living here is a ballache if you don’t have those). In these situations, casting your net wider is a better idea. 

Other Important Preliminary Questions to Ask When Looking for an Apartment in Copenhagen 🗣️

Besides determining your game plan up front, you also need to answer the following:

• What’s your budget? Finding a centrally-located place to live is *much* easier if you set your budget to 15,000 DKK per month or above. 
• Do you want to live with roommates or not? You can make new friends and save money if your budget is tighter, but you should consider the drawbacks of living with roommates as well. 
• Are you willing to commute? Copenhagen’s surrounding areas are well-served by public transport, but you should consider whether you’re willing to take the train or bus every day. If you are, you could even consider living in Malmö while working in Copenhagen. 
• Furnished or unfurnished? Unfurnished apartments are easier to find, but remember that you must then buy sofas, beds, and so on. You’ll also need to install the lights in many cases. 

Renting in Copenhagen: Understand the Upfront Costs 💵

I was very sheltered when I got my first apartment in Copenhagen, as I only had to pay one month’s rent as a deposit and one month of rent upfront. That is not typical, and the costs can shock you if you aren’t prepared. 

Deposits 

For many Copenhagen apartments, you need to pay three months’ rent as your deposit. It’s also not uncommon to pay another three months of rent upfront. I recommend saving the equivalent of at least $10,000 (USD) before you move to the Danish capital to cover these alone. 

Move-In Costs

Your move-in costs will vary depending on whether you have a furnished or unfurnished apartment. If your place is furnished, you’ll save a significant amount (though you’ll probably need to pay for all these items eventually when you have your own place). 

If you have an unfurnished apartment, you should put some money aside to buying your sofa, bed, and so on. Check DBA and Facebook Marketplace for good deals; there’s also an IKEA close to Dybbølsbro Station if you want to get household items when you arrive. 

When you first move to Copenhagen, I recommend that you sell or donate as much stuff as possible while in your current home (unless you’re already in Denmark or another Nordic country). Doing so will save you a lot of stress; I moved here with two suitcases and it was the best thing I ever did.  

You should also consider the following expenses:

• Hiring a moving company or van to transport all your stuff (optional)
• Hiring someone who can help you install the lights in your new apartment 
• Any sign-up costs for internet subscriptions, etc. 

Look at What’s Included in Your Rent 

What is and isn’t included in your monthly rent varies from apartment to apartment. Some apartments in Copenhagen include heating and water in your monthly bill, but you’ll sometimes need to set these up yourself. 

Similarly, you will often need to sign up for an electricity company and get a Wi-Fi subscription. If you’re in doubt, you can always ask the landlord. 

Where to Look for an Apartment in Copenhagen, Based on Your Monthly Budget 

16,000 DKK Per Month and Above

Your budget will have a huge say on which areas you look for your Copenhagen apartment. If you increase your budget to 16,000 DKK per month and above, you can look almost everywhere for a place to live. It’s probably the minimum you can expect to pay for a one-bedroom apartment in one of Copenhagen’s most popular districts like Østerbro and Indre By; finding something for less is possible, but the competition is fierce. 

12,000-15,000 DKK

I’d recommend 12,000 DKK per month as the absolute minimum you’re willing to spend on a one-bedroom apartment in Copenhagen. Ørestad has a lot of modern apartments available for a reasonable price, and you should have no problems finding something. 

Many people dislike Ørestad because it feels quite detached from the city centre, but I don’t mind it. The area is quiet, close to the airport, and has a huge nature park nearby. You can also get the S-Train or Metro into Copenhagen. 

The modern parts of Sydhavn are more expensive than Ørestad on average, but I can thoroughly recommend the area. I lived there for two years and really liked being close to the water. Now that the Metro line extensions are pretty much done, it’ll also be much easier to get into the city.  

If you’re on more of a budget, you should look at these districts within the Copenhagen area: 

• Valby
• Ørestad
• Nordvest 
• Vanløse

I’d also recommend extending your search to the Greater Copenhagen area, especially the western parts of the city beyond Frederiksberg and Valby. You can also find reasonably-priced accommodation in areas like Søborg and Glostrup just north of Copenhagen. However, many parts just north of Copenhagen—such as Hellerup—are some of Denmark’s most expensive places to live.

❗Also Important: Beware of Apartment Scams in Copenhagen ❗

Like most big cities, rental scams in Copenhagen are an unfortunate reality. Someone tried pulling the stunt on me when looking for an apartment in the city, but I thankfully have enough knowledge of how housing works in Copenhagen and therefore avoided an expensive disaster. 

Here’s how the story went (I’ll go through all the red flags after): 

I was looking for an apartment and received an email from the supposed landlord. His name was different from the name in the email address (🚩). After exchanging a few texts, he told me that he was living outside of Denmark (🚩) and wanted me to book the place via Airbnb (🚩). After this, I blocked the number and continued my search. Later, I noticed that the apartment description said two rooms—whereas the listing said three ( 🚩). Oh, and when I asked about viewing the place, he conveniently missed that part of my text (🚩). 

