One of the questions I get asked most often is: "How much money do I need to live in Germany?" And I always give the same answer first: it depends entirely on which city you're in. Germany is not one single housing market — Munich and Leipzig are in different universes in terms of what your money buys.
Here's a realistic breakdown, based on what I've seen and heard from expats across the country. These are real numbers, not best-case scenarios.
Rent — the biggest variable
Rent is by far your biggest expense, and it varies enormously by city. These are rough Warmmiete (total rent including utilities) figures for a one-bedroom apartment in a reasonable part of each city, not the cheapest you can find and not the most expensive:
- Munich: €1,500–2,200/month
- Frankfurt: €1,300–1,800/month
- Hamburg: €1,200–1,700/month
- Berlin: €1,100–1,600/month
- Cologne / Düsseldorf: €1,000–1,400/month
- Stuttgart: €1,100–1,500/month
- Leipzig / Dresden: €700–1,100/month
- Nuremberg: €900–1,300/month
If you're willing to live in a shared apartment (WG), you can cut these figures roughly in half. Many expats start with a WG and move to their own place once they're settled and know which area suits them.
Monthly expenses beyond rent
Here's what a typical single expat in a city like Berlin or Hamburg might spend beyond rent:
- Groceries: €250–350/month. Germany is actually affordable for food — local supermarkets like Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, and Edeka offer good quality at reasonable prices.
- Public transport: The Deutschlandticket is €58/month and gives you unlimited travel on local and regional public transport across the entire country. This is genuinely a game-changer — buy it, use it.
- Health insurance: Deducted from salary (employer pays half), so this doesn't come out of your take-home. But if you're in a gap period, budget €200–400/month for private coverage.
- Rundfunkbeitrag: €18.36/month — the mandatory TV/radio licence fee, per household.
- Phone / internet: €25–60/month combined, depending on your plan.
- Eating out: A casual restaurant meal is €12–18, a lunch at a bakery or café is €6–10. Budget €100–200/month depending on how much you cook at home.
- Gym / leisure: €30–60/month for a gym, city-dependent.
What does this mean as a total?
A single expat in Berlin living alone (not in a WG) can live comfortably on around €2,200–2,600 Netto (take-home) per month. In Munich, you'd want €2,800–3,400 Netto to have the same quality of life. In Leipzig, €1,700–2,000 is enough to live well.
Remember that your Netto is significantly lower than your Brutto. A salary of €50,000 Brutto per year works out to roughly €2,700–2,900 Netto per month (after taxes and social contributions), depending on your tax class and situation. Use a Brutto-Netto calculator before you assess any job offer.
Moving costs — what people forget
The first month in Germany is expensive because you pay the Kaution (security deposit, up to 3 months' rent) plus the first month's rent upfront. If you're renting an unfurnished flat you'll need to buy furniture. Realistically, budget €3,000–6,000 for your first month depending on the city.
This is why having savings before you arrive matters. It's not a forever cost — just a one-time punch.
The tax return you shouldn't skip
Most expats who file a Steuererklärung (tax return) get money back — often €500–2,000 in the first year. You can deduct moving costs, work-related expenses, and more. Use an app like Wundertax or Taxfix — they walk you through it in English and are well worth the €35 they typically charge to file.
If you're trying to figure out the right salary to ask for — or want to understand how German taxes and net pay work before your first interview — feel free to reach out. Our career support service covers this, and we're happy to answer quick questions on Telegram too.