Living in Frankfurt

* The rental price already includes all running costs. These also include WiFi.

The contracts have fixed terms as follows:

First semester students

• August 1 to July 31 
• October 1 to September 30 (only for MBA students)

Exchange students

• January 15 to July 14
• July 15 to January 14

Apartments are fully furnished:

• Private bathroom with shower and WC
• Own kitchen with fridge/freezer, ceramic hob and oven
• Bed with mattress (120x200)
• Closet with mirror
• Desk with chair
• Hanging chair
• Internet connection

All residents can contact visitors directly via the intercom system to grant access. The complex has an elevator.

i Live residents also have access to: 

• Communal areas with table tennis, table football, and billiards
• Cabaret stage and cinema
• Beach volleyball court and multifunctional sports field
• Event area abd learning lounge
• Roof terrace
• Outdoor kitchen and barbecue area
• Restaurant and bar
• Externally operated fitness studio
• Car and bicycle parking
• Washing machines and dryers (for a fee)

Is parking available at i Live? 

Yes! Students can rent a parking space for 80 €/month.

How much is the deposit? Is there also a service charge? 

The deposit is three months' rent. A one-time service fee of €50 is due on conclusion of the contract.

Does i Live offer apartments for couples? 

No, the apartments are exclusively single occupant. 

I want to rent for a different time period (i.e., not 6 or 12 months), or a different start date. Is this possible? 

No, the contract duration and start date are fixed. 

This rather annoying fee is mandatory for all residents. Each household pays €18.36/month to finance Germany's public broadcasting service. If you live in a shared flat, the cost is split among flatmates, and students with federal grants are exempt.

Renting a flat on your own, perhaps for the first time or in a foreign country, can be overwhelming. Here's what you need to know in Germany: 

ID: Usually a valid passport.

Tenent self-disclosure: 

Proof of income (or your parents' income) 

Schufa: this document is essentially your credit score, to prove your reliability as a renter, and you can get one through the Schufa credit agency.

Study Contract and Visa: international students may also need to provide a copy of their visa or study contract. 

Prices listed are typically for “Kaltmiete” (basic rent). Additional costs for utilities (electricity, heating, water) form the “Warmmiete” (total rent). Electricity and internet services are often arranged separately (though in student residences, these costs are usually covered). 

Here's our rough breakdown of the cost of living in Frankfurt, available for download. 

Frankfurt is a beautiful city with a variety of housing, neighborhoods, and lifestyles. We've compiled a list of the districts for you to discover which vibe is right for you. 

Central, popular, priceier

Bockenheim offers a bit of everything and is one of the oldest and biggest areas in Frankfurt. It's close to Westend and Gallusviertel and offers a good mix of modern and older buildings. It also has many great cafés and restaurants.
Bornheim is home to a lot of young people and has restaurants, cafés, and boutiques along the well-known Bergerstraße, which runs all the way through the district. 

Innenstadt (city centre) is a great location. The main shopping street is on your doorstep, as are lively bars and clubs, making it perfect for those who really want a taste of city life. Being in the middle of everything has its price, so be prepared for higher rents in the city centre.

Ostend houses are relatively modern and their location makes it great for spending afternoons or evenings hanging out at the river. Our previous campus used to be located here - can you find it?

Sachsenhausen is south of the river Main. Although it is slightly further from campus, it offers its own cinema and array of bars and restaurants; a great place for socialising without having to enter the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Westend is a quieter area, located right next to Palmengarten and Grüneberg Park. This is a bit like the "Upper-East Side" of Frankfurt: centrally located and quite pricey but is full of picturesque Altbau (historic) buildings of the late 19th and 20th century.

Close to campus and quieter
Eckenheim and Dornbusch are a bit further from the city centre but are located close to campus and are priced at a resonable range for students. It's a quieter area where a lot of families live.

In the heart of the city

Gallusviertel and Gutleutviertel are just behind the Hauptbahnhof, but perhaps very different to what you would imagine. The whole discrict has been renovated and has become the modern "Europaviertel". The ubahn here directly connects to "Deutsche Nationalbibliothek", the stop closest to Frankfurt School. 

Farther out and more affordable

Offenbach, although not technically located in Frankfurt, it's also a great place to live, as it is a bit cheaper and well connected via S-bahn (rapid inner city trains). Check out the renovated "Hafen" area of modern apartments, which is currently expanding and a great spot for river bank lovers.

Consider areas near S- or U-Bahn lines for more affordable options, as your RMV ticket covers travel.