Apartment Rents in Germany Rise by 24% in Five Years

Key takeaways

• In Q1 2026, the average asking rent in Germany reached €12.78 per square metre. It has increased by 24% from €10.31 in Q1 2021.
• Hamburg (€17.87) and Berlin (€17.86) have the highest average asking rents in Germany.
• Baden-Württemberg (€12.63) ranks highest among non-city states, reflecting strong regional income levels.
• Bremen (+35.9%) and Schleswig-Holstein (+30.2%) recorded some of the fastest rent growth since 2021. Smaller housing markets tend to react more quickly when demand rises. Moreover, regions near expensive cities often see rising rents as tenants move outward in search of lower prices.
• Several eastern states remain below the national average, but rent growth there has still exceeded 20% over five years.
• Rent levels depend primarily on local demand, housing supply, and job concentration.

Rent Index for German Apartments

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Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

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Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

In the first quarter of 2026, the average asking rent for apartments in Germany reached €12.78 per square metre. Back in Q1 2021, it was €10.31. That’s a 24% increase in five years.

Rent rates have definitely moved, and where you live still makes a big difference.

The city-states are at the top of the ranking:

• Hamburg — €17.87 per m²
• Berlin — €17.86 per m²

These are dense, high-demand city markets. They are strong job centres with limited housing supply and a steady inflow of students, professionals, creatives, and remote workers. When demand keeps rising, and new housing expands slowly, prices move upward.

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Next comes Baden-Württemberg (€12.63), followed closely by Schleswig-Holstein (€12.16) and Bremen (€11.88).

Baden-Württemberg’s rent level reflects its strong southern economy: automotive, engineering, and high-income employment.

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But the more interesting story is growth.

Since Q1 2021, Bremen (+35.9%) and Schleswig-Holstein (+30.2%) have recorded among the fastest rent increases in Germany.

Smaller markets react more quickly when demand rises. And regions near expensive cities often absorb spillover demand. These refer to renters who want access to Hamburg or Berlin but at lower prices outside the city core.

At the lower end of the ranking are:

• Sachsen-Anhalt — €7.54 (+22.4%)
• Thüringen — €8.25 (+23.9%)
• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern — €9.27 (+27.7%)

These states remain below the national average, but they still show rent growth over the years.

Lower starting prices do not mean static markets. Even in more affordable regions, rising demand and limited new construction are pushing rents upward.

Asking rents reflect a few simple forces:

• The strength of local job markets
• The pace of housing construction
• Demand spilling over from nearby cities

Germany’s rental market is not defined by a single national story. It combines high-priced metropolitan hubs with regional markets that are catching up. Ultimately, what tenants pay depends on how tight their local housing market is.