The cost of Living in Germany in 2023

In times of historically high inflation (about 10% at the moment) it is important to calculate your budget for living in Germany correctly - and leave some buffer for further price rises!

The site numbeo.com gives a good overview of general living costs and can compare them directly to your country or elsewhere.

Germany is by no means a cheap destination. Furthermore, costs (mainly for accommodation) differ from place to place, being far cheaper in the countryside and Eastern German cities (except Berlin) and highest in the big Western German cities.

Here are my comments on the detailed questions asked above:

> In terms of accommodation, how much does it cost to rent/buy a flat or house in in Germany?

As I wrote above, this differs greatly by location. Most places have official surveys of rentals (called "Mietspiegel"), which are worth looking at to get an idea. Please also note that the bigger cities have a severe housing shortage, which means you will have to search for months and possibbly accept a price above the market rate.

> How much do you pay on average for public transport (bus, metro, train, tram, taxi)?

A single trip within a city costs around 2.50€, monthly tickets 50 - 150€ (depending on travel distance). There are plans to implement a "Germany ticket" valid in all local transport and slow trains countrywide, for 50€.

> What is the average price of your monthly food basket?

Eating out is expensive. If you cook all meals yourself and buy local, seasonal products, your grocery bill will come to around 300€/month (per person). It is easy to spend more, especially if you crave your home country foods.

> How much does health insurance cost? How much does it cost to see a doctor in Germany?

Health insurance is compulsory in Germany - and costs at least 14.6% of your gross income (the employer pays half of this, if you have one), subject to a minimum of 180€/month for self-employed or non-employed people. Family members without own income can be covered free of charge under certain circumstances. Students are covered at a subsidized rate of approx. 90€/month.

All medically necessary treatments (incl. regular doctor visits) are paid for by the insurance, so free of charge for you.

> What about school fees for your children?

All public schools are free of charge - and of reasonable to good quality.

If you opt for an international or private school, enquire about the cost. A rule of thumb is 1000€/month (per kid) but the variance from school to school is high.

Public universities are also free of charge, except for a small administrative fee. Some institutions have fees for non-EU-nationals and courses held in English, so enquire directly about this!

> What is the average monthly cost of electricity, gas, water, internet, telephone?

Energy costs are rising quicklyat the moment. These are typical bills for a small apartment (two people):

• Electricity 90€/month
• Heating 120€/month
• Water 70€/month (this is sometimes included in the rent)
• Internet 40€/month (this includes residential phone, but no overseas calls)
• Phone (mobile) 20€ (again, overseas calls cost extra)

> What is the average cost of your leisure activities?

The potential range is too wide here to give any reasonable answer. Germany and the surrounding countries offer so many possibilities that you can sure spend all the money you have and still want more!

> If there are other expenses that you think are useful, please share them!

Budget another 200€/month (per person) for daily necessitieslike clothes, books, etc.

The average nett income (per person) in Germany is 2200€month (after taxes and deductions - this translates to approx. 3300€/month gross income), and 1000€/month is the official poverty line. So, do not come if you have less than 1000€/month - and if you decide to come with less than 2200€/month, don't complain that others are richer!