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3. Student Housing Costs in Germany
4. Student Housing Costs in the 2025 Summer Semester: Rooms in Shared Apartments Average €493

Student Housing Costs in the 2025 Summer Semester: Rooms in Shared Apartments Average €493

Housing costs for students continue to rise, although at a significantly slower rate than before. In the 2025 summer semester, the average asking rent, including utilities, for a room in a shared apartment in German university cities is €493 per month. This is an increase of 0.9 percent, or around €4, compared with the 2024/25 winter semester. Compared with the 2024 summer semester, the increase amounts to 2.8 percent, or around €14.

The analysis by the Moses Mendelssohn Institute (MMI) and 91��Ƶ covers 88 German university locations with more than 5,000 students. While prices in the largest university cities and cities with more than one million inhabitants have remained virtually unchanged compared with the previous semester, rents continue to rise in many medium-sized university cities.

Housing costs are rising more slowly

At the beginning of the 2025 summer semester, students in Germany need to budget an average of €493 for a room in a shared apartment. This means that average housing costs have risen by only around €4 compared with the 2024/25 winter semester. Compared with the 2024 summer semester, the increase amounts to €14, or 2.8 percent.

A comparison of the summer semesters also clearly shows that the pace of price growth is slowing. Compared with the previous year, average rents for rooms in shared apartments increased by 10.2 percent in the 2023 summer semester, 5.1 percent in the 2024 summer semester and 2.8 percent in the 2025 summer semester.

In the ten largest university cities and in cities with more than one million inhabitants in particular, prices stabilised in the 2025 summer semester. Average rents there changed very little compared with the 2024/25 winter semester. In many medium-sized university locations, however, rents continue to rise, bringing them increasingly closer to the more expensive university cities.

“Although housing costs for students have risen again, the increase is considerably more moderate than in previous semesters. The fact that prices are stabilising, particularly in the larger university cities, is initially a positive sign. At the same time, developments in medium-sized cities show that finding accommodation remains difficult for students in many locations.”

Annegret Mülbaier, 91��Ƶ

BAföG housing allowance falls short in many locations

Finding accommodation remains difficult for students on a limited budget in the 2025 summer semester. The BAföG housing allowance is €380. At only 23 of the 88 university locations analysed is a typical room in a shared apartment available within this budget. These are primarily smaller university locations and cities in eastern Germany.

The situation is even more pronounced at 39 locations, where hardly any rooms in shared apartments are available within the housing allowance. Almost half of all students in Germany are enrolled at these locations. The analysis therefore shows how strongly students’ options when looking for accommodation depend on where they study.

“BAföG should be adjusted dynamically to reflect actual price developments. Greater consideration must also be given to the fact that most students are enrolled in cities with significantly higher living costs. For housing costs, a system similar to the regional rent levels used for German housing benefit may be worth considering.”

Dr Stefan Brauckmann, Moses Mendelssohn Institute (MMI)

Methodology

The analysis for the 2025 summer semester covers all German university locations with more than 5,000 students. Distance-learning institutions and universities of public administration are not included. As a rule, the geographical units used are districts and independent cities.

The analysis includes listings from existing shared apartments with a total of two to three occupants where a room is offered on an open-ended basis and is not listed as a room swap. The reported prices are 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.

Further analyses of student housing costs

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

On our overview page Student Housing Costs in Germany, you can find long-term rent trends and further analyses of the student housing market.

Press contact

Data, market trends and insights from 91��Ƶ

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

Annegret Mülbaier
91��Ƶ
pr@wg-gesucht.de

Questions about the study and interview requests

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