Student Housing Costs Vary Widely Across German University Cities

A recent analysis by the Moses Mendelssohn Institute, in cooperation with the online housing platform WG-gesucht, highlights significant differences in the cost of student accommodation across Germany’s university cities. The study compared rental prices in 88 cities with more than 5,000 students, shedding light on where students can still find affordable shared housing.

Significant Cost Differences Between Cities

According to the study, students in eastern Germany and smaller university towns continue to benefit from relatively low rental prices. In contrast, students in larger cities such as Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg face significantly higher costs.

Cities with the Most Affordable Student Housing

The analysis found the lowest average prices for rooms in shared apartments (Wohngemeinschaften or “WGs”) in the following cities:

• Chemnitz (Saxony) – €265

• Cottbus (Brandenburg) – €287

• Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt) – €330

• Dresden (Saxony) – €350

• Halle (Saxony-Anhalt) – €350

• Erfurt (Thuringia) – €370

• Hildesheim (Lower Saxony) – €365

• Kaiserslautern (Rhineland-Palatinate) – €380

  
  

These cities offer sufficient supply of accommodation options makes them particularly attractive for cost-conscious students.

High Rents in Major University Cities

The situation is very different in many large urban centers. In Munich, the average cost of a room in a shared apartment has risen to €800 . In Hamburg, prices increased to €610, while in Berlin, the cost has remained at €650. In Frankfurt am Main, the average is also well above €600.

Nationwide Trends

As of the 2025 summer semester, the average rent for a room in a shared apartment in Germany has reached €493. This reflects a modest rise of €4 (0.9%) compared to the previous semester, and an increase of €14 (2.8%) over the past year.

Looking back over the last decade, the trend is more striking: during the 2013/2014 winter semester, the average price was €324—indicating a rise of more than 50% in shared housing costs nationwide.