Top High Cost Cities to Live in Germany
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Germany is home to several high-cost cities known for their vibrant culture, strong economies, and high living standards. The top high-cost cities to live in Germany include Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich. The cost of living in these cities are increasing due to expensive housing, amenities, and overall higher costs of living.
Cost of Living in Germany for Indian students: Germany has emerged as one of the top study-abroad destinations for Indian students looking to study outside India. As per a report from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), there are about 42,997 Indian students studying in Germany. While we are aware, that public universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees, but one needs to pay only have semester fees, ranging from EUR 100 to EUR 350. Studying at private universities would cost you anywhere between EUR 5,000 to EUR 20,000 annually per year. In this article, we are going to be looking at the cost of living in Germany for Indian students in top cities.
The country has taken care of the living costs in Germany for students by introducing Blocked Account Germany. What is Blocked Account Germany? A Blocked Account Germany is a controlled financial account that is required to be opened by a student looking to study in Germany. The Blocked Account Germany amount is €11,904 Euros for one academic year. The German Blocked Account amount is decided by the government keeping the rate of inflation in mind and the amount is used to cover the living costs in Germany for international students. Candidates should note that they would be able to only withdraw a monthly amount of €992 Euros to cover the living costs in Germany.
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Cost of Living in Germany for Indian Students
Living expenses in Germany for Indian students: Living costs play an important role in the decision-making of students looking to study abroad. After tuition costs, living expenses make up the lion’s share of the expenses required for studying abroad. Accommodation, food, utilities, transportation, and health insurance all come under the ambit of living costs in Germany for Indian students.
From the table below, we can see that the average cost of living in Germany for Indian students is €867 euros per month. The current German Blocked Account amount is €934 euros a month. So even if you spend a little more, your Blocked Account money would cover it.
Living expenses in Germany for Indian students:
| Item | Average/Estimated Cost (in €) | Estimated Cost in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Sufficient Funds Required | EUR 992 per month | INR 84,880 per month |
| Cost of Living | EUR 842 per month | INR 76,510 per month |
| Rent (including utility costs) | EUR 567 per month | INR 51,562 per month |
| Semester Fees (Public Universities) | EUR 100 to €350 | INR 9,080 to INR 31,800 |
| Tuition Fees (Private Universities) | EUR 5,000 to €20,000 per year | INR 4,55,000 to INR 18,20,000 per year |
| Food and Groceries | EUR 198 per month | INR 18,020 per month |
| Transportation (Monthly Pass) | EUR 49 or included in semester fees | INR 4,540 or included in semester fees |
| Health Insurance | EUR 120 per month | INR 10,920 per month |
| Study Materials | EUR 31 per month | INR 2,820 per month |
| Recreation and Entertainment | EUR 65 per month | INR 5,917 per month |
| Phone and Internet Bills | EUR 32 per month | INR 2,913 per month |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | EUR 144 per month | INR 13,110 per month |
Here is a list of daily essentials that a student would require during their stay and the prices of the same. This is to give a perspective on the cost of living in Germany for Indian students.
| Item | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular milk (1 liter) | €1.08 |
| Loaf of fresh white bread (500g) | €1.90 |
| White rice (1 kg) | €2.71 |
| Eggs (12 pcs) | €3.32 |
| Chicken fillets (1 kg) | €15.91 |
| Potato (1 kg) | €1.52 |
| Apples (1 kg) | €2.37 |
| Domestic beer (0.5-liter bottle) | €0.91 |
| 7 Steps to Study in Germany for Free for International Students |
Most Expensive Cities in Germany
Living expenses in Germany for international students would be greatly affected by the city in which they are staying. Capital cities and city centres would be more expensive as compared to suburban areas. While each location comes with its pros and cons, we are going to be looking at the most expensive cities in Germany as concluded by Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living City Ranking covering over 226 cities around the world. The list of the Most Expensive Cities in Germany are:
| Most Expensive Cities in Germany | Cost of Living City Ranking 2024 |
|---|---|
| Berlin | 31 |
| Frankfurt | 35 |
| Munich | 38 |
| Düsseldorf | 51 |
| Hamburg | 54 |
| Stuttgart | 70 |
| Nuremberg | 85 |
| Leipzig | 86 |
Let us look at the cost of living expenses in Germany for Indian students by city.
