Chemnitz: The mysterious housing cost victory for students!

Chemnitz: The mysterious housing cost victory for students!

A current analysis by the Moses Mendelssohn Institute (MMI) in collaboration with WG-Gesucht.de shows that Chemnitz is the cheapest university location in Germany. In a study of 88 university towns with more than 5,000 students, it was found that the average rental costs for shared rooms in Chemnitz are only 265 euros. This is notable because the national average for a shared room is 493 euros, which is a significant difference.

Compared to other larger cities, the difference is even clearer. In Munich, for example, students have to pay an average of 800 euros for a shared room, while the rental prices in Cologne are 583 euros, in Hamburg 610 euros and in Berlin 650 euros. These expensive rental prices exceed the BAföG housing allowance of currently 380 euros, meaning that many students in these cities have great financial difficulties.

Living in Chemnitz

The analysis of Chemnitz shows that the city not only offers the cheapest prices with an average rent of 265 euros, but that these costs are also below the flat rate for housing costs for Bafög recipients. This gives local students an encouraging perspective as they will be relieved financially and need more resources for their studies.

In addition, the residence halls of the Chemnitz-Zwickau Student Union offer rents between 264.50 euros and 344.50 euros, which makes Chemnitz even more attractive for students. As part of the study, existing shared apartments that are not listed as exchange offers were examined in order to determine reliable rental prices.

Market development and challenges

Although Chemnitz stands out as a positive exception in this study, the general analysis of housing costs for students in Germany has revealed an alarming trend. According to MMI, housing costs are rising to record levels in many cities and are exceeding the national average of 500 euros for the first time.

The study shows that 70 of 88 university locations hardly offer shared rooms that are within the BAföG housing cost flat rate of 380 euros. What is particularly worrying is that in 44 of these cities, over 54.5% of students are enrolled. It is strongly recommended to adjust the housing allowance and create budget-oriented living space. The federal government has already announced an increase in the flat rate to 440 euros in its coalition agreement. But even with this increase, more than half of the students would still have to live above the flat rate.

The situation is particularly tense in large cities such as Munich, Hamburg and Berlin, where rental prices have risen significantly since 2019 - around 170 euros in Berlin or 133 euros in Bavaria. In its analysis, the MMI made a number of recommendations for action, including regular adjustment of the BAföG housing allowance and the expansion of the “Young Living” program to help non-profit actors create housing.

Overall, the analysis underlines the need to take a closer look at the housing market for students in Germany and to take action to curb the significantly rising rents. In this context, Chemnitz remains a positive example, while there is still a significant need for action in many other cities. During the TUCtag on May 10, 2025, those responsible want to give students the opportunity to clarify questions about housing options and improve the situation.