How Much Is Rent in Germany: Average Rent Prices [2023]
In Germany, most people rent apartments instead of buying. In fact, 54% of the residents rent homes instead of owning. Hence, the German rental market is quite competitive. Rent prices vary from city to city, with by far the highest rates in Munich.
In 2022, the German national average rent price per square meter was 11,39 EUR. In Germany, singles live on 68 square meters on average. Hence, they pay around 667 EUR for rent, whereas the national average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is 700 EUR.
The rental market can be tough in Germany, particularly in large cities, competition for apartments is fierce. Moreover, rents increase every year in Germany, more notably in major cities and metro areas. Despite this fact, Germany still has affordable housing prices for European standards.
Read more about the cost of rent in Germany in this article.
To protect your house or apartment in Germany, sign up for home insurance; it costs just 2 EUR per month and saves you thousands.
Average cost of rent in Germany in 2022
In 2022, the German national average rent price per square meter was 11,39 EUR, where the total average rent is 700 EUR for a one-bedroom apartment.
Depending on the location, a one-bedroom flat averages 1,000 EUR per month in the city center and 700 EUR – outside.
A single person making 2,000 EUR per month net of taxes and social security contributions can easily afford a comfortable life here. Rent will be around 37% of your budget as a single, but it can go up to 45-50% if you live in Munich, compared to 25-30% if you live in Leipzig.
On average, Germans spend 908 EUR per month on housing, energy, and maintenance.
Single people living alone pay an average of between 670 EUR and 890 EUR per month for rent. Couples without children pay 1,100 EUR monthly on average.
Rental prices in Germany
Rent prices increase year after year, since renting rather than buying is preferred in Germany. Furthermore, the demand for rentals is growing with time, causing a shortage in the supply.
You can particularly see it in larger cities, where landlords receive hundreds of applications on one apartment.
Overall, expats can expect to spend around 40% of their paycheck on rent.
Munich is the most expensive town for renting in Germany, after comes Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Hamburg.
Yet, Berlin is getting more pricey too. It has the fastest-rising rents in the world and is catching up fast with the other major German cities.
Nonetheless, renting is still affordable in Germany. For instance, housing in the US is 49,4% more expensive than in Germany.
The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the largest German cities:
- Leipzig: €512
- Cologne: €730
- Stuttgart: €857
- Berlin: €879
- Frankfurt: €901
- Hamburg: €911
- Munich: €1,125
The most expensive large cities for rent in Germany (price per square meter):
- Munich – 18,62 EUR
- Berlin – 10,49 EUR
- Hamburg – 11,59 EUR
- Cologne – 11,13 EUR
Renting in Germany
Most expats in Germany rent apartments instead of buying, and so do Germans. More than 50% of German residents live in rented properties. Well, buying a home is very pricey in Germany.
But renting in Germany can be different from what you used to before. For example, apartments often come unfurnished and even without a kitchen (which surprises many).
Read the article about a popular question, “why do German apartments not have kitchens.”
Like anywhere else, your apartment will eat the largest part of your monthly budget in Germany. If you decide to live in a major metropolitan area, this will definitely significantly impact your living costs.
On average, you can expect to pay around 17-20 EUR per square meter in cities like Munich and Frankfurt for a solid furnished apartment in a good neighborhood. This price is more on a higher-end.
Despite this fact, major urban centers with international companies are likely to have a higher cost of living but will also generally have more employment opportunities for foreigners.
So, in the end, higher living expenses are balanced by higher salaries.
In the other large cities, the price falls to 14-15 EUR, and in Berlin, rents are around 12 EUR-13 EUR per square meter.
You can reduce your rent by living in a smaller city or even in a rural area. In such cases, prices of around 6 EUR to 8 EUR per square meter are not uncommon.
For example, in Leipzig, you will get the best value for your money not only in terms of rent but also when it comes to other goods and services.
Don’t forget about the rental deposit. Landlords require 2 to 3 rents to be paid as a security deposit before the moving-in date. The money will be paid back to you after you move out.
Another expense to consider is whether or not the apartment has a kitchen. It’s not unusual for outgoing tenants or homeowners to take their kitchen cupboards, sink, and appliances with them.
