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Rent prices in Germany's major cities are diverging, with some cities experiencing a sharp acceleration in increases, while others show a surprisingly moderate trend. According to the Greix-Mietpreisindex released by the Kiel Institute for World Economics (IfW) on Thursday, which evaluated property listings in 37 German cities and regions, overall offering rents rose 1.2% in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter, and 3.7% compared to the previous year.

"After the annual rate hovered around the three percent mark for two quarters, the rental price dynamics are now gradually increasing again," said Jonas Zdrzalek, the responsible housing expert in Kiel.

Hamburg and Düsseldorf saw the steepest rent increases, with a rise of 6.7% and 5.4% respectively in a single year. Munich experienced a 4.8% increase, while Berlin remained below the previous year's level, with only a 1.4% rise. Stuttgart and Leipzig also showed relatively moderate growth of 1.9% each.

However, a trend reversal is evident in Berlin, where offering rents increased by 2.1% compared to the second quarter, more than in any of the other eight metropolises. Düsseldorf saw a 2% increase. In contrast, rent prices in Cologne stagnated.

The highest rent price level remains in Munich, where landlords charge an average of 23.70 euros per square meter for new rentals. For an 80 square meter apartment, this translates to 1896 euros per month. Frankfurt has an average of 17.90 euros per square meter, and Hamburg 16.50 euros. Leipzig remains comparatively favorable at 10.40 euros.

Another development is particularly interesting for tenants: Offering rents for existing apartments are now rising faster than those for new constructions. While existing apartments nationwide have increased by 3.7% year-on-year, the rise for new builds is only 3.3%. This could be due to limited tenants' willingness to pay. New construction apartments have been on the market for an average of 14 days longer than existing apartments nationwide.

However, this does not necessarily mean that new construction apartments are more affordable. Instead, apartment seekers might find better chances of price negotiations for especially expensive offers.

Developments vary not only in the largest cities. Particularly strong increases were seen in Bochum (6.3%), Augsburg (5.6%), and Mannheim (5%). The most favorable rents among the studied cities are in Chemnitz, averaging 6.30 euros per square meter, followed by Gelsenkirchen (7.70 euros), Duisburg, and Hamm (both 8.60 euros). However, it's essential for tenants to correctly interpret the numbers.

The index records offering rents, not rents in existing contracts. People who have been living in their apartments for years often pay significantly less than those who are moving in now to rent a new contract. This is why the development is particularly relevant for people who relocate due to a job change or family establishment.