The cost of living in Germany remains high, with WG (Wohngemeinschaft) room prices often exceeding the available budget of students and young professionals.
Munich continues to hold the title of the most expensive city, with average rents reaching €800 per month for a room in a shared apartment.
Student dorms are not enough – high rents in major cities
A recent analysis by the Moses Mendelssohn Institute (MMI) and the housing platform wg-gesucht.de found that the average price of a WG room in Germany is now €493 per month.
Although this represents only a slight increase of 0.9% (€4 more) compared to the previous six months, the regional differences are significant.
In Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt, WG room prices exceed €600, while in Berlin, they reach €650.
On the other hand, smaller and eastern German cities offer much lower prices. For instance, in Chemnitz, students pay just €265 per month on average.
Average WG room prices in major German cities
- Munich: €800
- Berlin: €650
- Hamburg: €610
- Frankfurt: €600
- Nuremberg: €480
- Dresden: €350
- Kaiserslautern: €380
- Erfurt: €370
- Chemnitz: €265
Student housing allowance is not enough
The government student housing allowance (Bafög-Wohnkostenpauschale) currently stands at €380 per month.
This means that only 23 cities in Germany offer WG rooms that fall within this budget.
Experts recommend:
- Expanding the availability of student dormitories to reduce dependence on the private rental market.
- Adjusting the housing allowance dynamically to reflect the real increase in rental prices.
