Cost of living in Germany for international students is one of the major concerns for students planning to study abroad. But, here’s the good news, studying in Germany is pretty economical. When you compare the student living cost in Germany with other European countries like the UK or France, you will see a huge difference.
As an international student in Germany, if you plan your expenses in advance, your monthly expenses will range anywhere between €850 - €1,200, depending upon your lifestyle. Therefore, to smartly plan your expenditure we have curated a detailed blog on the cost of living in Germany for Indian students!
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A Snapshot of Germany Living Cost for International Students
The average cost of living in Germany for Indian students depends upon a number of factors. Before we discuss it in detail, let’s take a quick overview of the living expenses in Germany for Indian students -
|
Factor |
Expense / Month (in EUR) |
Expenses / Month (in INR) |
|
Rent |
200 - 1,100 |
15,000-38,000 |
|
Food, Restaurant Charges and more |
50 - 150 |
4,000-12,000 |
|
Transportation |
30 - 90 |
2,385-7,195 |
|
Shopping |
50 and upwards |
4,000 |
|
Medical Expenses |
70 and upwards |
5,000 |
Note: All the costs in this article are rough estimates. Costs vary based on a lot of factors like location, universities, lifestyle etc.
Therefore, the average monthly expenses in Germany for students ranges between €850 - €1,200 per month. This cost however, does not include the tuition or other kind of education fee.
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Types of Germany Living Expenses for Students
The student cost of living in Germany is based on your accommodation type, the number of times you eat at a restaurant etc. As an international student, you obviously will be tempted to explore the country, cuisine etc. And to spend on your first year, you can withdraw about €850 every month from your Germany blocked account. Thus, keep in mind that the costs mentioned above are the basic expenses you will incur regularly.
To understand your expense structure further, let’s discuss each of them in detail:
Rent
The main student living cost in Germany for international students is the accommodation cost. Your expenses as a student vary depending upon the kind of accommodation and location you choose to reside. Living in Germany is the most expensive in Munich and Stuttgart. Whereas, living in Dortmund can be pretty reasonable.
The average cost of living in Germany in rented accommodation per month is:
|
German City |
Average Rent in Germany (in EUR) |
|
Aachen |
535 |
|
Augsburg |
613.57 |
|
Berlin |
790 |
|
Bochum |
400 |
|
Bonn |
650 |
|
Cologne |
700- 800 |
|
Dresden |
500 |
|
Frankfurt |
860 - 870 |
|
Hamburg |
800 - 868 |
|
Leipzig |
500 |
|
Mainz |
650 |
|
Munich |
1,000- 1,200 |
|
Stuttgart |
850 |
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Food and Outings
Leaving your home and moving miles away to another country implies that you will have to manage your meals. Be it if you need to cook or go to a restaurant. Although, one thing that you need to remember is that spending on food in a restaurant on a daily basis will be very expensive for you as a student. Therefore, cooking for yourself is the best way to keep your expenses in check in Germany.
|
The cost of living in Germany for Indian students is also conveniently manageable as a few Indian stores are available to provide them with spices and other ingredients to cook authentic Indian food and save money. |
Average Cost in Germany on Food and Beverages is -
|
Item |
Cost (in EUR) |
|
White bread (500g) |
1.24 |
|
Milk (1 litre) |
0.75 |
|
Eggs (12) |
1.64 |
|
Rice (1kg, white) |
2.03 |
|
Potato (1kg) |
1.06 |
|
Onion (1kg) |
1.09 |
|
Tomato (1kg) |
2.62 |
|
Chicken (1kg) |
7.53 |
|
Beef (1kg) |
11.65 |
|
Apples (1kg) |
2.22 |
|
Banana (1kg) |
1.58 |
|
Oranges (1kg) |
2.29 |
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Transportation
The cost of living in Germany for international students also includes the cost of commuting around the city. But, the good news is, travelling across Germany and in the cities of Germany is very convenient. Students use a bicycle to move around easily in the city. Germany’s public transport services are well-planned and well connected with trains and buses. And so, the cost of living for Indian students in Germany aren’t highly impacted by their transportation charges.
In addition to the easy cheap transportation across the city, round tickets to travel across Europe come in handy to international students. Many international students have hassle-free travel because of the easy and low-cost transportation systems.
|
Mode of Transportation |
Cost (in EUR) |
|
Bus |
70/per month |
|
Train |
19 - 50 |
|
Taxi |
3.50 Upwards |
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Shopping
As an international student, you will for sure be excited by everything available for you in Germany. Be it the fashion parade of trendy clothes, the delicious desserts or even a pair of branded shoes, the list goes on. Even if you succeed in controlling your urge of buying a whole mall, you will still spend about €100+ every month on shopping.
(Sensibly speaking) Examining your needs and wants will further help you prioritise your living cost in Germany as a student. By doing so, the living expenses in Germany for international students reduces and the same amount helps them cater to much wiser needs.
|
Pro tip: Every time you decide to shop, remember the luggage limitations you will have as an international student. |
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Health Insurance Charges
Living cost in Germany for international students include the cost of personal health insurance. Foreign students are required to have mandatory health insurance to get a German student visa. It is important to have a health coverage plan to secure yourself in Germany while studying.
