The topic of Housing is one of the great social issues of our time. TIME ONLINE will focus on the situation on the German housing market. This map of Germany is part of the series.

sources: empirica-regio Statistical Offices of the Federation and the Länder, BBSR, graphics: ONLINE

Not more than 30 percent of income you should spend for the rent, it is often said that. The only question is: Who can choose? In Frankfurt am Main and in the neighboring city of Offenbach tenants pay tenants an average of 35 percent of their income for a warm home, shows our map of Germany. Then there are the three cities in southern Germany follow with Freiburg, Augsburg and Munich. Almost a third of their income must place the tenant in Berlin, Potsdam, Mainz, Jena and Cologne.

The ratio of rent to income, including lease charge is obviously very bad, where many people live: The high demand is driving prices. Also striking is the relatively high level of lease charge in the rather sparsely populated in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-is-Vorpommern. This could be due in part to the low-income, or – in the direct of Berlin, adjacent land Brandenburg circles – the bacon belt of Berlin.

An example: The highest lease charge in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, bear the inhabitants of the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald, directly on the border with Poland, located: you will spend an average of 26.7 percent of their income for rent. Their income per Person is an average of 1,442 m Euro as low as anywhere else in the state – the rent per square meter is still at 9.70 euros. In comparison to large cities such as Berlin may seem the little. But in other country Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where incomes are higher, Rents are still lower. Why this is so, it is not apparent from the data. Perhaps the limit of the district plays a role in some regions at the border recorded an influx of poles, because they can no longer afford to turn the Rent in their own country.

The map is only a snapshot. To find out if Living in Germany has recently become really so much more expensive, as it seems, scientists from the employer middle Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW) examined the development of the past five years. In order to do this for all of the 401 German counties and independent cities, the average net income as a ratio to the basic rent. They expected so a little different; TIME ONLINE has expected for this card with the rent. The IW, an average earner, or an “average” provider on a monthly basis, approximately 26 percent of net income on rent.

The Central result of the Economists: While Living in some cities, “quite expensive”. But: “The development is not as clear-cut as many believe.”

Although Rents and real estate prices in the past few years, especially in Metropolitan areas increased sharply, but also the average wages and salaries. In two-thirds of the regions studied – for example, in some areas of Thuringia, but also in Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne and Düsseldorf – the rent is cold relative to the net wage does not become more expensive, but even cheaper. A prerequisite, however, is that it “participates in the General wage development”. Don’t say: The average values apply for all.

is-focus

Wohnen is one of the great social issues of our time. In our focus, we report, where the lease charge is highest, what is the role large corporations play in the process, and how still today, affordable housing create. The following articles are published:

The last move: The majority of seniors live in their own home, although this is often much too large for you. The real estate industry sees a huge business, but pushes you to the limits.

Stay and capitalism: do they go together?

Stay splits: High Rents and low mortgage interest rates, the inequality in Germany. Why especially the poor suffer from rising costs.

So you sold a house: How much is my property worth? How do I find a buyer? To sell a house that is certainly on the Fast. Five lessons for the owner

As the Berlin was designed In the 19th century. Century, tripled in Berlin number of inhabitants in the eighth. Against the density of James Hobrecht developed a concept. It shapes the city until today, and was often copied.

Higher, faster, bigger, and In the cities, far too few new apartments are being built. The responsible thinking in outdated Patterns. Five ideas on how new housing could create.

“All the new apartments, but not in front of your own door”: Without more land, cities cannot cope with the housing crisis. Therefore, large cities have communities of the surrounding area, calls for a real estate economist Tobias Just.