As students begin arriving in Germany for the new semester, many are facing significantly higher costs for student housing than they perhaps budgeted for. It’s not just energy and food that are getting more expensive, but also rooms in shared flats (WGs). 

Cost of student WG rooms in Germany has risen significantly compared to 2021

According to a new study conducted by the Moses Mendelssohn Institute, in cooperation with the real estate portal WG-Gesucht.de, the average cost of a WG room in university towns and cities in Germany has risen significantly compared to last year, dpa reports. Prices have risen by 44 euros to an average of 435 euros per month. 

The figure is based on housing listings posted on WG-Gesucht.de in the second half of August 2022 in the 95 German university cities with at least 5.000 students, and gives students in Germany an idea of how much they need to budget on top of tuition and semester fees and other costs. 

Unsurprisingly, the data shows huge regional variations. Munich is once again the priciest place to study in Germany, with a shared room costing 700 euros per month on average (up from 620 euros in 2021). Prices in Frankfurt (580 euros) and Berlin (550 euros) were only a little lower. 

In eastern Germany, however, WG rooms are much cheaper. Chemnitz in Saxony was found to be the cheapest university city, with rooms offered for an average of 250 euros, only a small rise from the 236-euro average cost last year. Cottbus in Brandenburg was similarly affordable at 300 euros on average (up from 257 euros in 2021). 

High demand on student housing market due to catch-up effect

According to Stefan Braukmann, managing director at the Moses Mendelssohn Institute, the strong price increase in 2022 is the result of a catch-up effect in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

People are making moves they previously put off, returning to studies after dropping classes during the pandemic, or even coming to Germany for semesters abroad that were previously deferred. With a higher than normal number of students seeking accommodation, the student rental market is experiencing high demand. 

“For two years, the corona pandemic caused prices to move sideways for new rentals,” Braukmann told dpa. “This is ending now. In 89 of the 95 cities in the university cities list, rooms in a shared flat are now more expensive than they were in 2021.” 

Prices have risen virtually non-stop since 2013, when this report was first published. Back then, you could get a WG room in Berlin for an average of 335 euros, and in Munich it would set you back 499 euros.