Moving Loan Germany 2026
Moving in Germany is expensive. Between the security deposit, professional movers, and new furniture, costs add up fast. A personal loan can cover all of it in one go. Compare offers here for free.
What Is a Moving Loan?
There is no special "moving loan" product in Germany. What people call an Umzugskredit is a standard personal installment loan (Ratenkredit) that you use for relocation expenses. That actually works in your favor: personal loans are one of the most competitive segments in German banking, so rates tend to be reasonable.
You borrow a fixed amount, repay it in equal monthly installments over a period you choose (typically 12 to 84 months), and you can spend the money on whatever your move requires. Deposit, movers, renovation, furniture, double rent during the transition; it all goes into one loan with one monthly payment.
The median interest rate for personal loans in Germany was 6.19% effective per year in February 2026, according to the smava Zinsradar. Your individual rate depends on your income, SCHUFA score, and how long you want to repay.
How Much Does Moving Cost in Germany?
Before you borrow, you need to know what your move will actually cost. Here are real numbers from German moving portals, verified in March 2026:
| Apartment Size | Local Move (same city) | Long Distance (200+ km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 room | 400-700 EUR | 800-1,000 EUR |
| 2 rooms | 700-1,000 EUR | 1,200-1,600 EUR |
| 3 rooms | 900-1,400 EUR | 1,600-2,200 EUR |
| 4 rooms | 1,200-1,800 EUR | 2,200-3,000 EUR |
| 5 rooms / house | 1,800-2,500 EUR | 3,000-4,000 EUR |
Source: umzug-365.de and sirelo.de, March 2026. Prices are for professional moving companies and include transport, loading, and unloading. Packing services cost extra (approximately 30-40 EUR per room according to sirelo.de).
These are just the moving company costs. On top of that, you need to budget for:
- Security deposit (Kaution): up to 3 months cold rent (Section 551 BGB). For a 750 EUR apartment, that is 2,250 EUR upfront.
- Renovation: most German rental contracts require you to repaint when you leave. Materials and labor typically cost 500 to 2,000 EUR.
- New furniture and kitchen: German apartments often come without a kitchen. Budget 1,000 to 5,000 EUR depending on your needs.
- Double rent: if your old and new lease overlap, you pay rent on both apartments for a month or two.
A realistic total for a mid-size move across cities: 5,000 to 10,000 EUR. That is why a personal loan comparison makes sense; borrowing once at a fixed rate is cheaper than juggling overdraft fees and credit card debt.
Compare Moving Loan Offers
Free, SCHUFA-neutral comparison. Enter your loan amount and preferred term to see available offers.
SSL-encrypted | 100% free | DSGVO-compliant | SCHUFA-neutral comparison
Moving Loan vs. Overdraft: Which Is Cheaper?
When the deposit is due and you are short on cash, it is tempting to just use your overdraft (Dispokredit). That works for a few hundred euros over a couple of weeks. For anything larger or longer, a personal loan saves you real money.
| Personal Loan (Ratenkredit) | Overdraft (Dispo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical interest rate | 4-8% eff. per year | Average 11.31% (Verivox, Nov 2025) |
| Fixed rate | Yes, locked for the full term | Variable, bank can change anytime |
| Repayment plan | Fixed monthly installments | No plan, balance can grow |
| Best for | Amounts over 1,000 EUR | Short-term gaps under 500 EUR |
Example: borrowing 3,000 EUR for 12 months via Dispo at 11.31% costs about 340 EUR in interest. The same amount as a personal loan at 6% costs about 98 EUR. That is a 242 EUR difference; enough to pay for your moving boxes and then some.
Security Deposit: Loan vs. Kautionsbuergschaft
The deposit is usually the biggest single expense when moving. Under German law (Section 551 BGB), landlords can ask for up to 3 months of cold rent. You have two options to handle this:
Personal Loan
Borrow the deposit amount, pay the landlord in cash, and repay the loan in monthly installments. When you move out, you get the deposit back (assuming no damage). So you end up with your money returned.
Cost example: 2,500 EUR loan at 6% over 24 months = about 75 EUR total interest.
Kautionsbuergschaft (Deposit Guarantee)
An insurance company guarantees your deposit to the landlord. You pay a yearly fee (typically 3-5% of the deposit amount) instead of putting up cash. The catch: you never get that fee back, even if the apartment is left in perfect condition.