Buying a kitchen, light fixtures and installing them can easily cost thousands of euros. So check this article about kitchen price in Germany and how much it cost to install it.
Read more about renting in Germany and renting as a foreigner in this article.
Location and rent prices
In Germany, rental prices differ significantly depending on the location.
Some German regions and cities have more expensive rent than others. In the table, you can see the difference in the percentage from the average cost of living in the country by location.
| City | Region | vs Average |
|---|---|---|
| Munich | Bavaria | + 44 % |
| Stuttgart | Baden-Württemberg | + 27,1 % |
| Frankfurt | Hesse | + 24,3 % |
| Freiburg | Baden-Württemberg | + 19,4 % |
| Heidelberg | Baden-Württemberg | + 17 % |
The cost of living in regions of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Hesse is the highest in Germany, and so is the rent. Yet, cities like Hamburg, Cologne, or Düsseldorf are also significantly above the average.
Typical monthly rent rates for apartments in Munich (EUR):
- One bedroom in the city center: 1,200 – 1,500
- One bedroom outside city center: 750 – 1,200
- Two bedroom in the city center: 1,500 – 1,900
- Two bedroom outside center: 1,200 – 1,500
- Three bedroom in the city center: 1,900 – 3,500
- Three bedroom outside city center: 1,600 – 3,000
Additional data on housing prices in Munich:
| 2-bedroom apartment in Munich will cost you | |
| Rent for 85 m2 apartment in the city center | €2,408 |
| Rent for 85 m2 apartment outside the center | €1,645 |
| Utilities for 2 people in 85m2 apartment | €210 |
| 1-bedroom apartment in Munich will cost you | |
| Rent for 45 m2 apartment in the city center | €1,251 |
| Rent for 45 m2 apartment outside the center | €930 |
| Utilities for 1 person in 45m2 apartment | €129 |
| Internet | €28 |
Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Berlin are the most expensive cities to rent a place. They also have seen some of the most significant increases in rent costs in recent years.
However, despite being the capital, Berlin still has affordable rents in some areas.
Moreover, some regions and cities are actually cheaper than average. Most of them are located in Eastern Germany.
| City | Region | vs Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerhaven | Bremen | -22,6 % |
| Chemnitz | Saxony | -21 % |
| Magdeburg | Saxony-Anhalt | -17,1 % |
| Halle (Saale) | Saxony-Anhalt | -17 % |
| Paderborn | North Rhine-Westphalia | -14,5 % |
Rent in these cities will cost you about twice less than in Munich. Therefore, Bavaria is by far the most expensive place to rent a home.
Utilities costs in Germany
When renting a place in Germany, you need to consider bills for utilities. They come in addition to the rent price and are paid by the tenant (in most cases).
Average utility costs are around 200 EUR for a family living in a two-three bedroom apartment. A single living in a one-bedroom flat pays about 100 EUR – 150 EUR on average.
In Germany, people pay around 2,50 EUR per square meter for utilities when living in an apartment. Utilities include:
- heating
- hot water
- gas
- trash collection
- snow removal
- janitorial and landscaping services
A phone line and fast internet connection cost you an additional 30 EUR per month. German households also pay an extra 15 EUR for TV (which is mandatory).
You can also get a VPN and enjoy your Netflix and Amazon Prime. NordVPN is the best VPN provider you can find.
Electricity comes as an additional bill of around 50-60 EUR every month, depending on your expenditure.
Furthermore, you can choose your electricity provider and switch to the cheaper one. Learn more about electricity in Germany in this article.
German homes rarely have AC or a ceiling fan, so another way to save some money.
Rent prices in large German cities
If you want to live in a major German city, you will face larger rental prices.
Particularly rents in large cities are growing rapidly year after year. More people are moving in, and less gets built. Furthermore, more people move to the city than leave.
That’s why fewer and fewer people can afford an apartment in larger cities.
Only cities like Dresden and Leipzig have good deals for apartments. However, they aren’t considered large German cities. Dresden has a population of around 500,000 people.
Furthermore, the phenomenon of steadily rising rents can be observed throughout Germany. To keep up with prices, you need to earn a good salary.