Living Cost in Germany for International Students - Munich
| Item | Average/Estimated Cost (in EUR) | Estimated Cost in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Rooms in Private Housing (including utilities) | EUR 550 – EUR 1,000 | INR 49,800 – INR 91,000 |
| Rooms in University Housing (including utilities) | EUR 350 – EUR 480 | INR 31,800 – INR 43,600 |
| Health Insurance | EUR 80 | INR 7,260 |
| Meals | EUR 200 – EUR 250 | INR 18,200 – INR 22,750 |
| Mobile Phone | EUR 15 – EUR 30 | INR 1,365 – INR 2,730 |
| Public Transportation | EUR 33 | INR 2,970 |
source: Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences
Living Expenses in Germany for International Students - Berlin
| Rent & Utilities |
Cost per month |
|---|---|
| Room in a shared flat |
€300 - €600 euros |
| Food |
€200 - €300 euros |
| Books |
€20 - €40 euros |
| Leisure time activities |
€60 euros |
| Public transport (Semesterticket) |
€45 - €75 euros |
| Health insurance for students |
€45 - €80 euros |
| Internet / telephone |
€40 - €60 euros |
source: Berlin School of Business & Innovation
Living Cost in Germany for International Students - Hamburg
Candidates looking to live in Hamburg would have to shell out a minimum of €800 euros per month for accommodation, semester contribution, health insurance, costs for study material and personal expenses.
| Rent & Utilities | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private accommodation | €400 euros |
| Utilities | €200 euros |
| Internet / telephone | €20 - €30 euros |
| Bread (ordinary, white) | €1.5 euros |
| Milk | €1 euro |
| Water | €0.50 |
| Eggs (dozen) | €2.5 euros |
| Apples and other fruit | €3 euros per kg |
Living Expenses in Germany for International Students - Frankfurt
Candidates living in Frankfurt would have to spend around 850 € for their monthly expenses or approx. €1,000 euros if they have private accommodation.
| Rent & Utilities | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| Accommodation in a student residence | €300 - €350 euros |
| Private accommodation | €400 - €600 euros |
| Health insurance | €75 euro |
| Semester contribution (including costs for public transport in Frankfurt and surroundings) | €53 euros |
| Other expenses | €300 euros |
Living Cost in Germany for International Students - Stuttgart
| Rent & Utilities |
Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (per month) |
between approx. €350 and €500 euros |
| Health Insurance (per month) |
approx. €120 (compulsory for all students) |
| Broadcasting fee (per month) |
€18,36 (compulsory for all households in Germany) |
| Semesterticket (per semester) |
approx. €210 (for public transport) |
| Semester contribution (per semester) |
approx. €130 (exchange students) |
| Tuition fee (per semester) |
approx. €1.500 (for degree-seeking students from non-European countries) |
| Additional costs (per month) |
personal expenses like food, entertainment, sports etc. |
Source: University of Stuttgart
Also Read:
Living Expenses in Germany for International Students - Leipzig
| Rent & Utilities |
Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (private accommodation) |
€544 ( city centre) |
| Rent (student accommodation) |
€510 - €615 euros |
| Monthly transport pass |
€78.90 euros |
| Internet |
€33 euros |
| A meal in an inexpensive restaurant |
€8.50 euros |
| Gym membership |
€23.70 euros |
| Cinema ticket |
€9.50 euros |
| Summer entry to Zoo Leipzig |
€22 euros |
Source: Lancaster University Leipzig
Living Cost in Germany for International Students - Nuremberg
| Rent & Utilities |
Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent, including ancillary costs |
€325 - €332 euros |
| Food |
€168 euros |
| Study materials (depending on subject) |
€20 euros |
| Leisure, culture, sports |
€61 euros |
| Travel costs (public transport and/or car) |
€94 euros |
| Health insurance, doctors, medicine |
€80 euros |
| Telecommunications |
€31 euros |
| Clothing |
€42 euros |
source: Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg
Candidates who have queries can reach out to us in the comments below or get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance with university admissions on our official website.
