Germany’s cost of living is fairly affordable when compared to other European nations. By 2022, you’ll need about 861 euros per month to live comfortably in Germany. ( Whatever information provided here is of current year 2022. It would vary year to year and student are requested to check with online portals to know prevailing costs)
You will typically need 861 euros a month (or $1,002 USD) or 10,332 euros per year (or $12,024 USD) to meet your living expenses in Germany.
The cost of food, lodging, bills, clothing, and entertainment is essentially in line with the average for the EU. In Germany, your biggest monthly expense is rent.
Tuition fees
The majority of German universities offer free higher education, despite the fact that some have reinstated tuition costs for overseas students. As an international student studying in Germany, you simply have to worry about paying a so-called semester contribution. a set sum of money you pay for particular university services including transportation, office support, sports facilities, dining halls, and so on.
Even though your financial load is much reduced by the tuition-free education in Germany, living expenses still need to be considered. Although it is not expensive to live in Germany as a student, if you take the time to plan where you’ll be living and manage your spending effectively, it will result in significant savings.
The entire cost of living in Germany mostly depends on your lifestyle choices and the area where you choose to live. Rent, groceries, and clothes are more expensive in industrial major cities. In contrast, you might anticipate lower pricing for several goods and services in less crowded places.
You can save a lot of money by selecting the appropriate neighborhood to reside in. Additionally, you can make additional savings by reducing certain extra costs you may have had at home, such as frequent nights out. You may calculate the cost of living in Germany with the aid of the information provided below, and you’ll be able to determine the best ways to do so.
Region of higher cost in Germany
The cost of living in Germany is generally highest in the south. Munich and Stuttgart, two of this region’s main cities, rank among the most costly places to live.
For instance, the average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in Stuttgart is 846.43€, whereas the average cost of renting a comparable flat in Bremen, in northern Germany, is 560€.
In percentage terms, this indicates that Bremen offers apartment rentals at a cost that is more than 30% lower than Stuttgart’s.
Compared to other major German cities or other capital cities in Europe, Berlin is not so pricey. Your upcoming largest expense in Berlin will be your rent.
Average Rent in Germany
Finding a decent house to rent is every student’s top priority and main concern in Germany. Rent is the biggest expense you will have in Germany thus that is why it is used as the primary indicator of how expensive a city is to live in.
Rent in the downtown area is generally more expensive, and trying to manage it on your own while on a student budget is nearly difficult. For this, we advise that you look for a roommate so that you may split the expense of renting the flat. Of course, a lot of students get roommates.
Large cities like Leipzig or Karlsruhe are generally more expensive than smaller cities like Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, and Frankfurt. Prices vary widely depending on where you’re looking to rent an apartment and the kinds of amenities you want.
The cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city’s heart is less than €700 per month. On the other hand, a similar one-bedroom apartment in a less convenient location will run you about €500 per month. Rent will range from €1,000 to €1,500 per month if you’re seeking for a properly furnished, spacious apartment close to the city centre.
Food Cost in Germany
In order to save money, dining at German restaurants won’t be a viable alternative if you’re not very skilled in the kitchen. Instead, you should start learning how to cook on your own. Currently, a supper for two people in a typical restaurant may cost you €45 on average.
A lunch at a smaller restaurant may cost between 8 and 14 euros. Any informal dessert or beverage will almost certainly result in a greater price. For instance, a half-liter of indigenous German beer costs about 3.50 euros as opposed to 3 euros for an imported beer.
You must spend 2.64 euros if you choose a cappuccino rather than a beer. A soda costs 2.17 euros, while a 0.33-liter bottle of water costs 1.77 euros.
You can treat yourself to eating out occasionally, but if your finances are a worry, there are other, better solutions. Universities typically feature a cafeteria and mensa on campus that serve a variety of delicious dishes at affordable prices.
These dining halls have a flexible membership structure that enables students to load a specific amount of money onto their MensaCard and then use that card to purchase meals at a price often less than 5 euros.
Transportation Costs
You’ll be on the move a lot as a student. Everything can become stressful, including rushing to get to class on time, returning to your apartment, meeting a colleague across the city, and going shopping.
You may save time and money by carefully choosing the kind of transportation you will employ.
Your university bus fare will be covered by the semester contribution payment, as was previously specified. If you must use another mode of transportation for any reason, you might find it useful to know how much it might cost you.
Cycling is by far the most efficient way to get from one place to another, especially during rush hour in busy cities. Among your other options for transportation, public transportation is undoubtedly the least expensive.