He messaged me a few days later, saying that he’d lost his phone when I had actually blocked his number ( 🚩). 

So, here are some common red flags (from my experiences and what others have said):

🚩The landlord is based outside of Denmark. I’m not talking about when Danes rent their apartments while travelling, as this is quite common; instead, I’m talking more about the landlord being permanently based in another country. 

🚩 The apartment listing’s details are inconsistent. 

🚩 The landlord asks you to pay the deposit via Airbnb or to a foreign bank account. 

🚩You’re not allowed to view the apartment in advance. 

🚩The price is too low for the area. 

🚩 The listing has no photos from the inside and only one or two altogether. 

🚩 Rental prices are in a currency other than DKK. 

🚩Asking for a payment before you’ve signed the contract. 

How to Avoid Rental Scams in Copenhagen

Here are my top tips on avoiding rental scams in Copenhagen…

✅ Check the average prices for rooms and apartments in the area you’re renting. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. 

✅ NEVER send money before signing a contract, and definitely do not send money to a non-Danish bank account. 

✅ Run a mile if you run into the “based abroad” landlord scam. 

✅ ALWAYS Listen to your gut. If you have a bad feeling about the landlord, listen to that. 

✅ If in doubt, check Google Maps Street View for the exterior of your building. You should also check the interior photos for potential red flags (e.g. non-EU plug adapters). 

✅ Check the reviews on Trustpilot when renting from a company. 

✅ Look at listings with only photos of the outside with extreme skepticism. 

✅ Don’t be afraid to ask online. Reddit and Facebook are both useful resources, and you’ll get a better understanding of whether you should be wary. This Facebook group can help you identify scam listings. 

Useful Websites and Resources for Finding an Apartment in Copenhagen 👨🏾‍💻

Let’s now move onto more of a positive note and help you make your Copenhagen dream come true 🙂. There are several websites and resources that’ll help you find an apartment in the Danish capital, and I’ve used *a lot* of them. 

Resources for Copenhagen Apartment Listings

• Danish Homes/Dansk Boligformidling: This is where I found one of my Copenhagen apartments, and I can’t recommend them enough. The service was very helpful and efficient, and they were also patient with all of the questions we had. 
• BoligPortal: This is the main housing portal in Denmark, and you’ll find thousands of listings for Copenhagen. Note, however, that you’ll need to pay a monthly fee for unlimited access. Expect the competition to be fierce, too. 
• Lejebolig: Lejebolig is another comprehensive resource for Copenhagen apartment rentals, and I actually preferred using it to BoligPortal. Again, you’ll need to pay for full access. 
• LifeX: I lived in LifeX apartments for three-and-a-half years when I first moved to Copenhagen. While the rent prices are expensive, all apartments are fully-furnished and you also have access to community events—which is great for making friends. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about signing up for electricity, internet, and everything else; all of this is covered. Note that you will have roommates when you live inLifeX’s Copenhagen apartments. 
• Movinn: While also quite expensive, Movinn is another option if you want an apartment to begin with in Copenhagen. You will find both apartments with roommates and others without. 
• Balder: Apartment rentals throughout the whole of Denmark. 
• EDC: Apartment rentals in Copenhagen and other cities; smaller selection than some of the other portals. 

Area-Specific Apartment Rental Websites

• https://cfmoellershave.dk/ (Ørestad)
• https://kronehaverne.dk (Ørestad)
• https://bopaateglholmen.dk (Sydhavn)
• https://sluseholmen.dk (Sydhavn)
• https://frederiksbrygge.dk (Sydhavn)

Other Useful Websites and Resources 

• A Step-by-Step Guide to Moving to Copenhagen (LifeX): This was the best guide I’ve read for moving to Copenhagen AND registering as a resident in Denmark. Note that these steps are mainly for EU citizens, but you can still find some use from them if you’re from outside the EU. 
• Common Rental Scams and How to Avoid Them: Useful article by The Local.
• Copenhagen Municipality: Lots of resources on finding a place to live, registering as a resident, and so on.  

What’s the Normal Process for Getting an Apartment in Copenhagen? 

While finding an apartment isn’t always easy, the process usually moves along quite quickly. After contacting the landlord, you’ll hopefully receive a message and be invited for a viewing. After that, you can decide whether you want to express your interest in renting. 

The landlord will then normally ask you for further information. For example, you may need to talk about who you are, your job status, and so on. If they’re happy with you, you will usually receive a contract offer (the legally binding one is Danish, but you can ask for an English translation). Once you and the landlord have signed the lease, you’ll then need to pick up the keys and whatnot. You’ll get more information about this once you’ve signed the contract. 

TL;DR: 

1. Apply for an apartment and go to a viewing when invited. 
2. Express your interest. 
3. Tell the landlord more about yourself. 
4. If you’re chosen, the landlord will send a contract. You may need to send information like your CPR card number (if applicable), contact information, and so on. 
5. Sign the contract and discuss how you’ll pick up the keys.
6. Prepare for your move-in 🙂. 

