Living Cost in Germany | Expenses for International Students

1. Berlin

• Why it’s great for students: Berlin is known for its rich culture, affordable living, and extensive public transportation system. It’s home to a diverse and vibrant student community.
• Average Rent: €700-€1,200 per month (city center).
• Highlights: A hub for art, music, and history, with a plethora of museums, galleries, and cultural events. Plus, many universities offer English-taught programs.

2. Munich

• Why it’s great for students: Munich offers a high quality of life, numerous job opportunities, and some of the country's top-ranked universities. Although rent is on the higher side, the city’s lifestyle and work prospects make it a great choice for many.
• Average Rent: €1,200-€1,800 per month (city center).
• Highlights: Home to world-class institutions, beautiful parks like the English Garden, and rich cultural events. Students can enjoy the famous Oktoberfest and vibrant nightlife.

3. Leipzig

• Why it’s great for students: Known for its low living costs and growing student population, Leipzig is gaining recognition as a student-friendly city. It has a thriving arts and music scene.
• Average Rent: €400-€600 per month (city center).
• Highlights: A dynamic student scene, affordable living, and a variety of cultural events. It’s an excellent choice for students who want to live in an up-and-coming city.

5. Freiburg

• Why it’s great for students: Known for its sustainable living practices and beautiful surroundings, Freiburg is an eco-friendly city with a relaxed vibe.
• Average Rent: €600-€1,000 per month (city center).
• Highlights: Close to the Black Forest, which is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. The city is also known for its green spaces, student activism, and beautiful medieval architecture.

6. Cologne

• Why it’s great for students: Cologne is an international city with a large student population and a diverse cultural scene. The city is affordable and has one of the most affordable transport systems.
• Average Rent: €600-€1,000 per month (city center).
• Highlights: Home to a stunning cathedral (Kölner Dom), and renowned museums and galleries. Cologne is a lively city for students, with many bars, cafés, and shops.

7. Düsseldorf

• Why it’s great for students: Düsseldorf is known for its strong economy, vibrant art scene, and excellent public transport. It’s ideal for students who want to study in a city that blends modernity with tradition.
• Average Rent: €700-€1,100 per month (city center).
• Highlights: The Altstadt (Old Town) is famous for its nightlife and pubs. Düsseldorf is also a hub for fashion and the arts, making it attractive to students with creative interests.

8. Stuttgart

• Why it’s great for students: Stuttgart is a center of industry and innovation, particularly in engineering and technology. It’s home to Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, making it a great city for students pursuing engineering and automotive studies.
• Average Rent: €800-€1,200 per month (city center).
• Highlights: With beautiful parks and vineyards, Stuttgart offers a quieter lifestyle than larger cities like Munich, and it has lots of green space for students to enjoy.

9. Heidelberg

• Why it’s great for students: Known for its world-renowned university, Heidelberg is a small but charming city with a very international student population.
• Average Rent: €700-€1,100 per month (city center).
• Highlights: A beautiful, historic city with plenty of green spaces, walking trails, and a youthful atmosphere. It’s home to Germany’s oldest university and has a strong academic reputation.

10. Mainz

• Why it’s great for students: Mainz is a small, vibrant city located on the banks of the Rhine River. Known for its printing history (home of Gutenberg), Mainz is a student-friendly city with a laid-back atmosphere.
• Average Rent: €500-€800 per month (city center).

Highlights: A mix of modern culture and historical significance. It’s a smaller city, so it offers a more peaceful and affordable environment, with access to nearby Frankfurt.

Generally speaking, the south of Germany is the most expensive region in Germany in terms of living costs. In this region, Munich and Stuttgart are two major cities where the cost of living is the most expensive.

For example, the average rental one-bedroom apartment in Stuttgart city center will cost you €1,157. A similar apartment in the northern German city of Bremen costs €841 on average.

Percentage-wise, this means that renting an apartment in Bremen is 27.3% cheaper than in Stuttgart.

Berlin Remains Cheaper Than Other European Capitals

Berlin, the capital of Germany, is getting more and more expensive to live in due to the growing number of residents. The average cost of renting a small one-bedroom apartment in the city is currently about €1,231 per month.

Berlin is still more affordable than many other major European capitals, though. Rent prices here are 14.3% lower than in Paris, 54% lower than in London, 42.7% lower than in Amsterdam, and 47.3% lower than in Zurich.

Saarbrucken, Dresden, and Leipzig are among the Most Affordable in Germany

Other eastern German cities around Berlin are mostly cheaper than their counterparts in the south. Leipzig and Dresden are, in fact, some of the most affordable cities to live in Germany.

