Cost Of Living In Germany – Part 1
The average cost of living varies from 1.000 to 2.000 euros per month in Germany. The monthly expenses ultimately depend on your lifestyle, the city where you live, and how many family members are living with you.
You must be aware that the southern cities such as Munich and Stuttgart are the most expensive in Germany. However, Berlin used to be one of the most cost-effective cities to live in, but the rent expenses have increased in recent years. The average rent for a 60m2 apartment could range between 1.300 and 1.500 euros in Berlin. Berlin is now a more expensive city to live in compared to Cologne, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and Leipzig. In Germany, these cities are still very affordable to live in.
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Renting A House In Germany
Housing expenses will be essential to your cost of living in Germany. The expense of your rent will depend on whether you are staying alone or sharing an apartment with others. Sharing an apartment is very popular among students in Germany. The city and the location of your flat will also vary the price. You will get a low-cost apartment if you stay far from the city center. You should be aware that Berlin, Munich, and Stuttgart are the cities with the highest rental expenses.
As per Numbeo, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom flat in the city center is 736 euros. The price for the same one-bedroom apartment is 552 euros outside the city center in Germany. You can refer to our article Housing In Germany for detailed information.
Monthly Expenses For Renting A House In Germany
Apart from your rent, there will be the following different monthly expenses you need to consider.
- Utilities: While renting an apartment in Germany, you can get two types of apartment rental amounts. The first one is the rental amount, including the expenses of the utilities. The second one is the rental amount, which does not include the costs of the utilities. The landlord chooses which utilities to have in the rental amount. The essentials such as water and heating are always welcomed. However, the landlord might include additional services such as cable TV and maintenance costs of the building. You should be aware that the electricity and internet are rarely part of the rental amount.
- Internet: As we discussed above, the internet will most likely not be a part of the rental amount. The price of the internet service depends on the factors such as the connection speed, the service provider, and location. On average, you need to pay between 30 and 40 euros every month for an internet connection.
- Electricity: Once you move to a new flat, you need to get a contract with an electricity provider. Your electricity bill will generally depend on how much electricity you use. You need to pay between 50 to 150 euros every month.
- German Public Broadcasting Fee: There is a German public agency called ARD ZDF, which charges all German residents a broadcasting fee. This fee supports the production of German public TV and radio shows. It is mandatory to pay even if you do not watch or listen to these shows. According to the official page of ARD ZDF, the fee is 18,36 euros per month for each household. They charge this amount every three months. It means you need to pay 55,08 euros quarterly. If you live in a shared apartment, you can split this fee among your flatmates. You can refer to our article Radio Tax in Germany for more information.
One-Time Charges For Renting A House In Germany
There will be the following one-time charges for renting a house in Germany which you need to consider.
- Deposit: It is common to submit a deposit when renting an apartment in Germany. The deposit amount can range from one to three months’ rent. That’s why you should consider this cost in your budget. The landlord uses the deposit amount to cover expenses caused by any damage you might have done to the apartment. Here you can save this money by taking care of the flat. Once you leave the flat in the same condition as you found it, you should receive the deposit back. The landlord should transfer the deposit money back to you as soon as possible.
- Furniture: Finding a furnished apartment is not common in Germany. In case you find it most likely, the previous tenant is selling their furniture. If you want to buy the furniture, you should consider this expense in your budget.
- Kitchen: Not all apartments come with included kitchen appliances in Germany. In case you get it, most likely, the previous tenant is selling their kitchen appliances, and you can purchase them. Always ensure to inquire about the kitchen appliances before signing any contract.
Mobile Phone Plans In Germany
Your monthly mobile plan expense will depend on the following factors.
- The types of contract you get, such as prepaid or post-pay.
- The amount of data you require.
- In case you want to pay monthly installments for a new phone to the provider.
- In case you want a flat rate for nationwide calls and messages.
In case you already have a mobile phone, you can find prepaid mobile plan deals for 9 euros for 8 GB of mobile data each month. If you want to get a new phone through a mobile provider, you can expect to pay between 40 to 70 euros per month. This cost will include the monthly installments of your new mobile phone, the amount of data you choose, and a flat rate for calls and messages. The best and most popular mobile network providers are Prepaid from O2, Aldi Talk, Lebara, and WinSim. You can refer to our article Getting A SIM Card – II for more details.
Banking In Germany
There are three significant types of banking systems in Germany.
- Privately owned German banks
- International banks
- Online banks
Opening a bank account in Germany generally is free of cost. However, some private German and international banks may charge you a monthly fee. If you wish to have a credit card, you need to pay a yearly fee to the bank. Every bank charges are different. The amount depends on the credit card you choose and the benefits you get.
Conclusion
We have only covered the major factors of the cost of living in Germany. There might be a variation in the amount mentioned in this article. You need to check the exact amount once you look for accommodation and its other monthly and one-time charges. We are here to give you an estimated idea for the housing, mobile plans, and banking in Germany. You can refer to our next article to cover the other factors of the cost of living in Germany.
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