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Expensive Cities to Live in Germany FAQs
Q. Which city in Germany pays the most?
A. Munich is recognized as the highest-paying city in Germany. It is home to numerous multinational corporations, particularly in the automotive and technology sectors, contributing to higher salary levels.
Q. What are the top 10 most expensive cities to live in Germany?
A. Here is the list of top 10 most expensive cities to live in Germany.
- Munich
- Frankfurt am Main
- Berlin
- Stuttgart
- Freiburg
- Düsseldorf
- Mainz
- Heidelberg
- Hamburg
- Darmstadt
Q: Â Is BSBI degree valid in Germany?
BSBI does not hold degree-awarding powers in Germany and its programmes are validated by private Italian distance learning institution UniNettuno International Telematic University. BSBI has also partnered with Concordia University Chicago to deliver programmes at its Berlin campus.
Q: Â What is the cost of a student visa in Germany?
International students going to pursue higher education in Germany are required to apply for a German study visa. The cost of study visa for Germany is EUR 75 per applicant. Below we have provided a check list for German student visa:
- Valid passport
- Application form
- Declaration for additional contact and legal representation information
- Copy of passport
- Proof of admittance to the study course
- Curriculum Vitae
- Proof of Financial Means
Q: Â How can I get admission to IU Berlin?
International students who wish to study at IU Berlin can apply for admission online through official wesbite. Students must follow the below points to apply easily for IU International University of Applied Sciences admissions:
- Visit the website and check the list of IU Germany courses
- Choose your programme
- Apply online using official website
- Submit your contract
- Start your studies
Q: Â What is the ranking of Heidelberg University Germany?
According to the QS World Rankings 2024, Heidelberg University Germany has a ranking of #87 in the world. Some of the world rankings at the university are given as follows:
| Year | QS World Rankings |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 66 |
| 2021 | NA |
| 2022 | 63 |
| 2023 | 65 |
| 2024 | 87 |
Q: Â What are the requirements for Delft University of Technology?
TU Delft has its own criteria that vary as per the programs for international students. We have mentioned below the Delft University of Technology requirements for international students:
For Undergraduate Admission
· Must have a secondary school Diploma equivalent to the Dutch pre-university
· Required examination subjects as per the program
· English Language Proficiency test score
For Graduate Admission
· A bachelor’s degree
· Must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 75% in bachelor’s degree
· English Language Proficiency test score
· Additional test score of GMAT/GRE (if applicable)
Q: Â Is KIT Germany free for international students?
As per Article 3 LHGebG (Baden-Württemberg Act on State University Fees), international students from third-countries / Non-EU countries attending bachelor’s, teacher’s, and consecutive master’s programs and free movers will have to pay the tuition fee of amount EUR 1,500 per semester. Students can check the cost of living in Germany for International Students from here.
Q: Â What is the IU Germany deadline for international students?
There is no official IU Germany deadline for international students to study any of the undergraduate or graduate programs at the university. Students can apply for IU International University of Applied Sciences admissions online.
International students can check the Admission Deadlines for German Universities
Q: Â How do I apply for GISMA?
To apply for GISMA admissions, international applicants need to follow the below steps:
Step 1 – Apply online through GISMA website
Step 2 – Submit your personal information
Step 3 – Provide your academic information
Step 4 – Score of English Language Proficiency
Step 5 – Declarations
Step 6 – Review & Submit
Also check the 7 Steps to Study in Germany for Free for International Students
Raushan Kumar is a skilled writer and a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. He oversees various aspects of studying abroad, including educational opportunities, entrance exams, colleges, latest new... Read Full Bio
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