1. Start
2. Press Overview
3. Student Housing Costs in Germany
4. Student Housing Costs in the 2024/25 Winter Semester: Rooms in Shared Apartments Average €489

Student Housing Costs in the 2024/25 Winter Semester: Rooms in Shared Apartments Average €489

The sharp rise in student housing costs is slowing. At the start of winter semester 2024/25, a room in a shared apartment in German university cities costs an average of €489 per month. Compared with winter semester 2023/24, this represents an increase of 3.6%, or around €17. Compared with summer semester 2024, average housing costs have risen by around €10, or 1.9%.

The joint analysis by the Moses Mendelssohn Institute (MMI) and WG-Gesucht.de covers 88 German university locations with more than 5,000 students. Around 90.5% of Germany's approximately 2.7 million students are enrolled at these locations.

Rent Increases Are Slowing

Following the sharp price increases of previous semesters, the rise in rents is slowing in winter semester 2024/25. Compared with the previous year, students have to budget around €17 more per month on average for a room in a shared apartment. Compared with the immediately preceding summer semester, the increase is around €10.

A look at Germany's major cities shows how differently rents are developing. While the average rent for a room in a shared apartment in Berlin remains unchanged compared with winter semester 2023/24, housing costs continue to rise in Munich, Cologne and Hamburg. Munich records the strongest increase.

“The fact that the sharp rise in rents is slowing is a positive sign. For students, however, what ultimately matters is whether they can find a room they can afford in their university city. And that remains difficult in many locations.”

Annegret Mülbaier, WG-Gesucht.de

Higher BAföG Housing Allowance Provides Only Partial Relief

For winter semester 2024/25, the BAföG housing allowance was increased from €360 to €380. With the higher allowance, a typical room in a shared apartment falls within this budget at more university locations. Compared with the summer semester, the number of locations where an average room in a shared apartment costs more than the allowance fell from 73 to 66.

For a large proportion of students, however, the allowance is still insufficient: 75% are enrolled at one of these 66 locations. The situation becomes even clearer when looking at the lower-priced segment of the market. At 37 university locations with more than 1.3 million students, even within the first quartile there are hardly any offers within the BAföG housing allowance.

At the same time, the figures show how differently housing costs are developing depending on the place of study. While the higher allowance gives students more room in their housing budget at some locations, supply remains limited, particularly in university cities with high demand.

Methodology

The analysis for winter semester 2024/25 covers all German university locations with at least 5,000 students; distance-learning institutions and universities of public administration are excluded. As a rule, the geographical level used is that of districts and independent cities.

The analysis includes listings from existing shared apartments with a total of two to three residents, where a room is offered for an unlimited period and is not listed as a room swap. The prices shown are total rents including utilities, which generally also cover electricity, internet, furnishings and technical equipment in shared areas.

For each university location, the first quartile, median and third quartile are reported. The nationwide average is weighted according to the number of students at the respective locations.

Further Analyses of Student Housing Costs

The Moses Mendelssohn Institute has been analysing housing markets for students and trainees since 2011. Its university city scoring, covering university locations with at least 5,000 students, has been published annually for the winter semester since 2013.

On our overview page Student Housing Costs in Germany, you can find the long-term development of rents as well as further analyses of the student housing market.

Press Contact

Data, Market Trends and Insights from WG-Gesucht.de

Do you need additional data on rents for rooms in shared apartments, individual university locations or developments in the student housing market? We are happy to support journalists and editorial teams with additional analyses and insights into the shared housing and rental market.

Annegret Mülbaier
WG-Gesucht.de
pr@wg-gesucht.de

Questions About the Study and Interview Requests

Dr. Stefan Brauckmann
Moses Mendelssohn Institute (MMI)
Presse-FM@moses-mendelssohn-institut.de