Danish Words to Help You Navigate Apartment Listings 🇩🇰

• Møbleret = Furnished 
• Umøbleret = Unfurnished 
• Lejlighed = Apartment 
• Rækkehus = Row house (similar to a bungalow) 
• Hus = House 
• A conto = Usually your water and heating bill; can sometimes include electricity. 
• Værelser = Rooms. Note that apartments in Copenhagen usually include the bathroom and bedroom as rooms; this is not exclusively bedrooms. 
• Indflytningspris = Move-in price
• Ledig fra = Available from 
• Lejeperiode = Rental period 
• Ubegrænset = Unlimited 
• Måneder = Months / Måned = Month 
• Husdyr tilladt = Pets allowed (you’ll either see ‘ja’ = yes or ‘nej’ = no). 
• Depositum = Deposit 

How to Find an Apartment in Copenhagen: My Strategy as a Newcomer 

When I first knew that I was moving to Copenhagen in 2020, my approach was “find something to begin with and get something better later”. The main reason was that I had around three months to register as a resident; this was before I had my Italian passport, and I didn’t want to register on non-EU rules as a British citizen because it’d have been much more difficult. 

Go All-In

If you need something ASAP, I would honestly recommend that you put in at least 2-3 hours per day searching for listings and contacting the poster. You can check Facebook groups, but I think that it’s a race to the bottom for most people. Unless you’re one of the first few commenters, you’re probably going to make your search much more challenging. 

Think Outside the Box

I’ve said this so many times before, but one of the biggest mistakes that expats make when moving to Copenhagen is that many do not think outside the box when finding an apartment. While I would recommend checking the likes of BoligPortal, you should also look at more niche websites like Danish Homes. That way, you’ll increase your chances of finding something that others might have missed. 

Try to Visit Copenhagen and Arrange Viewings

I was very lucky to find an apartment before moving to Copenhagen, but it’s often much harder to find something if you’re not in the city. Some listings will offer virtual viewings, but this is by no means universal. 

Ideally, you should try and visit Copenhagen and arrange viewings within that period. That way, you’ll know what you’re getting, and you can also meet the landlord. Moreover, you’ll get a better understanding of how things work. 

If you do decide to visit Copenhagen, you can book a hotel here. I’d also recommend these guides for getting to know the city and maximising your enjoyment: 

• The Actual Ultimate Guide to Copenhagen, Denmark
• Copenhagen and Malmö in One Weekend: A 4-Day Itinerary
• How to Spend 36 Hours in Copenhagen

How to Find an Apartment in Copenhagen: What I Did to Find My Dream Apartment 

Once you’ve settled in Copenhagen, you’ve got much more flexibility when it comes to finding the actual apartment that you want. You should be much more selective about the viewings you go to, as constantly checking out apartments can quickly become draining. 

Pick a Few High-Quality Websites

After trying various websites, I narrowed my search to a select few. I recommend you do the same, as the search can otherwise get exhausting. 

I would personally recommend the following: 

• Danish Homes
• BoligPortal
• Lejebolig 

Pick 4-5 websites and focus your energy on those. You can check other places casually, but I don’t think it’s worth exerting too much of your energy in places you don’t really like. 

Identify Your Non-Negotiables 

Now that you can be fussier with finding your apartment, make sure that you identify your non-negotiables. For example, my girlfriend and I were not very keen on living in another new build. And for me, it was important to be closer to the city centre than I previously was. 

Also important was that the landlord and I were, at the very least, on good terms. Your preferences may vary, but you should outline your deal-breakers and only apply for apartments that fit your criteria. 

If It’s Not a Hell Yes… 

… It should be a no. 

While you shouldn’t be too nitpicky, you very well know whether you could see yourself living somewhere within a few seconds. You might need to compromise on small things, but don’t settle for less than what you want. 

Be Consistent With Your Search

I’d recommend reaching out to openings every single day if possible, and you should also try to arrange 2-3 viewings per week. Prepare for potential disappointment along the way, too; if you’re rejected for somewhere you really like, keep going until you find what you want. 

Other Useful Tips for Finding an Apartment in Copenhagen 🤝

• Contact your company or university as they might be able to help you find accommodation. There are no guarantees, but you don’t get if you don’t ask. 
• If you’re a student, look for “ungdomsbolig” listings. These are designed specifically for young people and are often less expensive than one-bedroom apartments, though you’ll probably have less space at the same time. 
• Ask your colleagues and friends. Many apartments in Copenhagen are rented out without ever making the big portals, so you should ask around and see if anyone within your circle has something available. 
• Check to make sure you can register your CPR number at each apartment you apply for. Most listings have this, but it’s not always universal. You need a CPR number to access almost all services in Denmark. 
• Always check the rental period. Some apartments are only available for a few months, whereas you can stay as long as you want in others. 
• Start looking as soon as you know you’re coming to Copenhagen. While it only took me a few weeks for my first apartment and six weeks for my dream one, it can sometimes take people 2+ months to find a place to live.