Whether a student dorm or shared flat suits you better depends above all on your budget and how much privacy you need. On the open market, a room in a shared flat costs an average of €510 a month, while the BAföG housing allowance is €380. Dorms often work with fixed flat rates and offer a quick start. In a shared flat, you choose your flatmates yourself and have more room to manoeuvre in everyday life.
Key points at a glance
- A room in a shared flat costs an average of €510, and the BAföG housing allowance is €380. The rent in a dorm is set by the operator.
- In a dorm, each individual flat pays the full broadcasting fee of €18.36. In a shared flat, the residents split one fee.
- You apply for a dorm through the operator in your university town, often the Studierendenwerk. Deadlines and waiting times differ from city to city.
- Dorms make it easier to settle into a new city. A shared flat gives you more say over your flatmates and the furnishings.
What does a shared-flat room cost compared with a student dorm?
On the open market, a room in a shared flat costs an average of €510 a month across Germany. In Munich the figure is €850, in Berlin and Hamburg it is €650 each, and in Cologne €640. In 76 of the 90 university cities surveyed, the average rent is above the BAföG housing allowance of €380. This is shown by the 2026 university city scoring, which the German Student Union (Deutsches Studierendenwerk) evaluates in its press release of 17 September 2026.
Dorm rents are set by each operator, so there is no nationwide average you can rely on. Ask the operator in your university town for the current price and what the rent includes. A flat rate is common, and the contract shows whether electricity, heating and internet are covered.
| Criterion | Student dorm | Shared flat |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | Set by the operator, prices vary by city | Average €510 across Germany, depending on city and location |
| Ancillary costs | Often a flat rate, scope set out in the contract | Split between the flatmates |
| Broadcasting fee | Each individual flat pays €18.36 a month | One fee per flat, shared by the residents |
| Flatmates | Depend on the house or floor | You choose them together with the flat |
| Furnishings | Often furnished, varies by building | Depends on the flat, you often bring your own furniture |
| Contract | Term and house rules set by the operator | Rules set by the flat within the scope of the tenancy agreement |
You can also save beyond the rent. What your student status gets you (in German) explains the benefits. A separate article explains whether students can receive housing benefit (in German). Anyone who is in principle eligible for BAföG is generally excluded.
How do you apply for a dorm?
You apply for a dorm through the operator who runs the building, which includes the Studierendenwerke. Application routes, deadlines and waiting times differ by city and by building, so find out directly from the operator in your university town.
- Find out which operators in your university town offer dorm places, and compare prices and room types.
- Ask about the application route, the deadlines and the required documents, and have your papers ready.
- Apply as early as possible and list your preferred buildings.
- Look for alternatives at the same time. The article on the search for an affordable flat (in German) covers strategy, portals and costs, and finding a shared flat: tips for a successful search (in German) gives advice on flat sharing.
What are the drawbacks of a dorm?
The drawbacks of a dorm mainly concern privacy and planning. You usually share the kitchen and bathroom, and with many residents in a small space it can get loud. This is especially noticeable during exam periods.
- Less privacy, because common rooms are shared.
- The operator sets the house rules and the contract term.
- Demand for places can be high. The operator will tell you the waiting time.
- The broadcasting fee applies in full to each individual flat.
What are the drawbacks of a shared flat?
In a shared flat, a lot depends on your flatmates. If your daily rhythms and ideas about order do not match, conflicts arise quickly, over the cleaning rota or the noise level, for example. You also share the ancillary costs and purchases, which can lead to arguments if use is uneven.
- Deposit and furniture costs often arrive together when you move in.
- Finding a flat takes time, because you have to introduce yourself and convince people.
- When someone moves out, the contract and the succession have to be clarified.
What you need when you move in is covered in the article on basic flat furnishings for students (in German). The steps from moving in to the paperwork are bundled in moving to university: your checklist for a stress-free start (in German).
Shared flat or own flat: which suits you?
In your own flat you pay the rent alone and have full privacy. The broadcasting fee of €18.36 then falls on the whole flat, and you pay it yourself. In a shared flat, the rent, the ancillary costs and the fee are split between several people, but you share the bathroom and kitchen. Before you decide, work out the gap to the BAföG housing allowance of €380.
Worked example: rent and broadcasting fee compared
Example: Nina, 21, studies in a city with average prices and receives BAföG. Her shared-flat room costs €510, while the BAföG housing allowance is €380. The gap is €510 minus €380, which equals €130 a month or €1,560 a year.
For the broadcasting fee, the rule is this: in a four-person shared flat, the residents split one fee of €18.36, which is €4.59 per person. For a single flat in a dorm, the full €18.36 applies, which is €13.77 more per month. BAföG recipients who do not live with their parents can apply for an exemption. The Studierendenwerke explain the requirements. In a shared flat, one person’s exemption does not help the others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a student dorm and a shared flat?
In a student dorm you rent a room or apartment from an operator, who sets the price and the house rules. In a shared flat you rent a regular flat together with others. You have your own room and share the kitchen and bathroom. You choose your flatmates together with the others.
Is a dorm cheaper than a shared flat?
This cannot be said across the board. A shared-flat room costs an average of €510 across Germany, while dorm prices are set by each operator. Before you decide, compare the warm rent, the services included and the ancillary costs. In a dorm, the broadcasting fee applies to each individual flat.
Do I have to pay the broadcasting fee in a dorm?
As a rule, yes. In a dorm, each individual flat pays the full fee of €18.36 a month. BAföG recipients who do not live with their parents can apply for an exemption. The exemption applies for the funding period, after which you need to apply again.
When is a dorm worth it at the start of your studies?
At the start in a new city, a dorm takes the pressure off, because rooms are often furnished and you make contacts quickly. Later on, privacy and budget tend to decide. The operator on site can tell you about applications and deadlines.
Here is what to do now
- Set your monthly budget and compare it with the BAföG housing allowance of €380.
- Ask the operator in your university town about dorm places, prices, deadlines and the required documents.
- Search for shared-flat rooms at the same time, so you are not left without a room if you are turned down.
- When you move in, check the broadcasting fee, any exemption and the tenancy agreement.
Related articles
- Finding a shared flat: tips for a successful search (in German)
- Moving to university: your checklist for a stress-free start (in German)
- Basic flat furnishings for students: what you really need (in German)
- Housing benefit for students: who is eligible and how to apply (in German)
- Liability insurance in a shared flat and your own flat (in German)
- Contents insurance in a dorm and a shared flat: when it pays off (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
