Cost of living in Germany for Indian Students – Intake 2025

While Germany features high-class universities with world-class quality, reasonably priced tuition fees, and an international atmosphere, it has really become one of the favorite destinations for higher education. However, for students from India, one factor could be costlier to afford. Having an idea about these expenses would help in financial planning and also would help the student not get stressed because of finances during his or her studies. This guide will, therefore, discuss a few aspects of the cost of living in Germany for Indian Students, giving in-depth insights along with figures so that Indian students will be able to get a better picture.

Cost of Accommodation in Germany

The most recognized expense one has to bear as a student is the cost of accommodation. Accommodation costs fluctuate from city to city, depending on type and proximity to the university. The following table provides a snapshot in this regard:

• Student Dormitory: Approximately €250-€450 per month.
• Private Shared Apartment WG: Wohngemeinschaft: Around 300-700 € per month. 
• Studio Apartment: 500-1,200 € monthly. 

On average, students use around 400-600 € monthly for accommodation. Larger cities such as Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg are more expensive compared with the smaller cities of Leipzig and Dresden.

For example, in Munich, one shared apartment can cost approximately €700, which, in turn, may cost as low as €300 in cities like Leipzig.

Food Prices and Groceries in Germany 

German cities offer various alternatives for students, which range from cooking at home to dining out. Students spend on average some €150-€250 per month for food. This is the main aspect of cost of living in Germany for Indian students. Consider students’ foods and groceries , hostel food etc.

• Grocery Store: The monthly costs are expected to lie in a range between € 100 – € 150.
• Dining Out: Meal in a budget restaurant: € 10 – € 15 per meal
• Canteen (Mensa) – universities: About € 2 – € 5 per meal.

For students who like cooking, grocery shopping would be cheaper. Some of the well-known and more reasonable chains in Germany for grocery shopping include Aldi, Lidl, and Penny. Food costs could further be reduced by buying items in bulk or shopping when items are on sale.

Also Check: Scholarships for Indian students in Germany

Health Insurance Requirements

It is compulsory for every student in Germany to have health insurance. This forms one of the major components of the monthly budget that an Indian student going to study in Germany will need to take into consideration. The cost of health insurance, however, depends on the type of insurance: public or private.

• Public Health Insurance: Public health insurance costs approximately €100 to €120 per month. It covers most of the medical services, such as seeing the doctor, staying in the hospital, and medication. For students below 30 years and studying full-time, there is a possibility of getting a reduced student rate. Health insurance is very important, as treatment can be extremely expensive without it.
• Private Health Insurance: The prices vary but stand from € 30-€ 60 per month. However, because of its comprehensive cover, most of the students go for the public health insurance.

On a yearly basis, students use between € 1,320-€ 1,440 for public health insurance.

Transportation Cost In Germany

Transportation in German cities is relatively well-developed for moving around locally and nationally. Most universities give all their students transportation passes at subsidized rates; and Semesterticket, which reduces travel costs to a minimum.

• Semester ticket: Normally, between €150-€300 per semester (6 months).
• Public Transport: For students who do not have the Semesterticket, a month’s transport passes cost € 60-€100 depending on the city.
• Bicycle Purchase: €100-€300 (once, highly popular among students).

Cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne have highly developed public transport. Also, smaller towns may have less expensive transport options. On the whole, walking or cycling will decrease these costs considerably.

Utilities and Internet

Also, if you were to stay in private accommodation, utilities like electricity, heating, and water are not always covered in the rent and would have to be included. 

• Utilities – Electricity, Water, Heating, Garbage: Around €100-€200 per month depending on use
• Internet Connection: €20-40

Ordinarily, this cost, should you live in a shared apartment, becomes highly reasonable since these would be shared across flatmates. These are also important aspects in the Cost of living in Germany for Indian Students.

Study Materials

Additional expenses for Indian students in Germany include study materials like textbooks, stationery, and software licences if needed. 

Books and Study Materials: Approximately € 20-€ 50 per month. Some universities provide resources digitally or even allow access to libraries; hence, the need to purchase textbooks is at times minimal.

Laptop or Computer: Once (€ 500-€ 1,500), depending on the model and specifications.

These costs, however, are higher in the case of more applied studies, such as engineering and architecture, since students are at times expected to purchase other tools or particular software in order to complete their assignments.

Mobile Phone and Internet

The ability to communicate is crucial for any international student. For this reason, German mobile plans are relatively cheap.

Prepaid SIM Card: Around €10-€30 per month, depending on the data package and provider.

Mobile Contract: €20-€50 per month, data, calls, and texts included.

The popular mobile network service providers are Vodafone, Telekom, and O2. Almost all students prefer a prepaid card to manage the monthly costs of telephones.

Leisure and Entertainment

Living abroad is not all about ‘studying’; Indian students will look ahead to experience the rich culture that Germany has, socialise, and enjoy some form of entertainment.

• Cinema Ticket: Approximately € 10-€ 15 per head
• Dining Out: About € 10-€ 25 per meal depending on the type of restaurant.
• Fitness Membership: About € 20-€ 50 per month.
• Clubs and Nightlife: Club entry ranges from €5 to €20, and drinks start at €3-€8.

Students are entitled to student discounts in many museums, theatres, and concerts, which will greatly reduce leisure expenses.

Miscellaneous Expenses

There are always some unexpected expenses when living abroad. These might refer to personal care, clothes, medical visits not covered by the insurance, or travels in Germany and Europe.

Personal Care (Shampoo, Toiletries): approximately €20-€40 monthly.

Clothing: about €50-€100 pm, but this can be higher or lower based on student roundup and changes in the weather.

Cost of Living in Various Cities

The cost of living in Germany for Indian Students can also vary considerably from city to city. The table below is an approximate cost difference between various cities to subsist on every month
City.

Larger cities like Munich and Frankfurt tend to be more expensive, while the smaller ones, such as Leipzig and Dresden, are relatively cheaper.

Total Estimated Monthly Expenses

Students from India who come to study in Germany should expect their estimated monthly expenses to vary between € 800 to € 1,200, depending on the city and which life one has chosen. A rough breakdown of an estimate would look somewhat like this:

• Accommodation: €400-€700
• Food: €150-€250
• Health Insurance: €110-€120
• Transportation: €60-€100
• Utilities & Internet: €120-€240
• Miscellaneous (Books, Phone, Leisure): €100-€200

This would mean an annual cost of about €9,600-€14,400.

Budgeting Tips for Indian Students

Budgeting is important in maintaining a healthy financial status while studying abroad. 

These are some of the budget tips for the cost of living in Germany for indian students which they can consider beneficial to maintain the cost in a City like Germany. Following are some tips that might prove to be useful:

Cook at home: It’s way cheaper than eating out, and you could save a hell lot of money by preparing your meals.

Avail student discounts: Many services provide discounts- from transport to cinema tickets.

Shared living: A shared apartment or dorm significantly saves money on rent and utilities.

Smart shopping: Groceries must be shopped during sales periods or at discounted prices and bought in bulk whenever possible.

Conclusion

While managing costs with high-quality education, Germany appears to be a promising destination for Indian students. In addition, students may create a budget for accommodation, which would come at a fairly affordable price; groceries could also be relatively affordable; there is efficient and affordable public transportation, and one needs to buy mandatory health insurance.

Cost of living in Germany for Indian Students is pretty affordable than countries like the United States. After the estimation of such costs, one can start looking for opportunities for financial aid. In this way, students will be in a position to enjoy their time in Germany without much financial trouble. Proper planning and budgeting are the keys to enjoying both educational and cultural experiences in Germany.

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