Hardly any other topic has been as prominent among Munich residents in recent years as developments on the housing market. As a result, finding an apartment can require a great deal of patience for newcomers. The situation remains tense: rents for newly built apartments (first occupancy) are now often around €20–25 per square meter (as of 2025, depending on location and amenities).

As early as 2018, re-letting rents reached a record level for the first time, averaging €17.89 per square meter. This figure has since increased significantly and most recently averaged around €20.40 per square meter (as of 2023/2024).

To address projected population growth and the increasing living space per capita, the city continues to aim for the construction of around 8,500 new apartments per year. However, this ambitious target is not always fully achieved.

This is one of the reasons why living in the Munich metropolitan area—especially along the S-Bahn network—is becoming increasingly popular. As part of ongoing housing development, many attractive new residential districts are emerging there.

Anyone looking to find their ideal home in Munich without pressure is best advised to first rent a temporary apartment through an agency such as Mr. Lodge or Flathopper and continue their search at a more relaxed pace. Alternatively, apartment hotels such as Citadines offer a convenient short-term solution with a private, fully equipped space including a kitchenette.

Apartment listings can traditionally be found in daily newspapers as well as on online real estate platforms—the property section of the Süddeutsche Zeitung remains particularly popular. It is also possible to contact landlords or property management companies directly. Another option is to join a housing cooperative: members are not only tenants but also shareholders with a permanent right of residence.

Summary

Market situation: still highly competitive

Munich’s housing market is among the most expensive in Germany—and remains highly competitive.

• New builds (first occupancy): approx. €20–25/sqm

• Existing rentals (re-letting): approx. €20.40/sqm on average

• Trend: stable at a high level with further increases likely (as of 2024/2025)

👉 In short: time, budget, and patience are key factors when searching for housing in Munich.

Anyone arriving in Munich without immediately finding a permanent place to live will find that “temporary living” is often the best solution. Furnished apartments, flats or houses offer maximum flexibility—from just a few weeks to several months or even years. The major advantage: properties are usually fully equipped and ready to move into right away, often including internet, kitchen facilities and additional services.

Munich offers a wide range of established agencies specializing in this type of accommodation—from simple rooms to high-end designer apartments. Especially for expats, project-based professionals or newcomers, this is the most stress-free way to enter Munich’s highly competitive housing market.

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Anyone who wants to find a suitable apartment quickly and with minimal effort can contact a real estate agent directly. However, in Germany the so-called “buyer’s commission principle” (Bestellerprinzip) applies: generally, the party who commissions the agent pays the fee. For rental properties, this usually means that landlords cover the costs. For property purchases, a commission is still charged, often shared between buyer and seller.

Another proven way of finding accommodation is to join a housing cooperative. These often own numerous properties across the entire city. In Germany, there are more than 2,000 housing cooperatives with over three million members and around two million apartments. Cooperatives typically rent exclusively to their members. As co-owners, members enjoy permanent residency rights—termination for personal use is not possible. This makes cooperatives a comparatively secure and long-term housing option.

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