Cost example: 2,500 EUR deposit, 4% yearly fee = 100 EUR per year, every year.
For stays under 2 years, a Kautionsbuergschaft can make sense because the total fees stay below loan interest. For longer stays, a loan is almost always cheaper because you pay it off and eventually get the deposit money back. Compare your options in our paperless loan comparison.
Getting a Moving Loan as an Expat
If you are moving to Germany from abroad, or relocating within Germany as a non-German citizen, the loan process is slightly different. Here is what most banks expect:
- 1Valid residence permit ; a tourist visa is not enough. Banks need to see that you plan to stay in Germany.
- 2German bank account with a DE-IBAN. Your salary needs to be deposited into this account. If you do not have one yet, open it before applying for the loan.
- 3Proof of income ; employment contract plus the last 2-3 payslips. Permanent contracts are preferred, but temporary contracts are accepted if the contract term covers the loan period.
- 4SCHUFA check ; if you are new to Germany, you may not have a SCHUFA record yet. Adding a co-borrower who has lived here longer can help. For more details, check our freelancer loan guide which covers non-standard employment situations.
One practical tip: when you apply, state "moving costs" or "relocation" as the loan purpose. Banks sometimes offer slightly better rates for earmarked loans because the risk profile is clearer.
What to Watch Out For
Payment protection insurance (Restschuldversicherung)
Most banks will try to sell you this during the application. It covers your loan payments if you lose your job or become unable to work. Consumer advocates and the BaFin generally advise against it for standard personal loans. The premiums are high, and the payout conditions tend to be very restrictive. If you want disability coverage, a separate Berufsunfahigkeitsversicherung is usually the better choice.
Early repayment (Sondertilgung)
Under Section 502 BGB, you can repay any consumer loan early. The bank may charge a prepayment penalty of up to 1% of the remaining balance, or 0.5% if less than 12 months remain. Many online lenders waive this fee. If you expect to get your deposit back relatively quickly (because you are moving again), look for a loan with free early repayment.
Borrow the right amount
Calculate all your moving costs before you apply: deposit + movers + renovation + furniture + double rent. It is cheaper to borrow once at a fixed rate than to take multiple smaller loans later. But do not round up excessively; every extra thousand euros costs you real interest over the repayment period.
Tax deduction for job-related moves
If you are moving for work (new job, shorter commute, first job after university), you can deduct moving costs from your taxes. The flat-rate deduction (Umzugskostenpauschale) since March 2024 is 964 EUR for the primary person and 643 EUR for each additional household member. Actual costs above the flat rate can also be deducted with receipts. This does not cover the loan itself, but it offsets some of the moving expenses.
For general borrower rights in Germany, the BaFin consumer information page is a reliable starting point. Also see our emergency loan guide if timing is critical, or the debt consolidation page if you already have existing loans you want to combine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Representative Example (Preisangabenverordnung):
Net loan amount: 3,000 EUR | Term: 24 months | Fixed borrowing rate (Sollzins): 4.79% p.a. | Effective annual interest rate (Effektivzins): 4.90% p.a. | Monthly payment: 131.34 EUR | Total amount payable: 3,152.16 EUR | Source: smava.de, March 2026. Two-thirds of approved customers receive this rate or better (2/3-Zins).
Sources:
- Moving costs: umzug-365.de, sirelo.de (March 2026)
- Median loan rate: smava.de/kredit/zinsen/ (February 2026: 6.19% eff.)
- Overdraft rate: Verivox Dispozins study (November 2025: 11.31% avg.)
- Tax deduction: Umzugskostenpauschale since March 2024, Bundesfinanzministerium (964 EUR primary, 643 EUR per additional person)
- Kaution limit: Section 551 BGB (max 3 months cold rent)
- Early repayment: Section 502 BGB (max 1% / 0.5% penalty)
- Consumer rights: BaFin consumer protection (EN)
CheckAlle.de is an independent comparison platform. We receive a commission from partner banks when a loan is taken out through our comparison tool. This does not affect the interest rate or terms you receive.
Loan offers are provided by partner banks. Interest rates depend on individual creditworthiness, loan amount, and term. The comparison itself is free and SCHUFA-neutral (Konditionsanfrage).