There are two types of insurances you can sign up for :
|
Public health insurance plan: €70 - €80/month |
|
Private health insurance plan: €400 - €500/month |
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Other Expenses
The above regular expenses will definitely be a part of your monthly expenses in Germany. Although, there will be other additional expenses such as your phone bills, internet charges, recreational expenses and more. This expense is subjective to a student's interest and so can vary.
Implying that if you are an avid reader, you will spend on books often. Whereas, if you’re a gamer, you will be interested in buying the latest gaming equipment in Germany.
Summing Up: Cost of Living for Students in Germany
As mentioned above the cost of living in Germany for students is greatly affected by the type of accommodation, lifestyle and modes of living they opt for. If you opt for a lavish lifestyle, living in an expensive city like Munich, shopping and visiting restaurants often, your monthly expenses in Germany will definitely shoot up. Whereas, if you budget your expenses and spend accordingly, you will have an affordable life in Germany.
For instance, let’s look at the cost of living in Germany for indian students:
- admitted to a German university
- living in a university accommodation facility
- Using public transport
|
Factor |
Expense (in EUR) |
Expenses (in INR) |
|
Rent |
900 |
70,000 |
|
Food, Restaurant Charges and more |
150 |
12,000 |
|
Transportation |
70 |
5,565 |
|
Shopping |
100 |
8,000 |
|
Medical expenses |
70 |
5,565 |
|
Total |
1,290 |
1,00,000 |
The above table shows the minimum expenditure you will incur while living in Germany. However, the costs change depending on the city you live in. This means that some cities in Germany are affordable while others may be expensive.
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Living Expenses in Germany for International Students: Based on Cities and Suburbs
As we are on the topic of discussion of the cost of living in Germany it is important to address that where you stay in Germany matters. Despite the fact that Berlin is the capital city of Germany, it is still an economic city for students. Whereas, cities like Munich and Stuttgart are considered to be very expensive.
Let’s elaborate on the same by comparing two of the most popular student cities in Germany:
|
Factors of Living |
Munich |
Frankfurt |
|
Rent |
€1,000 - €1,200 |
€350+ |
|
Restaurant |
€12+ |
€8+ |
|
Milk |
€0.84 |
€0.75 |
|
Beer |
€3.80 |
€0.60 |
|
Bread |
€1.43 |
€0.62 |
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The above table reflects the cost variation that students witness while living in different cities. Therefore, we suggest you choose the city you wish to study in considering the expenses you will incur. It is also an added advantage if you plan your stay by consulting an expert to help you manage your expenses in Germany better.
Germany Living Expenses for Students: Public vs Private Universities
The cost of living for a student in Germany is also very much dependent on the university chosen. Germany has majorly two types of universities: public and private.
As per the German government rules and regulations, state higher education institutions or public universities in Germany offer international students with a zero tuition fee policy (0-3,000 EUR per annum), heavily impacting the student cost of living in Germany.
Private universities in Germany, on the other hand offer courses at a higher tuition fee ranging between 10,000 EUR to 35,000 EUR per annum.
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5 Money-Saving Hacks in Germany for International Students
Saving money in Germany for students is quite easy. To promote a student-friendly atmosphere, Germany offers attractive discounts for international students living in the country. Speaking about a few of them:
- Student Discounts: Many attractive student discounts are laid throughout the year on clothes, gadgets etc for students in Germany. Hence, take advantage of this and spend wisely.
- Transportation Cards: Regular travellers can buy a transportation card to reduce their travelling expenses. This is a great way to save money on your commute.
- Scholarships: Getting student scholarships in Germany is a great way to cover your Germany living costs. Look out for your available options and apply.
- Seasonal Sales: Seasonal sales are very popular in European countries. These shopping sales will allow you to shop whole-heartedly in Germany at a cheaper price.
- Part-time Jobs: The last but not the least way to manage your finances in Germany is to take up a part-time job. Earning a part-time wage will allow you to save the blocked account amount for further use. This way, you will be able to secure yourself for the second year of living in Germany.
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The cost of living in Germany for an international student is a game of planning and managing. Having a budget, signing up for part-time jobs for international students in Germany and scholarships will keep you at ease. In addition to that, your first year in Germany is certainly going to be stress-free because of your German blocked bank account. Planning your life as a student studying abroad can be challenging. However, the rules and measures taken by the German colleges help you ease your student life. Moreover, if you need any assistance that can ease your preparation journey, we recommend you to connect with our Yocket Professionals.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Cost of Living for Students in Germany
Ques. Is Germany cheap for Students?
Ans. Germany is definitely one of the cheapest student countries. The cost of studying in Germany is much lower than that of studying in countries such as the USA or the UK.
Ques. How much does it cost for Indian students to live in Germany?
Ans. For an Indian student, the average cost of living in Germany can vary between 72,000 to 90,000 INR per month.
Ques. What are the cheapest student cities in Germany?
Ans. The cheapest student cities in Germany include -
- Leipzig
- Dresden
- Bochum
- Jena
- Berlin