How much should I budget for monthly accommodation in Germany, separate from my tuition fees at a public university?
Plan for roughly 300 to 600 euros a month on accommodation in Germany, separate from tuition. Student dorms typically cost 200 to 400 euros monthly, while a shared WG apartment runs 300 to 600 euros, with expensive cities like Munich pushing costs toward the higher end of that range.
Yes, tuition or the semester contribution you pay at a German public university does not cover housing, so you need to budget for accommodation separately. Expect to pay roughly 300 to 600 euros a month depending on whether you live in a student dorm or a shared apartment, and on which city you choose.
Typical monthly accommodation costs by housing type
| Housing type | Typical monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Student residence hall, dorm | 200 to 400 euros |
| WG or shared apartment | 300 to 600 euros |
| Private studio or 1-room flat | 500 to 900 euros in expensive cities |
What changes the cost most
- City: Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg run noticeably higher than smaller university towns like Freiburg or Tubingen.
- Waiting lists: student dorms are cheapest but fill up early, so apply through your university's Studentenwerk as soon as you get your admission offer.
- Deposits: most landlords ask for 2 to 3 months of rent as a security deposit, a one-time cost on top of your monthly budget.
My Advice
Apply for a dorm room the moment you accept your university offer, since waiting lists in popular cities can run for months and you may otherwise be forced into a more expensive private rental for your first semester. Budget around 400 euros a month as a safe middle estimate if you have not yet chosen a specific city.
How much will a month in Germany cost you?
Rent, food and travel. A real monthly budget, city by city.
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