Student Housing Costs in Germany

Since 2013, WG-Gesucht.de and the Moses Mendelssohn Institute (MMI) have jointly analysed student housing costs in Germany. The analyses were initially published once a year for the winter semester and are now released twice a year for the summer and winter semesters. They show how advertised rents for rooms in shared apartments are developing across German university cities and highlight regional differences.

In Germany, a room in a shared apartment is commonly referred to as a “WG-Zimmer”. The analyses combine WG-Gesucht.de’s extensive data with the academic expertise of the Moses Mendelssohn Institute. Covering more than a decade, the data reveal both long-term trends and recent changes in the student housing market. The findings are regularly cited by the media and are also available to researchers and public institutions.

Latest analysis: Student housing costs in the winter semester 2026/27: Rooms in shared apartments average 510 euros

How much does a room in a shared apartment cost in Germany?

In the winter semester 2026/27, a room in a shared apartment costs around 510 euros per month on average across the German university locations analysed. This is according to the joint analysis by WG-Gesucht.de and the Moses Mendelssohn Institute. The study covers 90 university locations with more than 5,000 students.

In the winter semester 2025/26, the nationwide figure was 505 euros. This represents an increase of around one percent compared with the previous winter semester. In the preceding summer semester 2026, it was 512 euros.

The latest results also show that a largely stable nationwide figure can mask considerable regional differences. Full findings are available in our analysis of student housing costs in the winter semester 2026/27.

Development of student housing costs in Germany since 2013

Since the winter semester 2013/14, WG-Gesucht.de and the Moses Mendelssohn Institute have analysed the development of student housing costs in Germany. The following chart shows the average advertised rent for a room in a shared apartment in university cities with more than 5,000 students for each winter semester and illustrates the long-term trend.

The average rent for a room in a shared apartment increased from 324 euros in the winter semester 2013/14 to around 510 euros in the winter semester 2026/27. This represents an increase of around 57 percent. The market developed particularly dynamically following the COVID-19 pandemic.

More recently, growth in the nationwide figure has slowed considerably. However, the overall stability masks increasingly divergent rent levels: while some university locations are well above the nationwide figure, others remain comparatively affordable.

Rent differences between university locations are growing

The amount students need to budget for a room in a shared apartment increasingly depends on where they study. In the winter semester 2026/27, only around one in five students is enrolled at a university location where the median rent for a room in a shared apartment is within ten percent of the nationwide figure. Ten years ago, this applied to more than one in three students.

At the same time, one third of students are enrolled at locations in the upper price segment. Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Frankfurt am Main are among the cities with particularly high median rents for rooms in shared apartments. Regional figures, long-term comparisons and additional insights are available to the media on request.

Why these data matter

For many students in Germany, a room in a shared apartment is one of the most important forms of accommodation. Changes in advertised rents therefore provide valuable insights into developments in the student housing market. The continuous data series makes it possible to track rent trends transparently over many years and place recent changes in a long-term context.

Our analyses are regularly used by journalists, researchers and public institutions to assess and explain developments in Germany’s student housing market.

Frequently asked questions about student housing costs

Do you need additional data?

Additional regional figures and historical comparisons are available to the media depending on the specific request. Contact us at pr@wg-gesucht.de.

Methodology

The analyses are conducted jointly by WG-Gesucht.de and the Moses Mendelssohn Institute (MMI). They are based on advertised rents for rooms in shared apartments in German university cities. The dataset includes existing shared apartments with a total of two to three residents where one room is offered for an unlimited period and is not listed as a room swap. The reported figures are rents including utilities.

For each university location, the analysis includes measures such as the first quartile and median of advertised rents. The nationwide figure is weighted by the number of students enrolled at each location. Detailed information about the data basis and methodology is published with each semester analysis.

Further market analyses, background information and press materials are available in our Press & Newsroom.

Student housing cost analyses

Our published analyses provide further information on the development of student housing costs in Germany.