Capital: Bremen
Bremen
Bremen is Germany's smallest federal state, consisting of the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven.
- Last updated:
- Editorially reviewed
- Transfer Tax
- 5.5%
- €16,500 on €300,000
- Asking price/m² (median)
- €2,842
- Cold rent/m² (median)
- €10.50
- Gross rental yield (median)
- 4.4%
- No. 3 of 16 states
Asking prices and rents from online listings for apartments, as of November 3, 2026. Not notarised sale prices.
Bremen is Germany's smallest federal state and consists of the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven, with about 707,000 residents between them (end of 2025). The property transfer tax has been 5.5% since 1 July 2025. Rental demand comes from the universities, the aerospace industry and the ports, among others.
Real Estate Market
For many buyers, Bremen is the cheaper alternative to Hamburg. Its economy includes aerospace, food production and logistics. The University of Bremen and several other higher education institutions bring new students to the city every semester. The local valuation board (Gutachterausschuss) lists Schwachhausen, Findorff, Horn-Lehe, Oberneuland, Mitte and Östliche Vorstadt, among others, as central or preferred residential areas; the Viertel lies in the last two of these. Gröpelingen in the west and Huchting in the south of the city are among the other areas.
- About 39,600 people study in the state of Bremen (winter semester 2025/26); many of them look for small apartments or rooms in shared flats
- Asking prices are well below those in Hamburg; the median figures at the top of the page show the current level
Transfer Tax Details
Since 1 July 2025 Bremen has levied a Grunderwerbsteuer of 5.5%; from 2014 until then the rate was 5.0%. On a purchase price of 200,000 euros, this comes to 11,000 euros. The new rate applies to acquisitions from 1 July 2025; as a rule, the date of the notarised purchase contract decides. This puts Bremen level with Hamburg, below Schleswig-Holstein (6.5%) and mid-range among the states. Notary and land registry fees add about 1 to 1.5% of the price.
Investment Cities
The state consists of two cities with different profiles. The city of Bremen, with about 588,000 residents, is the larger market.
- Bremen City: Neighborhoods ranging from preferred areas like Schwachhausen to Gröpelingen in the west of the city
- Bremerhaven: A port city at the mouth of the Weser with the Havenwelten waterfront; its population has stayed at about 118,500 since 2022
- Überseestadt: Bremen's former harbor area on the Weser, being converted into a district with homes, offices and businesses
- Bremen-Neustadt: A district south of the Weser; the valuation board lists Alte Neustadt as a preferred residential area
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property transfer tax in Bremen?
Since 1 July 2025 Bremen charges a Grunderwerbsteuer of 5.5% (previously 5.0%). That is mid-range among German federal states.
Is Bremen a good city for rental property investment?
In favor of rental investment are about 39,600 students in the state and purchase prices below the Hamburg level. The current gross rental yield for Bremen is shown at the top of this page. It covers the whole state, and individual neighborhoods differ from it considerably.
How does Bremen compare to Hamburg for property investment?
Asking prices are much lower in Bremen than in Hamburg, and the gross rental yield is higher according to the median figures on the two state pages. Hamburg is the much larger market, with about 1.87 million residents; the state of Bremen has about 707,000. For a specific apartment, compare purchase price, rent and additional costs.
Cities with the highest yield in Bremen
Gross rental yield of cities with at least 30 listings for sale.
Check an apartment in Bremen
A city's median says little about a single apartment. Enter the address, price and rent to see cash flow, net yield and taxes.