Wohngeld Rent Levels 2026 – Table I-VII & Bochum (Level III)
Rent levels (Mietstufen) for Wohngeld: All 7 levels (I-VII) overview. Bochum in Mietstufe III – maximum amounts, comparison & impact on your Wohngeld ✓
What Are Rent Levels and How Do They Work?
The classification of municipalities into rent levels is carried out by the federal states based on the local rent level. Mietstufe I applies to municipalities with the lowest rent level, Mietstufe VII to those with the highest. The classification is regularly reviewed and adjusted if necessary. The higher the rent level, the higher the maximum eligible rent amounts – and the higher your Wohngeld can be.
Bochum: Mietstufe III
The city of Bochum is classified in Mietstufe III. This means that rents in Bochum are in the middle range in a nationwide comparison. For your Wohngeld calculation, this means: the maximum limits for eligible rent are at a medium level. Cities with Mietstufe I (e.g. rural areas in eastern Germany) have lower maximum limits, cities with Mietstufe VII (e.g. Munich) have significantly higher limits.
Mietstufen I to VII – The Nationwide Overview
Germany is divided into seven Mietstufen (rent levels). The Mietstufe determines the maximum eligible rent for the Wohngeld calculation. The higher the Mietstufe, the higher the maximum amounts – and the more Wohngeld is possible.
- I — Mietstufe I: Municipalities with very low rent levels (rural regions in eastern Germany)
- II — Mietstufe II: Municipalities with low rent levels (some eastern German and structurally weak regions)
- III — Mietstufe III: Municipalities with medium rent levels – Bochum and many cities in the Ruhr area
- IV — Mietstufe IV: Municipalities with elevated rent levels (medium-sized western German cities)
- V — Mietstufe V: Municipalities with high rent levels (major cities like Hanover, Bremen)
- VI — Mietstufe VI: Municipalities with very high rent levels (Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne)
- VII — Mietstufe VII: Municipalities with exceptionally high rent levels (Munich city center)
Bochum in the Mietstufen Comparison
With Mietstufe III, Bochum is in the national midfield. This is more favorable than in major cities like Cologne (VI) or Hamburg (VI), but higher than in rural regions of eastern Germany (I–II). For you, this means: The maximum amounts for eligible rent are moderate – with rising rents in Bochum, this can become a disadvantage if your actual rent exceeds the maximum amount.
Maximum Rent Limits in Bochum
The following overview shows the approximate monthly maximum limits for gross rent (Bruttokaltmiete) by household size in Bochum (Mietstufe III). Please note that the values may change due to regular adjustments:
- 👤 1 person: approx. €370 – €420 per month
- 👥 2 persons: approx. €450 – €510 per month
- 👨👩👦 3 persons: approx. €540 – €610 per month
- 👨👩👧👦 4 persons: approx. €630 – €710 per month
- 👨👩👧👦+ 5 persons: approx. €720 – €820 per month (each additional person: + approx. €90)
Note: The exact values are regularly adjusted by statutory instrument. The Wohngeld office uses the current values.
What Counts as Rent?
For the Wohngeld calculation, the gross rent (Bruttokaltmiete) is decisive. This consists of: the net rent (basic rent), plus cold service charges (e.g. water, wastewater, refuse collection, building cleaning, garden maintenance, insurance, property management). Not included in the gross rent are: heating costs, hot water costs and electricity costs. If your actual gross rent exceeds the maximum limit, only the maximum limit is used in the calculation.
What Influence Does the Rent Level Have on My Wohngeld?
The rent level directly affects the amount of your Wohngeld. A higher rent level means higher maximum limits and thus potentially more Wohngeld – however, you must also actually pay this higher rent. The rent level alone therefore does not determine your entitlement but is one factor among several.
Mietstufen Adjustment Through the Wohngeld Reform
With the Wohngeld reform 2023 (Wohngeld-Plus), the maximum amounts in all Mietstufen were significantly increased. The next scheduled adjustment of Mietstufen and maximum amounts will be made by statutory order. Find out more about current changes on our reform page.
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