For example, rent in Leipzig is cheaper than in Stuttgart by over 38.7%, albeit their population size is similar. Dresden, as well, is similar in size, and rent costs 37.1% less than in Stuttgart.

Saarbrucken is the cheapest among major cities. It’s smaller in population size (around 180,000 inhabitants), but compared to Heidelberg (which has an even smaller population size), rent is 51.1% lower

Another way to compare the cost of living in different German regions is by looking at the largest cities in Germany’s main metropolitan areas.

• Hamburg
• Berlin
• Cologne (Rhine-Ruhr)
• Frankfurt (Frankfurt/Rhine-Main)
• Munich

Based on these categories, Munich and Frankfurt share the top spot for the most expensive, followed by Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne.

However, the biggest chunk of monthly expenses for the average German goes to rent.

In this category, these cities rank as follows (from most expensive to least):

1. Munich
2. Frankfurt
3. Berlin
4. Hamburg
5. Cologne

We calculated the cost of a grocery bill with these items: 1L milk, 1 loaf of white bread, 1kg white rice, 12 eggs, 1kg chicken fillets, 1kg apples, 1kg bananas, 1kg tomatoes, 1kg potatoes, 1kg onions, 1 head lettuce, and a 0.5L bottle of local beer.

Where you choose to buy your groceries will make or break your monthly budget. If you walk into the wrong store for your daily essentials, you will burn through your Blocked Account funds much faster than necessary. Let us break down the local supermarket landscape, so you know exactly where to go on your first day.

The Discounters: Your Everyday Budget Savers

If you want to keep your living costs strictly within budget, Aldi and Lidl are your main targets. They do not bother with fancy store displays; instead, they pass those operational savings directly to you.

• Aldi: This is your absolute baseline for cheap, high-quality private-label goods. To give you an idea of the math,

Typical Prices:

Milk (1 liter): €0.79
Eggs (10-pack): €1.99
Bread (500g): €1.00
Apples (1 kg): €2.49

• Lidl: Aldi's biggest rival operates on the same logic but often features a slightly larger fresh bakery and meat section. The Standard Markets: Better Selection, Higher Prices.

Typical Prices:
Milk (1 liter): €0.89
Eggs (10-pack): €2.49
Bread (500g): €1.20
Chicken Breast (1 kg): €6.99

You will eventually need a specific ingredient that the discounters simply do not carry, especially if you are cooking international dishes from back home. That is when you step up to the mid-tier and premium stores.

• Rewe: This is a highly reliable middle ground. They stock a massive variety of name brands and international products. Naturally, the prices creep up a bit to match the variety. 

Typical Prices:
Milk (1 liter): €0.99
Eggs (10-pack): €2.39
Bread (500g): €1.20
Tomatoes (1 kg): €2.49

• Edeka: Consider this the highest tier for your daily shopping. The stores are well-designed, the organic produce selection is massive, but you definitely pay a premium for the experience. Locals always advise students to only shop here for specific specialty items, not their bulk weekly staples.

Typical Prices:
Milk (1 liter): €1.09
Eggs (10-pack): €2.99
Bread (500g): €1.50
Cheese (200g block): €2.00

The Hypermarket Option

• Kaufland: If your city has a Kaufland nearby, take full advantage of it. It operates like a massive superstore selling both groceries and general household items. Because of their sheer size, their prices compete directly with the discounters. It is the perfect place to do a massive, cheap haul once a month.

Typical Prices:
Milk (1 liter): €0.85
Eggs (10-pack): €2.19
Bread (500g): €1.30
Potatoes (1 kg): €1.49

What You Actually Pay to Eat Out in Germany

Sitting down at a restaurant here adds up fast. If you go out with a friend, even a casual place—say, an Italian spot or a beer hall—usually leaves you with a bill around €65. It is not fine dining, just normal dinner pricing.
That is why you see so many students walking around with Döner kebabs. It is the unofficial student meal. You get a sandwich loaded with meat and veggies for about €15, and it actually fills you up.
Drinks are where they get you. A half-liter of beer runs close to €4.50. If you are not drinking, a cappuccino is around €3.55. Even a small bottle of water or a soda will cost you. It adds up before the food even arrives.
If you are used to eating out often, Germany might force you to adjust. Most students here learn to cook because doing it yourself is the difference between saving money and watching it disappear.