For instance, the average rent price per square meter in Munich is currently 18,62 EUR. The average apartment size for a one-person household in Germany is considered to be 68 square meters.
Thus, tenants are expected to pay 1,266 EUR for a 68 m2 apartment, adding 170 EUR for utilities on top of that. That’s set you back for 1,436 EUR every month.
In Germany, a good rule of thumb is that the total rent accounts for a maximum of 30% of the tenant’s net income. Well, then you have to earn at least 4,738 EUR after taxes. That requires a gross salary of 9,017 EUR or 108,202 EUR – not very common income in Munich.
Read more about salaries in Munich here.
Consequently, rents in 4 German cities with over a million inhabitants are significantly higher than in others. We are looking at 10,49 EUR per square meter in Berlin, 11,59 EUR in Hamburg, and 11,13 EUR in Cologne.
Cities with highest rent prices in Germany in 2022
Rental prices per square meter in EUR (2022):
- Munich – 18,48
- Frankfurt – 15,74
- Stuttgart – 14,74
- Berlin – 13,68
- Hamburg – 13,50
- Freiburg – 13,46
- Dusseldorf – 13,20
- Mainz – 13,03
- Darmstadt – 13,01
- Wiesbaden – 12,95
Some other German cities with high rental prices are:
- Heidelberg
- Cologne
German cities with lowest rent prices in 2022
Some of the cheapest German cities to live in terms of housing are:
- Chemnitz
- Thuringen
- Sachsen
- Leipzig
- Hagen
- Cottbus
- Bremerhaven
- Dresden
Furthermore, average rent price per m2 in some of the cheapest German cities (in EUR):
- Chemnitz (Saxony): 5,10
- Halle an der Saale (Saxony-Anhalt): 5,53
- Hagen (NRW): 5,57
- Salzgitter (Lower Saxony): 5,60
- Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt): 5,60
- Bremerhaven (Bremen): 5,86
- Gelsenkirchen (NRW): 6,01
- Duisburg (NRW): 6,13
- Hannover (Lower Saxony): 6,14
- Remscheid (NRW): 6,16
- Herne (NRW): 6,16
The city of Chemnitz is by far the winner. It remains to be the most affordable major city in the country for several years.
With a gross salary of 30,340 EUR, you can afford to rent a decent apartment and live a comfortable life. In Munich, on the other hand, you will need at least twice as much.
On a map, you can see the areas in Germany where rents are highest and where the lowest. The dark red color indicates the most expensive places with prices up to 17,51 EUR per square meter.
Therefore, a 50 m2 apartment will cost you 875,5 EUR at the highest, while the lowest price for the same flat can be as low as 196,5 EUR (or 3,93 EUR per m2).
How much of the income goes for rent in Germany?
On average, German residents spent 26% of their disposable household income on rent and utilities or home maintenance in 2019.
The rent spent is distributed as follows:
- Singles: 37%
- Singles with kids: 32,6%
- Couples with no kids: 24,2%
- Couples with two kids: 21,5%
Consequently, if a single person earns on average 2,000 EUR net, they pay about 740 EUR for rent on average.
Rent deposits in Germany
A rent deposit is something you rarely can avoid in Germany. Landlords will require you to pay 2-3 rents as a security deposit. Money should be in their bank account or given as cash before your move-in date.
No worries, you will get your deposit back when you move out of the house in most cases. But a landlord might also keep some money if you damage something or don’t pay your rent.
Why do you have to pay a deposit?
The rental deposit gives a landlord security if you cause some damages or don’t pay for rent. Therefore, this money is intended to cover unexpected expenses if the tenant fails to meet his obligations under the rental agreement.
In Germany, the deposit can be in the form of a sum of money or as a rental guarantee from private individuals, banks, or insurance companies. Although, the latter is more uncommon.
The maximum limit for the rent deposit is 3 rents.
How much does it cost to rent an apartment?
In Germany, the average one-bedroom apartment cost around 1,000 EUR, including the bills.
