March 16, 2026
How Much Rent in Germany Has Risen Since 2015
If you want to know whether rents in Germany are really rising faster than they used to, the answer is in the Federal Statistical Office's (Destatis) consumer price index for net cold rent. This index has tracked rent trends for decades and reveals patterns that individual city comparisons can't show.
The net cold rent index since 2015
Based on 2020 as the reference year (= 100 points), the nationwide index for net cold rent developed as follows:
2015: 93.5 points
2017: 95.8 points
2019: 98.6 points
2020: 100.0 points
2022: 103.1 points
2024: 107.5 points
That's an increase of around 15 percent between 2015 and 2024, with the pace visibly picking up after 2020.
Why the pace has changed
Between 2010 and 2020, so-called index-linked rents — contracts with an agreed indexation clause — actually rose more slowly than regular existing rents (13.5 percent versus 14.3 percent over the decade). Since the 2020s, that has reversed: index-linked rents have been climbing faster than the general rent increase, partly because of the broader rise in consumer prices to which the index rent is tied.
What this means for tenants
A 15 percent rise over nine years sounds moderate at first, but it's spread very unevenly across the country. While the nationwide index shows this average, actual new-letting rents in sought-after big cities have, according to BBSR data, in many cases risen considerably more sharply since 2015 than the national index, because that index also factors in the many long-running, capped existing contracts in less economically dynamic regions.
How to put your own rent increase in context
Compare your current rent to what you paid five or ten years ago, not just today's market price
If you're facing an announced rent increase, check whether it stays within the statutory cap on increases
For index-linked rent, it's worth checking the current consumer price index the increase is tied to
For a look at how this national trend breaks down city by city, see our rent comparison across Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Leipzig, and for the current national average, our rent-costs-in-Germany overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has rent in Germany risen since 2015?
According to the Federal Statistical Office's net cold rent index, from 93.5 points (2015) to 107.5 points (2024), an increase of around 15 percent.
What is an index-linked rent?
A rent whose amount is contractually tied to the development of the consumer price index. Since the 2020s, index-linked rents have tended to rise faster than regular existing rents.
Where can I find the official figures on rent trends?
At the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), in the consumer price index for net cold rent, available through the GENESIS online database.
Does rent rise at the same pace everywhere in Germany?
No. The nationwide index smooths over large regional differences; in sought-after big cities, actual new-letting rents have frequently risen far more sharply than the national average.
