Given that Germany is the economic engine of Europe, it is not surprising that many foreigners move there in search of employment. It’s also the ideal place to go as an international student because it has world-class universities, many of which provide free tuition. Lately, retiring in Germany is becoming more and more popular among foreigners because several locations provide pleasantly low expenses of living along with good amenities and infrastructure.
It’s helpful to know how much living in Germany will cost you as an outsider, whether you’re retiring, starting a job, moving there temporarily or permanently. At the same time, also remember to stay ready with essential forex cards like Niyo Global card to avoid any hindrance while paying during your stay there. It becomes really challenging to choose among cards as some provides lounge access, others are good with conversion and some are available with access in several countries and this is why my preference is Niyo Travel Card above all.
An Overview of Living Expenses in Germany for an Indian Family
The average cost of living is the first consideration when deciding to relocate to another country.
The cost of living in Germany differs depending on the city where you live and work. Compared to Munich and Berlin—the tech and startup hotspots—the cost of living in a large city like Augsburg is far lower.
To give you a general sense of your daily expenses in Germany, here is a quick guide about the average cost of living in Germany for an Indian family.
| Common Expenses | Cost |
| Accomodation | ₹25,000-₹35,000 |
| Food & Groceries | ₹3,500 per week |
| Transportation | ₹2,700 |
| Household Bills | ₹3,500-₹4,500 |
| Entertainment | ₹3,500-₹4,500 |
| Miscellaneous | ₹15,000 |
Accommodation
In Germany, a two-bedroom apartment will run anywhere between ₹90,000 and ₹100,000 in Berlin, and above ₹1.2 lakh in Munich. including maintenance and heating expenditures.
These are known as “nebenkosten” and are a portion of your monthly rent. This amount depends on how often you use the heating system and other services. It’s crucial to remember that, in addition to the monthly rent, you must also pay two months’ worth of rent upfront when renting an apartment (in general).
The average cost of living in Germany differs from city to city.
| Berlin | ₹1,29,319 |
| Munich | ₹1,93,979 |
| Frankfurt | ₹1,46,562 |
| Bremen(North) | ₹75,000 |
| Stuttgart | ₹50,000 |
An estate agent is your best bet for finding a rental flat in Germany. Check how you can pay these fees before signing a contract because the landlord is responsible for paying estate agent fees. Monthly rent payments are made. Typically, the billing of these services is separate: utilities, television, broadband, and garbage removal.
Grocery
You can expect to spend a significant amount of your salary on groceries, especially with Indian food.In Germany, you can buy weekly at budget supermarkets like Lidl.For instance, if you are a north Indian and enjoy eating chapati twice a day, you will undoubtedly get wheat flour from the Indian or Pakistani stores in your neighbourhood.
Don’t be shocked if they ask you to pay 10 Euros (₹900) for 5 kg of wheat flour.
You’ll need to budget approximately 100 euros (₹9,000) monthly for purchases from the Indian grocery stores.
| South | East | North | West | |
| White bread (500g) | 1.43€ -1 | 1.27€-3 | 1.27€ -3 | 1.29€ – 2 |
| Restaurant meal | 12.25€ – 1 | 8.00€ – 4 | 10€ – 3 | 12€ – 2 |
| Milk (1litre) | 0.84€ – 1 | 0.79€ – 2 | 0.71€ – 4 | 0.77€ – 3 |
| Eggs (12) | 1.71€ – 3 | 1.77€ – 2 | 1.78€ – 1 | 1.61€ – 4 |
| Rice (1kg, white) | 2.14€ – 2 | 1.79€- 4 | 2.15€ – 1 | 1.97€ – 3 |
| Tomato (1kg) | 2.82€ – 1 | 2.62€ – 3 | 2.61€ – 4 | 2.64€ – 2 |
| Potato (1kg) | 1.00€ – 4 | 1.32€ – 1 | 1.04€ – 3 | 1.29€ – 2 |
Transportation
The public transportation in Germany is excellent and moderately priced. When you choose a place to live in Germany for an extended period, you should get a yearly pass for the city’s public transportation system. You can also purchase pass for your spouse, relieving you of the burden of yearly tram or bus tickets.You don’t need to buy a separate ticket for your children if they are under 14.Up to 4 children under 14 may travel with you without requiring a separate ticket.
| South | East | North | West | |
| Taxi 1km | 1.90€ -4 | 2.00€ – 1 | 2.00€ – 1 | 2.00€ – 1 |
| One-way ticket (Public transport) | 2.40€ | 2.00€ | 1.8€ | 1.65€ |
Household Bills
When residing in Germany, you must consider several home expenses—electricity, water, cell phone, and other utility bills on time. Most of the time, your rent already includes all of these expenses, but if it doesn’t, you must consider the cost of various fees when living in Germany.
| North | South | |
| Utilities | 193.36€ / month | 466.67€ / month |
| Internet (60 Mbps) | 30.00€ / month | 50.00€ / month |
| Electricity | 60€ / month | 80€ / month |
| Mobile bill | 30€ / month | 30€ / month |
Entertainment
Discussing the cost of entertainment in Germany when discussing the necessities is crucial.