Example of rent prices for different property types in Berlin (including bills):
| Studio | 1BR | 2BR | |
| Berlin city center | 1,000 EUR | 1,200 EUR | 1,500 EUR |
| Berlin outside of the center | 600 EUR | 800 EUR | 1,100 EUR |
Cold & warm rent in Germany
When looking for an apartment online or offline, you will see the definition between Germany’s cold and warm rent prices. The number in the advertisement refers to the cold rent, which is lower than warm rent.
But as a tenant in Germany, you pay a WARM rent every month, hence it’s necessary to know the difference between both terms.
Cold
Kaltmiete is cold rent in Germany. It’s a net rent price without additional costs included. This amount is what the landlord gets in exchange for renting the place.
When you are talking about rent prices in Germany, you should refer to this number – the cold number without additional costs such as utilities.
Warm
On the other hand, Warmmiete is warm rent in Germany. It includes the rent and other additional costs. Additional costs are called Nebenkosten in Germany, which doesn’t include electricity, as you might assume.
What does warm rent include?
Warm rent includes additional costs (Nebenkosten), which usually contribute to cleaning the building, garbage collection, heating, and hot water. The exact list is:
- Grundsteuer – costs for local taxes
- Wasser – water
- Heizung – heating
- Beleuchtung – costs of lights in the corridors and stairs
- Hausreinigung / Hausmeisterdienst – costs for having a janitor
- Gartenpflege – garden and private outdoor spaces maintenance
- Abwasserung – costs for waste water – sewers
- Fahrstuhl – costs for lift maintenance
- Schornsteinreinigung – costs for chimney sweepers
- Straßenreinigung / Müllabfuhr – costs for path walk and trash maintenance/management
You only pay those extra costs if they apply to your living situation.
What about electricity or gas?
The cost of electricity and gas isn’t included in the Nebenkosten. You will pay it as additional bills. Many apartments in Germany use electric stoves, so you will mainly have just electricity costs.
Below you can see the estimated electricity consumption and monthly costs per household.
| Household | Consumption | Cost |
| Single | 1,300-2,000 kWh | ~ 40€ |
| 2 People | 2,000-2,500 kWh | ~ 55€ |
| 4 People | 3,000-4,000 kWh | ~ 80€ |
Read the article about electricity bills in Germany.
Necessary insurances
As a tenant in Germany, you will need at least private liability insurance to cover your liability for the damage to the property.
Private liability insurance is Germany’s second most important insurance (after health insurance). It covers all damages you might make to the rental property, including something common like breaking the piece of furniture.
Property damages are widespread, but it also covers a loss of assets or injury made to some friend.
Read more about the liability insurance.
In addition, you could sign up for a home insurance to protected your rented property.
Intenet/TV/Phone
In addition to rent, you will need to pay for the landline phone and internet connection in your apartment. Also, plan for the monthly fee for the GEZ. It’s mandatory for all households in Germany.
- GEZ fee – mandatory 17,50 EUR/month
- Phone line plus broadband internet – from 30 EUR/month
- Mobile phone – from 9 EUR, depending on the tariff
Check out the internet providers in this article and the cheapest SIM card here.
How cheap is rent in Germany can be?
Despite the insanely high prices of Munich, some parts of Germany are known for surprisingly low rental prices. So don’t let it scare you.
Therefore, in some areas, a 50 m2 apartment can cost you 875,5 EUR a month, while the price for the same flat can be as low as 280 EUR (or 5,6 EUR per m2) in others.
For example, in German cities like Chemnitz in Saxony, a 70 square meter apartment can be rented for just 357 EUR/month.
Yet, tenants can have a better choice in the North Rhine-Westphalia. Five out of ten cheapest large cities for rent are located in this region. On average, people pay only 390 EUR for a 70m2 flat.
Cheapest German cities for rent and average rent price per m2 (in EUR):
- Chemnitz (Saxony): 5,10
- Halle an der Saale (Saxony-Anhalt): 5,53
- Hagen (NRW): 5,57
- Salzgitter (Lower Saxony): 5,60
- Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt): 5,60
- Bremerhaven (Bremen): 5,86
- Gelsenkirchen (NRW): 6,01
- Duisburg (NRW): 6,13
- Hannover (Lower Saxony): 6,14
- Remscheid (NRW): 6,16
- Herne (NRW): 6,16
