Cost of Living in Germany for International Students in 2023

Germany offers a lucrative study abroad destination. The language is no more a barrier, there are many reasons why students from all around the world prefer Germany as a study abroad destination. Be it for masters, bachelors, internships or even research fellowships, Germany is a country that has the best to offer to every student. Low or no tuition fees, excellent scholarships for Germany make it an economical overseas study option…but there are other costs that matter. So, how much does it cost to live in Germany?

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Want to know the cost of living in Germany? The answer is simple – you would need around €861 (or INR 72,610 approx.) per month, or so says the Federal Foreign Office. As of January 1, 2022, keeping the rate of inflation in mind, the mandatory amount required in the Blocked Account for studying in Germany is €10,332 for an entire year or €861 for a month. This would include your accommodation, living expenses, and even travel pass costs. While applying for a German visa, a student is required to show proof of funds for at least the first year of education which includes the cost of living in Germany. Essentially, the general expenses in Germany and their average monthly cost include It is important to note that this figure does not include the two mandatory expenses which you would be required to do, which would be Health Insurance as well as Semester Contribution to the Universities. These two heads on average cost about €140 per month.

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Talking about the basic heads as mentioned in the table, it is simple enough to notice that a large part of your monthly expense goes into Rentals. Accordingly, we can say that your cost of living in Germany would depend largely on where you are living in Germany. If you choose one of the famous cities of Germany, then the rentals would vary greatly and can go as high as €400 per month for a single room accommodation in cities like Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt or even the famous university towns of Heidelberg. These cities do have cheaper options available in terms of Residence Halls for students but being the country with the third-largest International student population does have its shortcomings. In other words, finding a place in residence halls would be a challenge. The idea, hence, to curtail your cost of living in Germany is to either find a university in the lesser-known cities or start early and aim to find a place in one of the cheaper accommodations. You can read more about Accommodation in Germany to understand the various options, costs, etc.

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The rest of the expenses and overheads are fairly similar across Germany. Adding to the expense of studying in Germany are the mandatory Health Insurance as well as the Semester Contribution. The latter varies from university to university and often averages around  - €500 per semester. What can further take care of these expenses would be the many scholarships available for international students. A student can aspire for, apply and get a scholarship which would take care of these expenses, and even make living in Germany rather economical.

So, keep these figures in mind, look at the various Universities in Germany that you can apply to, check out the eligibility requirement as well as the exams required for Germany and start preparing. Germany is called the land of ideas and with good reason. Find your perfect fit and start planning your higher studies in Germany.

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