Currently, a one-way ticket on the neighborhood public transportation system costs around 2 euros. If you frequently use the same line, you may purchase a monthly ticket for, on average, 70€.
The average fare for the first cab is 3.50€, while the price each kilometre ranges from 1.55€ to 2.50€. If you own a car, you should be aware that gas prices might range from 1.25 to 1.49 euros.
Average utilities cost
In addition to home rent, you will have monthly expenses for garbage, water, electricity, and heating. Despite a minor decrease made in 2018, the price of electricity in Germany is regrettably still rather exorbitant.
At the moment, a kilowatt-hour in Germany costs 29.42 cents (CT/kWh). Given this plus the average cost of the additional facilities for an 85 m2 apartment, the overall monthly expense is €215.21.
Of course, you’ll split these costs with your roommates if you do. You may not have to pay additional fees for these utilities because in some situations, these costs are already accounted for in your rent.
Health Insurance costs
The type of insurance plan you select will mostly determine the cost of your health insurance. Germany’s public health insurance, which is required for all citizens, has lower premiums. The government controls the rate of payment required for your public health insurance plan (the GKV). The current premium range for this plan is between 70 and 80 euros per month.
You must get a private health insurance plan, which is typically more expensive, if you want to cover more medical requirements. Since there are numerous distinct packages for various
The type of insurance plan you select will mostly determine the cost of your health insurance. Germany’s public health insurance, which is required for all citizens, has lower premiums. The government controls the rate of payment required for your public health insurance plan (the GKV). The current premium range for this plan is between 70 and 80 euros per month.
You must get a private health insurance plan, which is typically more expensive, if you want to cover more medical requirements. Since there are numerous distinct packages for various individual needs, there are no standard premiums across private health insurance carriers. Even before the firm begins to cover your health, you might agree to a certain monthly cost.
Cost of education in Germany
The 16 states that make up Germany eliminated undergraduate tuition costs at all public German institutions in 2014. This indicates that both domestic and foreign undergraduates presently have access to free education at public institutions in Germany, with only a nominal fee per semester to cover administrative and other costs.
However, this luck might not endure forever. Tuition fees for non-EU students were reinstated in the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg in the fall of 2017, and it’s probable that additional states will do the same in the years to come. In Baden-Württemberg, non-EU students are now required to pay tuition fees of €3,000 (about $3,500) year, while those pursuing a second degree pay a lower charge of €1,300 (roughly $1,600) annually.
Germany has previously been listed as the fourth most popular location in the world for international students, making studying there an appealing option for potential students for the time being (after the US, UK and Australia)
Under Graduate courses fee in Germany
Public German universities allow undergraduates to attend for free, although there is a fee per semester for administration, confirmation, and enrollment. This varies by university but is normally no more than €250 (about US$290) per semester.
A “Semesterticket,” which covers transportation costs for six months, may incur an additional fee; the cost varies based on the Semesterticket option you select. You may also be subject to a long-term fee charge if your study time is more than four semesters; this amount might be as much as €500 (about US$540) every semester.
Private institutions determine their own tuition rates, which can range up to and over €20,000 per year (about US$24,400). They typically rely on tuition fees for income (although some also receive help from foundations).
Both German citizens and EU students, as well as some non-EU citizens under specific circumstances, may apply for financial aid under the Federal Student Financial Aid Program (BAföG: Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz). In general, persons under 30 are eligible for this funding (under 35 if you’re pursuing a master’s degree), although there may be exceptions depending on the situation. The BAföG is often divided in half, with 50% coming in the form of a state grant and the other 50% coming in the form of an interest-free loan that must be repaid in instalments once the maximum time of support has passed.
Cost for Masters and Post Graduate courses
If a master’s degree is considered “consecutive” at a German university, meaning it comes immediately after a relevant bachelor’s degree earned in Germany, it is typically free. A minor fee per semester is required for enrollment, confirmation, administration, as well as a
Semesterticket. For students who have earned their bachelor’s degree elsewhere in the world, tuition costs for “non-consecutive” master’s degrees vary between universities and can range from roughly €20,000 (US$24,400) to up to €30,000 (US$36,600) per year at private German universities.
For instance, tuition for non-consecutive master’s degrees at Germany’s top university, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, ranges from €2,500 (US$3,050) each semester for a Master of Arts in American Studies to €5,000 (US$6,100) per semester for a Master of Medical Education (MME).
All German institutions offer free tuition for the first six semesters of a PhD programme, at least. PhD students must contribute a semester fee for administrative and other fees, which cannot exceed €250, much like students at other levels of study. Learn more about pursuing a PhD in Germany by visiting this page.