What is the average annual cost of living for students in Germany?

As a student in Germany, the average annual cost of living is 11,000-15,000 €, varying by city and lifestyle.

#Monthly Breakdown (2026, average student)

#Official Amount for Visa

• 2026 Sperrkonto: 11,904 €/year (992 €/month)
• This is considered the official minimum, but it's not enough for Berlin/München — additional funding is required.

#Ways to Reduce Your Budget

• Studierendenwerk dormitory: Save 200-300 €/month
• Eating at Mensa: Save 80-120 €/month
• D-Ticket (49 €): Save 30-50 €/month (transportation+travel)
• WG-Hesap (Wohngemeinschaft): Shared rent instead of single
• Werkstudent (20 hours/week): 500-900 €/month additional income
• Scholarship: DAAD 992 €/month → no Sperrkonto needed

#Factors Increasing Costs

• Plane/train trips outside the city (100-300 €/month)
• Sports + fitness membership (30-50 €/month)
• Premium club memberships (20-40 €/month)
• Cigarettes/alcohol (80-200 €/month)
• Frequent dining out (100-200 €/month)

#Strategy

• The combination of Sperrkonto + Werkstudent (after 5-9 months) is the most common for the first year.
• For low costs: Aim for Leipzig, Magdeburg, Halle, Chemnitz.
• High quality + job opportunities: Berlin, Stuttgart (smaller cities in NRW).

Related: Cheapest cities.