Cost of Living in Germany

Cost of Living in Germany

Germany is one of the premier destination for travelers, businesspeople, and students in western Europe, and even across the globe. Home to a few key metropolitan centers, including Berlin, which ranked number 12 on a list of 27 cities of global opportunity, the country has been a center for business development and scientific discovery for decades.

With over 300,000 international students calling it home, Germany is witnessing an increase in interest from international students across the globe. Despite its ranking of 26 when it comes to the most expensive countries in the world in terms of cost of living, Germany continues to attract people of all ages and backgrounds to its cities and institutes.

Germany uses the Euro, one of the strongest currencies in the world, which compares to the US Dollar at a ratio of approximately 1:1.2. This makes it one of the more expensive countries to live in. However, for many students who choose to remain in Germany after they graduate, this translates to higher wages and salary.

So, what exactly should students in the country expect to spend? On average, here is what you should plan for:

One Year of Study in the Czech Republic

Germany ranks in the top 10 in terms of most popular international study destinations, yet attending a university in the country will certainly not break the bank. At most universities, in fact, enrolling in a German university will not even touch the bank, so to speak. German public universities, which make up over 95% of the country’s nearly 400 higher education institutes, offer tuition-free education for all students, including non-EU, international ones.

A few of the country’s regions, however, are beginning to re-introduce tuition fees, which were first revoked in 2011, and abolished across the country in 2014. Students looking at one of eight universities in the German state of Baden-Württemberg will be looking at tuition rates at a set price of 3000EUR/year. Not bad, all things considered.

Additionally, students in graduate or postgraduate programs will likely have tuition fees attached to their degrees. To learn more, check out “Cost of Studying in Germany” [link to article].

Overall Cost of Living in Germany

Students make decisions each day that will affect their overall cost of living in a country: where they live, eat, socialize, study; how they get from work to school to home; how they spend their weekends or days off. All of these have significant impacts on a student’s budget.

Germany, located in Western Europe, has a higher cost of living than many of its eastern neighbors. However, it is possible to live in the country on a budget. In addition to low, if not free, tuition rates at most universities, students can also benefit from flat-sharing, public transport, low-cost (but delicious) eateries, and more.

For a quick list of what to expect when living in Germany, see the chart below: