German Phrase
Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete drin?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether the additional costs (water, heating, electricity, etc.) are already included in the monthly rent. It is a typical clarification when looking at a rental offer.
When to use
Use this question when you are viewing an apartment, reading a housing advertisement, or negotiating a lease and need to know if you will have to pay utilities on top of the base rent.
✦Grammar Breakdown
SinddieNebenkosteninderMietedrin?
Verb 'sein' (3rd pl.)
‘Sind’ is the present‑tense 3rd person plural form of ‘sein’, used here to form a yes/no question.
Definite article with plural noun
‘die Nebenkosten’ uses the plural definite article ‘die’ because ‘Nebenkosten’ (additional costs) is a plural noun.
Preposition ‘in’ + dative
‘in der Miete’ is a prepositional phrase; ‘in’ governs the dative case, so ‘die Miete’ becomes ‘der Miete’.
Colloquial adverb ‘drin’
‘drin’ is a colloquial short form of ‘darin’ meaning ‘inside/contained’. It works like ‘enthalten’ in formal speech.
Question word order
In German yes/no questions the finite verb moves to the first position, followed by the subject.
🗨In Conversation
Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete drin?
Are the utilities included in the rent?
Ja, Heizung, Wasser und Müllabfuhr sind bereits enthalten.
Yes, heating, water and waste collection are already included.
✕Common Mistakes
Sind die Nebenkosten in die Miete drin?
‘in’ requires dative here, so the correct form is ‘in der Miete’, not accusative ‘die’.
Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete drinnen?
While ‘drinnen’ is understandable, native speakers prefer the short ‘drin’ in this fixed expression.
Nebenkosten sind in der Miete drin?
Missing the verb‑subject inversion for a yes/no question; the verb must be first.
↔Alternatives
Sind die Nebenkosten bereits in der Miete enthalten?
Are the additional costs already included in the rent?
Sind die Betriebskosten im Mietpreis inbegriffen?
Are the operating costs part of the rent?
Müssen die Nebenkosten extra bezahlt werden?
Do the utilities have to be paid separately?
Cultural Tip
In Germany, ‘Nebenkosten’ (often called ‘Betriebskosten’) are usually listed separately from the ‘Kaltmiete’. Some landlords include them as a ‘Warmmiete’, but it’s essential to ask for a clear breakdown because the amount can vary seasonally, especially for heating. Always request a detailed ‘Nebenkostenabrechnung’ at the end of the year to verify the charges.