Plan your monthly budget
City, lifestyle, and dependants give you a realistic monthly cost of living, broken down by rent, groceries, transport, and insurance.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do I need per month to live in Germany as a student in 2026?
The German Foreign Office anchors the minimum at 992 EUR per month, taken from the BAfoeG maximum support rate. Berlin and Hamburg balanced WG-room plans land around 1,400 to 1,600 EUR per month including health insurance and the Deutschlandticket. Munich studios can run above 2,400 EUR per month on a comfortable lifestyle. Leipzig is the cheapest major city in this estimator, with WG-room lean plans landing near 1,100 EUR per month.
Why is the Deutschlandticket showing 63 EUR per month?
The Deutschlandticket rose from 49 EUR per month at launch (2023) to 58 EUR (2025) to 63 EUR effective January 2026. It covers all regional and local public transport across Germany. Many universities offer a subsidised Deutschland-Semesterticket at around 29 EUR per month bundled with the student fee; if your university offers it, your real transport cost is lower than this estimator's figure.
Why is the WG-room rent for my city different from what I see online?
WG-room rents are not in any official statistic. The figures here are derived from WG-gesucht and Studierendenwerk medians, cross-checked against Numbeo. Berlin and Munich rents have risen sharply since 2023, so add a 10 percent buffer for new contracts. Mietspiegel publications cover Kaltmiete only and do not capture WG sub-let prices.
Does the calculator include health insurance?
Yes. Students get the TK statutory student rate of 146.29 EUR per month from January 2026 (under-23 students pay 141.16 EUR; we use the default 146.29 EUR). Working professionals get a placeholder 280 EUR per month estimate; for an exact figure based on your gross salary, use the Net Salary Calculator.
What's the difference between the Lean, Balanced, and Comfortable lifestyles?
Lean (0.7x discretionary multiplier): cooking at home, second-hand shopping, no eating-out budget. Balanced (1.0x): most meals at home, occasional cafe, gym membership. Comfortable (1.4x): regular dining out, hobbies budget, a monthly travel weekend. The multiplier scales groceries and the leisure-and-social category only; rent, transport, utilities, and insurance stay constant.
How does this compare to the Sperrkonto requirement?
The Sperrkonto blocks 11,904 EUR for one year (992 EUR per month), funded BEFORE you arrive. This estimator returns the actual cost AFTER you arrive, given your housing and lifestyle plan. If your plan exceeds 992 EUR per month, a part-time job (up to 20 hours per week on a student visa) closes the gap.