To start off, "Finding accommodation in Hamburg (without losing your mind)" is a short and light-hearted introduction to the topic, written by one of our colleagues. We recommend warmly to take the 5-10 minutes it takes to read it, as it touches on many of the relevant topics.

Please also check Student Services on KLU's website for general information about accommodation in Hamburg. Then click on the arrows or use the table of contents on the left to navigate through the information about accommodation.

Finding the right type of accommodation is a challenging task. Accommodation in Hamburg is both hard to find and comparatively expensive. KLU supports you in finding suitable accommodation, but does not offer on-campus housing.

When to start looking for housing

Affordable housing in Hamburg is rare, so you should start looking for accommodation as soon as you can! Dorm rooms fill up quickly and searching on the free market may take several months. The earlier you apply, the easier it will be to find the kind of accommodation you are looking for. There can always be a great last-minute-deal but if you want to be on the safe side we recommend to start looking for accommodation about 3 months in advance.

Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment

Rental prices are very diverse and strongly depend on the district, size and comfort you prefer; therefore, a general number is hard to tell. The range for a 2-bedroom apartment can be from 600 to 1300 Euros plus utilities. We highly recommend you to take a look at the rental-map (click on it for a bigger view) below, which gives you a good overview of rental prices in each area.

The map is from 2020 and prices have gone up pretty much everywhere since then. We do find the map still useful for general comparison between areas, though.

Districts in Hamburg / Popular Neighborhoods

As far as personal security is concerned all districts in Hamburg can be considered as safe. However, some districts are more frequented than others. HafenCity as well as districts bordering on the Alster Lake are quite expensive. The districts Eimsbüttel, Sternschanze and Ottensen are quite central and very popular among students. Apartments and rooms in this area are in very high demand. Room and flat hunting is easier in districts like Hamburg-Nord, Harburg, Bergedorf and Wandsbek. With a limited budget you should explore alternatives outside the city center.

Hamburg has a safe, reliable and well-connected public transportation system, so that every district can be reached easily. A 30-45 min ride from home to university is not unusual. As you will receive a transportation ticket valid for the whole area of Hamburg, you might want to search in areas a little outside of the center. KLU is located in the HafenCity; we recommend looking for an apartment near underground stations along the underground line U2/U4.

Please find more information about each district in Hamburg here.

Recognizing scam offers

Generally, a scammer offers a room, studio or an apartment in a great location for an even greater price. Please find more information on how to recognize scam offers here.

It is very important that you take note of our security advice as there are fraudsters all over the world – including the Internet, unfortunately. The following things should make you suspicious when looking for an apartment, for example: an apartment is located in “downtown” Hamburg, is cheap, contact person won’t be in Hamburg and you would have to meet another person for the keys. Please never transfer money or sign a contract before having seen the apartment/room at least via video call. Maybe you already know someone in Hamburg and can ask them, if they can have a look at the apartment, if you are unsure.

The governmental-owned student dorms are an exception of this rule.

How to proceed

Get a contract first before transferring money, make sure to video chat and see the room/flat yourself, you can ask for an ID copy as well to make sure. You can send us contracts if you are in doubt. You will find an example here (some points may not apply)

You need individual support?

Contact our Student Services Team (studentservices@klu.org) for any further individual support or advice.