We regularly receive inquiries from first-year students looking for accommodation during their studies. While we do accommodate students in our house, our apartments are too costly for many. In this article, we provide an overview of the most affordable housing solutions for students in the north of Munich along with lots of tips and links to facilitate your search for cheap accommodation.
Dormitories / Halls of residence - the classic
The Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern runs numerous halls of residence throughout the city. By Munich standards, rents are very moderate and the residences usually offer a good infrastructure for students. Particularly worth mentioning is Studentenstadt in the north of Munich - the largest student housing complex in Germany with around 2,500 residents. It features sports grounds, pubs, a restaurant, a reading room and direct access to the U6 underground line. Both the TU Garching and the LMU can be reached quickly from here. The Studierendenwerk also runs other, smaller halls of residence, including 2 in Garching and one in Oberschleißheim.
In addition to the facilities operated by the Studierendenwerk, there are numerous other halls of residence run by non-profit or religious organizations that also offer very affordable conditions.
Studierendenwerk: Halls of residence, rent & waiting periods
Other
Problem: The waiting periods are usually very long - currently around 4 semesters are to be expected.
Living together - sharing the costs
If you are willing to sacrifice some privacy, a room in a shared apartment (Wohngemeinschaft, WG) may be just the thing for you. Here you not only share the rent, but also costs such as the public broadcasting license fee with your flatmates. Another advantage of shared apartments is that you can quickly make friends in a foreign city and have someone to turn to for everyday problems.
Platforms such as WG-Gesucht.de or various Facebook groups are a good place to go to find a suitable shared apartment. Here you can search for vacant rooms or place an ad to get in touch with potential flatmates. The Studierendenwerk and the TUM also provide a platform where shared flats, individual rooms or entire apartments can be listed by private individuals and landlords.
WG-Gesucht.de
Facebook group: Wohnung/WG in München gesucht!
Studierendenwerk: Private Accommodation Service
Housing exchange by the TU Munich
Free housing for help (Wohnen für Hilfe)
If you can imagine living with an elderly person and supporting him/her in everyday life, you can live not only cheaply, but often even free of charge. This is known in Germany as “Wohnen für Hilfe” and involves helping senior citizens with tasks such as shopping, cooking, cleaning, gardening, looking after their pets, etc.
As a rule of thumb:
1 m² living space = 1 hour of help / month.
Requirements are good communication skills (knowledge of German), willingness to adapt, reliability, honesty and, of course, enjoyment in interacting with people.
Wohnen für Hilfe: Munich & surroundings
Wohnen für Hilfe: Eching & surrounding area (ideal for students at TU Garching)
For-profit providers of student accommodation
There are numerous private companies in Munich that offer student apartments, micro-apartments and co-living specifically aimed at students. These include, for example
The Fizz (near Olympiapark)
House of Co. (Milbertshofen)
Young Residencials (Garching)
These accommodations tend to be more modern, offer more comfort and flexibility, but are often more than twice as expensive as traditional halls of residence and are therefore aimed at students with deeper pockets or generous parental support.
Affordable temporary housing solutions
For shorter stays in Munich or as an interim solution while looking for long-term accommodation, hostels may be suitable. These offer inexpensive accommodation but lack privacy. It should be noted that many hostels in Munich are run by the German Youth Hostel Association (DJH) and require a membership card.
There are numerous boarding houses on the outskirts and the suburbs of Munich in particular, just like Boardinghaus Eching. These are generally among the cheaper types of accommodation. While in some countries the term boarding house is associated with budget accommodation for students, in Germany they are aimed at a broader clientele.
Besides boarding houses, you can also find so-called Monteurunterkünfte, which are mainly aimed at company employees (construction workers, fitters, etc.) but often also accommodate trainees and students. Instead of apartments, these usually only offer individual rooms with shared bathrooms and shared kitchens and are therefore quite affordable.
Grants
If even relatively cheap accommodation is beyond your financial means, take a look at funding opportunities for students.
The most favorable option for financing your studies is usually BAföG (federal training assistance by the german state). At least if you are not receiving parental support or benefit from a scholarship. The advantage: only half of the financial aid has to be repaid, the other half is a gift. In addition, repayment of the interest free loan usually only begins 5 years after graduation. Although the bureaucracy required to apply for BAföG is annoying, it is definitely worth it.
In addition to BAföG, there is also the option of taking out a student loan. However, this should only be an option if scholarships, BAföG, parental support or a part-time job are not sufficient.
Apply for BAföG
Scholarship Advisory Service
Student loans
General tips for finding accommodation
Start early
Most first-year students underestimate the challenge and start their search too late. By then, many apartments are already gone and it gets hectic - and expensive!
Be quick
Respond immediately to a new listing. Every minute counts.
Avoid booking platforms
Online platforms often charge very high commissions, so direct bookings are usually cheaper. Furthermore, many accommodations, such as boarding houses, are not listed on these platforms. A brief internet search might be rewarded with better prices.
Utilize contacts
Like everywhere else in the world, contacts are helpful when looking for accommodation. Also make use of social media.
The first impression counts
If necessary, bring guarantees, proof of income, a SCHUFA credit report or letters of recommendation to the inspection appointment and assure the landlord that you will treat the apartment with care.
Don't overlook the outskirts and suburbs
Rents in Munich city center are much higher than in the outskirts or the suburbs. Nevertheless, you can get to the university quickly by bus and train. So if you are prepared to put up with a little more travel time, you can save a lot!
Beware of scammers
Many landlords require a security deposit before moving in. If you are unable to view the accommodation in person, you should only transfer a deposit if you are certain that the provider is reputable. Transfers to accounts outside of Germany (IBAN does not begin with DE) or via providers such as Western Union or similar agencies should not be made under any circumstances!
The bottom line
We know from our own experience how difficult it is to find an affordable place to live in Munich - especially as a student. Therefore, don't be discouraged by unsuccessful applications! With a little patience and the right tips, anyone can find acceptable accommodation in Munich. We hope this post has been helpful and wish you every success in your search and a good start to your studies!
