Everyday life

What does everyday life cost?

Living in a major German city is relatively inexpensive by global standards: the cost of living in London, Basel, Oslo or New York is much higher than in Munich, Frankfurt or Hamburg.

All the same, there are considerable differences within Germany, life in a big city in the west costing significantly more than in a small town in the east.

The biggest expense is rent, which swallows up more than a third of a student’s budget.

What students pay

The good news is that state universities in Germany charge no tuition fees for a first degree. Higher education institutions in Baden-Württemberg are one exception, where students from non-EU countries have to pay fees of 1,500 euros per semester.

Besides the costs of rent, food, clothing etc., however, you will also have to pay a fee each semester to cover administration, student representation and your student service organisation (“Studierendenwerk”). How much this semester fee costs will depend on whether it includes a semester ticket for local public transport. Your student ID also allows you to eat cheaply in the student canteen (“Mensa”) and gives you reduced admission to places such as swimming pools and cinemas.

The following chart shows how much students spend on average for different things.

Shopping

If you want to cook tasty meals for yourself at home, you will find regional and local products at the farmers’ markets that take place regularly in most cities. You may even be able to buy products directly from a farm shop on the outskirts of the city. If you want to avoid rubbish, take your own bags and containers with you. You will also need them if you shop at an “Unverpackt” (zero waste) shop.

Projects like FoodSharing or Too Good To Go (only in German) are a good way to shop cheaply and sustainably, or even get things for free. They distribute foods that are no longer needed or cannot be sold.

Numerous discount supermarkets in Germany offer products at very low prices. Keep your eye out for the latest special offers and then stock up. A deposit is usually charged on drinks packaging; you will get it back when you return the bottles or containers.

If you need to shop for something other than food, you can go to a second-hand shop to buy used clothes in good condition for little money. Household articles, books and the like can be found cheaply or even for free on local sharing websites or at flea markets. People who do not have much money can purchase good-quality used furniture, household items and clothing at charity shops.

If something breaks, check whether you can find a repair café where others will help you repair a bike or electronic items free of charge.

German in everyday life

You should have at least a basic knowledge of German to cope with everyday life, as you cannot necessarily assume that you will always be understood when out shopping, going to the doctor or eating at a restaurant – even though very many Germans do speak English.

And remember: to earn money alongside your studies or when finding a job after graduation, a good knowledge of German is important.

It therefore makes sense to start learning German before you arrive or do a crash course when you begin your studies here. Higher education institutions often offer preparatory courses for international freshers or special language courses during the semester breaks. You will find such courses listed in the DAAD’s database of language and short courses.

Properly insured

Everyone who lives in Germany must have healthcare insurance. And that means you, too. You will already have to prove that you are insured to obtain your residence permit and to enrol at university.

Students up to the age of 30 must take out statutory health insurance cover (GKV). Special rates are usually available to them, costing around 110 euros per month, including nursing care insurance. For more information, contact your student service organisation or university’s international office.

A person taking a language course in Germany in preparation for a course of study will not normally be eligible for statutory health insurance. In this case you will need to take out private health insurance cover.

Some countries, including all EU member states, have a reciprocal social security agreement with Germany: anyone insured there will remain covered by the insurance in their home country. You will have to have a statutory health insurance company confirm that your insurance is recognised. If you want to work, however, you will need to get insurance in Germany.

If you fall ill …

If you fall ill, your health insurance will cover the costs of your examination and treatment, certain medicines and therapies, and if necessary any surgery you may need. You will have to pay 5 to 10 euros towards the costs of medicines.

Medicine on prescription can only be obtained at a chemist’s shop, whereas over-the-counter pharmaceuticals such as teas, herbal remedies and vitamin supplements can also be bought in a drugstore or supermarket.

If you require treatment, make an appointment with your GP or the specialist of your choice, either online or by telephone.

For medical problems at night or at the weekend, contact:

which will also provide information about the coronavirus pandemic.

In urgent cases, you can go straight to the emergency department of your nearest hospital or, in an acute emergency, you can call the telephone number 112 to request medical help and an ambulance.

Keeping in touch

You will probably want to keep in touch with your friends and family back home, so it’s great that we have the internet! Almost all rooms and apartments in student halls of residence and shared flats have WiFi, and most flats are at least equipped with an internet connection.

Free WiFi will be available on your university campus, as well as in most cafés and pubs. However, free public WiFi networks in squares and on public transport are often not all that good.

Different providers offer special student packages with various data volumes and flat rates for your internet connection at home – often including a tariff for your smartphone. Make sure to check whether prices increase once your initial contract term ends.

If you only need a tariff for your smartphone, you will find that discount providers have some very cheap deals, alongside those on offer from the major telecom companies. Again, it's a good idea to check the length of the contract and notice periods.

If you want to send letters, postcards, parcels and packages, you can buy the stamps you need online or at a post office. Once you have affixed the stamps, you can put letters and cards into one of the yellow postboxes or, like parcels and packages, you can hand them to the delivery person, take them to the post office, or send them via a pack station. Prices can be checked online at www.deutschepost.de/en.