Local Rental Index: Find Fair Rent Prices in Germany

The local Mietspiegel (rental index) shows what a comparable apartment in a municipality typically rents for. It helps tenants judge an offer and helps landlords justify a rent that stays within the legal limits.

What the local Mietspiegel is

A Mietspiegel is an overview of the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete: the rent actually agreed or adjusted over the past six years for comparable apartments (location, size, fittings, year built). Cities publish either a simple Mietspiegel (Section 558c BGB) or a qualified Mietspiegel (Section 558d BGB), which is compiled using recognized scientific methods and updated at least every two years. A qualified Mietspiegel carries a stronger legal presumption that its figures are accurate.

How to find the Mietspiegel for your municipality

Not every municipality publishes its own Mietspiegel. Larger cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, or Cologne do; smaller towns often rely on the Mietspiegel of a comparable neighboring municipality or an individual case assessment. Here's how to proceed:

Check your city or municipal administration's website first, usually under "Bauen und Wohnen" (building and housing).
If there is no local Mietspiegel, your state's housing ministry or a central state platform can help (in North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, meineverwaltung.nrw).
The Deutscher Mieterbund (German Tenants' Association) and local tenant associations often keep an overview of which Mietspiegel applies in their state.
For a nationwide view of rent trends, the Federal Statistical Office regularly publishes data that helps put local figures in a national context.

What to do if there's no Mietspiegel

If no Mietspiegel exists, the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete can be established using three comparable apartments, an expert appraisal, or the municipality's rent database. In that case, it's best to involve the local tenant association rather than relying on free online calculators with no visible data basis: such tools often just estimate without disclosing their actual methodology, and their figures rarely hold up in court.

Why the Mietspiegel matters for tenants and landlords

The Mietspiegel is the reference point for the Mietpreisbremse (Section 556d BGB) on new leases and for the Kappungsgrenze (Section 558 BGB) on existing tenancies. Knowing your municipality's figures lets you judge an offer realistically, spot an unfair increase, and push back or ask questions where needed.

Bottom line

The local Mietspiegel is the most reliable basis for judging a rent. Start with your municipality's website, then check state and federal resources, and consult a tenant association when in doubt rather than an arbitrary online calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the local Mietspiegel created?

Based on rents actually agreed or adjusted over the past six years for comparable apartments. A qualified Mietspiegel additionally follows recognized scientific methods under Section 558d BGB.

Can I view the Mietspiegel for free?

In most cities, yes, via the city administration's website. Some municipalities charge a small fee for the full table.

What if there's no Mietspiegel for my municipality?

The ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete can then be established using comparable apartments, an expert appraisal, or a rent database. The local tenant association can help interpret it.