You could sign up for a Netflix, Hotstar, or Amazon Prime subscription to enjoy local shows, movies, or television series.Although you subscribe to all these platforms, you might miss accessing the content you previously could in India.
Paying a small monthly cost using a VPN can allow you to access local content online.
| Provider | Monthly cost |
| Amazon Prime | €9 |
| Netflix | €8 |
| NordVPN | €3.69 |
In Germany, the south is the most costly region to live in, followed by the West, North, and East.
EDUCATION IN GERMANY FOR INDIAN STUDENTS
If you are a student from India aspiring to study in Germany, then you have made the right choice. Education in Germany for Indian students is an excellent opportunity. Many education institutes also offer online education so that you can study in Germany from India. German universities are well regarded and appreciated for their first-rate calibre. There are many courses in Germany for Indian Students to indulge in. Their cutting-edge facilities, extensive funding options, research-based approaches, award-winning curricula, diverse and active student population, and unique lifestyle will ensure you have the finest learning experience.
These qualities have made them a popular choice for talented international students wishing to develop their academic and research skills and a significant portion in this group are students from India.
The third-largest international student population in Germany comprises of students from India. Official statistics indicate that 19,700 Indian students were enrolled in German universities in 2020-21.
The average cost to study in Germany from India differs too.
You are also required to have knowledge about the living expenses in Germany for Indian students if you want to study here. It is difficult for a student to manage the cost of living in Germany if they don’t work part-time.
The average cost of living in Germany for students (Monthly in Euros)
| City | Monthly cost of living (Euro) |
| Munich | 1,300-2,000 |
| Frankfurt | 1,150-1,800 |
| Hamburg | 1,100-1,750 |
| Berlin | 1,100-1,750 |
| Heidelberg | 1,100-1,700 |
| Cologne | 1,100-1,650 |
| Bonn | 1,100-1,650 |
| Stuttgart | 1,100-1,650 |
| Dusseldorf | 1,050-1,600 |
| Wiesbaden | 1,050-1,550 |
The German educational institutions offer several courses for academics and research and a diverse range of career and employment prospects. Education in Germany for Indian students wishing to pursue higher courses has a wide selection of academic institutions and programs. Institutions supported by the state, as well as private ones, exist. Many of Germany’s best public universities provide tuition waivers, with just administrative costs required of students. The moderate cost of living in Germany also makes it less expensive for students to live there than in many other nations.
To manage the average expenses in Germany and gain experience, international students may also work part-time. Let’s have a look at the expenses and the average cost of living in Germany for Students:
COST OF TRANSPORTATION
In Germany, the cost of transportation is generally less expensive than the expense of maintaining a vehicle.
Public transit is an apparent option for people who live in cities. Large cities’ systems that integrate tram, train, and bus services are highly effective.
COST OF ELECTRICITY
The living expenses in Germany for Indian students include electricity and water, which is: 40–80 EUR/month. Internet: 35 EUR/month. Heating: 50–100 EUR/month (depending on whether the apartment is heated centrally)
FOOD AND DRINKS EXPENSES
| One loaf of bread (approx. 500g) | EUR 2 |
| 1 kilogramme of potatoes | EUR 0.99 |
| 1 liter of milk | EUR 0.90 |
| One bottle of mineral water (0.75 liters) | EUR 0.80 |
| 1 cup of coffee (in a café) | EUR 2.50 |
| One glass of beer (in a pub) | EUR 3 |
| One pizza (in a restaurant) | EUR 7 |
| One lunch (in the cafeteria) | EUR 2.50 |
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES
| 1 T-shirt | EUR 10-50 |
| One pair of trousers | EUR 30 to EUR 100 |
| One cinema ticket (with student discount) | EUR 6 |
| One theatre ticket (with student discount) | EUR 6-30 |
| One museum ticket (with student discount) | EUR 2-8 |
OTHER COSTS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS IN GERMANY
Apart from the average cost of living in Germany, there are many other expenses.
The cost of health insurance influences the overall cost of living in Germany. Therefore, under-30-year-old students accepted into a degree program at a recognized German university can take advantage of special student discounts for public health insurance. As part of their monthly living expenses in Germany, students under the age of 23 can spend 105.05 EUR, and those above the age of 23 can pay 106.93 EUR. It includes both nursing care and public healthcare.
Over-30-year-old international students may purchase either public or private health insurance. Personal insurance policies are less expensive than the public healthcare premiums offered. Along with a few variable fees, it can cost as little as 40 EUR each month.
Since the living expenses in Germany for Indian Students are high, it is necessary to manage the average expenses in Germany so that you can survive for a long time.
Conclusion
We have tried to provide all information regarding the German cost of living for students and families of Indians. This article will help you gain all the information you need to move to Germany.
