Student Accommodation in Germany: Costs, Dorms and Scams

The cheapest student accommodation in Germany is a room in a Studierendenwerk residence, which averages about €260 a month according to the Deutsches Studierendenwerk. Places are limited and waiting lists are long, so most international students also search for a shared flat (WG) or a private room. Apply early, expect a deposit of up to three months' rent, and never send money before you have a verified contract.

What are your housing options?

• Student residences (Studierendenwerk): single rooms on a shared corridor, rooms in a shared flat, and small apartments. Cheapest and often furnished, but in short supply.
• Shared flats (WG): you rent a room and share the kitchen and bathroom. The most common choice for students on the private market.
• Private studios and flats: more privacy and much higher rent, and almost always unfurnished.
• Private student residences: furnished and quick to book, but usually well above Studierendenwerk prices.
• Temporary stays: some Studierendenwerke run guest houses, and many have emergency places at the start of term.

How do you get a student residence room?

Apply directly to the Studierendenwerk in your university city; its housing office handles registrations, deadlines and waiting lists. Do it as soon as you have your admission letter, or earlier if the Studierendenwerk allows it. The Deutsches Studierendenwerk's advice for international students: ask whether the room is furnished and whether bedding is included, avoid arriving at a weekend or late at night without arranging key handover, and go straight to the Studierendenwerk if you arrive with nothing booked.

How much does student housing cost?

About €260 a month on average in a student residence, and considerably more on the private market. City matters more than anything: a WG room in Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg or Berlin costs far more than the same room in a smaller university town. When you compare listings, check whether the price is Kaltmiete (rent only) or Warmmiete (rent including heating and service charges), because the difference can be large.

How do deposits and contracts work?

A deposit (Kaution) is normal. Under German tenancy law it can be at most three months' rent excluding service charges, and you may pay it in three monthly instalments. You get it back when you move out, minus any justified deductions. Read the contract for the notice period and whether it is fixed-term, and ask the landlord for the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, the confirmation you need to register your address.

What should you check before you sign?

• Whether the rent is Kaltmiete or Warmmiete, and what the service charges (Nebenkosten) include
• The deposit amount, which can't exceed three months' rent without service charges
• The start date, the notice period and whether the contract is fixed-term
• An inventory of the furniture, and photos of the room's condition when you move in
• That the landlord will sign the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung for your registration; in a sublet, that the main tenant has permission to sublet

How do you find housing without paying upfront?

Legitimate landlords may ask for the deposit and first month's rent, but only once there is a signed contract with a real, identifiable landlord. Rental scams target students searching from abroad, and the pattern repeats. Walk away if you see any of these:

• The landlord is "abroad" and wants money before a viewing or a contract
• Payment by money-transfer service, crypto or gift cards, or through a fake booking-platform link
• Keys promised by post once you pay
• A central flat at a price far below everything else in the area

Safer ways to rent from abroad: a Studierendenwerk room, a video viewing with someone physically in the flat, a contract before any payment, and paying the deposit to a German bank account in the landlord's name. Nearly all Studierendenwerke also help with private rooms, and your university's international office often has leads.

What is the Anmeldung, and why does it matter?

Within two weeks of moving in, you register your address at the local citizens' office (Bürgeramt), bringing your passport and the landlord's Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. The registration certificate is what unlocks the rest: your tax ID, a bank account, and your residence permit appointment. Temporary accommodation without a landlord confirmation can delay all of this, so settle a proper address early.

Tips if you're searching from South Asia

Landlords can't meet you, have never seen your documents, and often receive dozens of messages per room, so make it easy for them. Write in short, polite German or English, say when you arrive and how long you'll stay, and offer your admission letter and blocked-account confirmation as proof you can pay. Book two to four weeks of temporary accommodation that will sign a landlord confirmation, so your registration and bank account don't wait for a permanent room. Viewing in person once you arrive is the safest way to rent a private room.

Next steps

Compare living costs in the cost calculator, read the full cost of studying in Germany, and line up housing alongside your student visa. Our Germany guide puts every step in order.

FAQ

How much is student accommodation in Germany?

About €260 a month on average for a student residence room, and considerably more on the private market, especially in big cities.

Can I find accommodation in Germany without paying upfront?

Yes. Studierendenwerk residences don't ask for money before an offer, and on the private market you should only pay after signing a contract with a verified landlord.

How much deposit can a landlord charge?

At most three months' rent excluding service charges, and you can pay it in three monthly instalments.

When should I start looking for housing?

As soon as you have your admission letter. Dorm waiting lists are long, and the start of term is the hardest time to find a room.