Munich Student Housing Basics

Public dorms (Studierendenwerk)

• Average rent: around €360/month (by far the cheapest option)
• Very long waiting times: 1–7 semesters
• You must re-confirm your application every semester with your enrollment certificate

Private student residences (e.g. The FIZZ, Unity Alpha, Youniq)

• Modern, furnished micro-apartments (~20 m²)
• Typical range: €620–800+ warm per month
• Often include utilities and internet
• Easy to book from abroad, but expensive for students

WG rooms (shared flats)

• Usual price range: €400–800 warm, depending on district
• You apply to join an existing WG and attend a “WG-Casting” (informal interview)
• Great for social life and language practice

Own studio / small flat

• Small studios (20–35 m²) on the open market often cost €900–1,300 cold
• On top of that, you pay Nebenkosten, electricity, internet, and the broadcasting fee

In Germany, you will often see two terms:

• Kaltmiete (cold rent): base rent for the apartment only
• Warmmiete (warm rent): cold rent plus most building-related costs

Nebenkosten (operating costs)

• Typically €2.50–4.00/m² per month
• Includes things like heating, water, trash, cleaning, and some building services
• Example: 30 m² flat → about €75–120 Nebenkosten per month

Usually not included in Nebenkosten

• Electricity (Strom): often €50–80/month for 1–2 people
• Internet/phone: around €30–50/month
• Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee): about €18.36/month per flat, no matter if you watch TV or not

When you calculate your budget, always check if the price in the ad is cold or warm and then add electricity, internet, and the broadcasting fee.

German landlords usually follow a simple rule: your warm rent should be around 30–40% of your net monthly income.

Example:

• Warm rent: €1,200/month
• Required net income: roughly €3,000–4,000/month for the household

Students often do not reach this on their own, so a parental guarantee or sponsor is common.

Deposit (Kaution)

• Legal maximum: 3× cold rent
• Can be paid in up to three monthly installments starting with the first rent
• The landlord must keep it in a separate, safe account (Mietkautionskonto)

Central districts (Schwabing, Maxvorstadt, Glockenbach, Lehel, etc.) are very attractive but also among the most expensive in Munich.

To save money, many students use the “S-Bahn Strategy”:

• Look in outer districts like Riem, Allach, Untermenzing, Aubing, Neuaubing, or Lochhausen
• Accept a 20–30 minute S-Bahn commute to university
• In return, you can often reduce your rent by 15–20% compared to the city center

Always compare the rental savings with the extra time and cost of commuting.

When to start

• Begin your search 3–6 months before you want to move in

Where to search

• ImmobilienScout24: main platform for full apartments
• WG-Gesucht: best for WG rooms and temporary sublets
• Kleinanzeigen: private listings (can be cheaper, but watch out for scams)

Prepare a Bewerbungsmappe (application portfolio)

• Short cover letter in German (who you are, what you study, non-smoker, etc.)
• SCHUFA or another credit report
• Proof of income or parental sponsorship
• Self-disclosure form (Mieterselbstauskunft)
• If possible: letter from previous landlord confirming you always paid on time

Scam red flags

• Landlord claims to be abroad and asks for money before any viewing
• Keys will supposedly be sent by a platform (Airbnb, TripAdvisor, etc.) after payment
• You are asked to send passport/ID scans before even visiting the flat

Never transfer money or send high-quality ID scans to people you have not met in person. When sending a copy, always watermark it (e.g. “Copy for rental application only”).