What Groceries Actually Cost 

Here’s an overview of the typical grocery prices for some common items in Germany. Keep in mind that prices can vary depending on the city and the store:

Item	Average Price
Milk (1 liter)	€0.79 - €1.09
Eggs (10-pack)	€1.99 - €2.99
Bread (500g)	€1.00 - €1.50
Chicken Breast (1 kg)	€6.00 - €8.00
Apples (1 kg)	€2.49 - €3.50
Potatoes (1 kg)	€1.49 - €2.00
Cheese (200g block)	€1.50 - €3.00
Tomatoes (1 kg)	€2.49 - €3.00
Pasta (500g)	€0.69 - €1.00
Coffee (500g)	€2.99 - €4.99

Healthcare System

The healthcare system in Germany is one of the best in the world. It provides high-quality medical care, advanced hospitals, and mandatory health insurance for everyone, including international students and workers. Before moving to Germany, it’s important to understand how the system works.

Structure of the German Healthcare System

Germany has a universal healthcare system, meaning everyone must have health insurance.

There are two main types of health insurance:

Insurance Type	German Name	Who Uses It
Public health insurance	Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV)	Most students and employees
Private health insurance	Private Krankenversicherung (PKV)	High-income earners and some freelancers

About 90% of people use public health insurance.

Major public insurers include:

• Techniker Krankenkasse
• AOK
• Barmer
• DAK-Gesundheit

Health Insurance for International Students

Health insurance is mandatory for student visas and university enrollment.

Student Health Insurance Cost

Age	Monthly Cost
Under 30 years	€120 – €140
Over 30 years	€160 – €220

This insurance covers most medical services.

What Public Health Insurance Covers

Public insurance usually covers:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital treatment
• Prescription medicines
• Mental health services
• Pregnancy care
• Emergency treatment

Example Coverage

Medical Service	Coverage
General doctor visit	Fully covered
Hospital stay	Mostly covered
Prescription medicine	Small co-payment
Dental basic treatment	Partially covered
Emergency services	Fully covered

Doctors and Medical Care

Healthcare services are delivered through different types of doctors.

Types of Medical Providers
 

Provider	Role
General practitioner (GP)	First contact doctor
Specialists	Dermatologist, cardiologist, etc.
Hospitals	Major treatments and surgeries
Pharmacies	Medication and advice

Students often visit a general practitioner first before seeing specialists.

Hospitals in Germany

Germany has over 1,900 hospitals with modern medical technology.

Hospitals can be:

Type	Description
Public hospitals	Government-run
Non-profit hospitals	Often run by charities
Private hospitals	Privately owned

Emergency departments provide 24/7 medical care.

Emergency Healthcare

Important emergency numbers:

Emergency Service	Number
Ambulance / medical emergency	112
Police	110

Emergency services are available nationwide and very reliable.

Pharmacies (Apotheke)

Pharmacies are called Apotheke in Germany.

Key features:

• Highly trained pharmacists
• Prescription medication is available only with a doctor’s prescription
• Many pharmacies offer consultation and health advice

Healthcare Quality

Germany consistently ranks among the top healthcare systems globally due to:

• Highly trained medical professionals
• Advanced hospitals and research
• Universal health insurance coverage
• Short waiting times compared to many countries

Mental Health Services

Germany offers good mental health support.

Covered services include:

• psychotherapy
• psychiatric treatment
• counseling services at universities

However, waiting times for therapy can sometimes be longer.

Digital Health Services

Healthcare is becoming increasingly digital.

Examples include:

• electronic prescriptions
• online doctor appointments
• health insurance mobile apps

Some insurers like Techniker Krankenkasse offer digital health services.

Healthcare Costs Without Insurance

Healthcare in Germany can be very expensive without insurance.

Medical Service	Approximate Cost
Doctor visit	€50 – €150
Hospital stay (per day)	€300 – €1,000
Surgery	€2,000 – €20,000

This is why health insurance is legally required.

Advantages of the German Healthcare System

Major benefits include:

• Universal access to healthcare
• High-quality hospitals and doctors
• Comprehensive insurance coverage
• Strong medical research and innovation

Important Things to Know Before Moving

Before arriving in Germany, students should:

• Arrange health insurance before visa application
• Carry insurance documents
• Register with a local doctor
• Know emergency numbers (112)

Simple Summary

The healthcare system in Germany is based on mandatory health insurance, mainly through public insurance providers. It provides high-quality medical care, modern hospitals, and comprehensive coverage for residents, including international students.

Students typically pay around €120–€140 per month for health insurance, which covers most healthcare services.