What is a WG?
A WG (Wohngemeinschaft) is a flat shared by several people: everyone has their own room, while the kitchen, bathroom and often the living room are shared. Many newcomers to Berlin start in a WG — rooms are easier to find than flats, and they are often furnished.
Costs compared
- WG room: according to a 2026 study, a room in Berlin cost about €650 a month on average, usually including utilities. Flatmates share the internet and the broadcasting fee.
- Own flat: you pay the whole rent and the deposit, buy furniture and possibly a kitchen, and set up electricity and internet yourself. In return, all the space is yours.
- Deposit: for a WG room it is usually smaller because the rent is lower — but the same maximum of three months’ cold rent applies.
Contract types in a WG
- Sublease (Untermietvertrag) with the main tenant. The main tenant needs the landlord’s permission to sublet. If the main tenancy ends, you usually have to move out too.
- Your own contract with the landlord for your room — more secure; common with landlords who let flats to WGs and in student residences.
- Everyone on one contract as main tenants: all have equal rights, but each is liable for the whole rent.
Always ask for a written contract and make sure the landlord has agreed to the subletting. Unauthorised subletting can cost the main tenant the flat — and you your room.
Anmeldung and Jobcenter
- In a WG you register as in any other flat. The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is signed by whoever lets you the room — in a sublet, the main tenant. More in our guide on Anmeldung.
- Before moving in, make sure you will be allowed to register at the address. If not, look for another room.
- If the Jobcenter pays your rent, show it the rental offer before signing. A separate contract for your room makes it easier to prove your share of the costs.
Pros and cons
WG: quicker to find, cheaper, often furnished; company and help with everyday life in the first months. Downsides: less privacy, shared rules on cleaning and guests, and less security with a sublet.
Own flat: privacy, your own rules and a stable long-term contract — important for families and for a flat with a WBS. Downsides: higher costs, a longer search and more paperwork.
How to find a good WG room
- Write a personal message: who you are, what you do, how long you plan to stay and when you can move in.
- Expect a “WG casting” — a meeting where the flatmates get to know you.
- Ask what the rent includes, what type of contract you will get and for how long.
- In the Flat-Radar catalog you will also find individual rooms for rent.
The same scam rules apply to rooms: never pay before you have seen the room in person and signed the contract.
Conclusion
If you need a home quickly or have just arrived in Germany, a WG room is often the best start. If you plan to stay for a long time, live with your family or have a WBS, look for your own flat at the same time — read how to find a flat in Berlin.