PeerAbroad started from a simple frustration: every cost-of-living site online is built for expats, digital nomads, or families — not for a 21-year-old on a semester abroad with a tight budget and zero time to waste.
When I was planning my exchange semester, I spent hours trying to figure out what things would actually cost — rent in a student neighbourhood, a cheap meal near campus, whether I'd need to budget for a transit pass or if I could walk everywhere. The existing sites gave me numbers that felt completely detached from student reality.
So I built PeerAbroad. The idea is simple: real student costs, real peer reviews, and real comparisons — all in one place. No sponsored content, no affiliate deals, no expat bias. Just honest data from people who've actually been there on an exchange budget.
We're still in early days — 40+ cities live across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, with more coming fast and a community of students helping keep the data honest.
To give every exchange student the financial clarity they need to choose their semester city with confidence — and arrive without nasty surprises.
Every decision we make — the data we collect, the features we build — is for the student, not the advertiser.
We don't round up to make cities look affordable, or pad numbers to seem comprehensive. Real ranges, real caveats.
The best advice comes from someone who's already lived it. Reviews are written by real students, not agencies.
Exchange students go everywhere. We're building out coverage city by city, starting with the most popular destinations.
Have feedback, a city suggestion, or want to contribute data?