With Germany being one of the richest companies in Europe, you might expect the countries living expenses to be higher than they actually are. Germany is ranked the 10th highest country based on the cost of living, making it considerably cheaper to live in, in comparison to the UK, France and other European countries.
Germany isn't considered to be an expensive place to live, however it depends on your lifestyle requirements and whereabouts in the country you are looking to settle down. Some areas of Germany are more expensive than others. For example, you are likely to spend more on the cost of living in the larger German cites, like Berlin and Munich, in comparison to what you would spend out in the suburbs.
What is the cost of living in Germany?
In some areas of Germany, you would be able to get by for around €1,000 per month, however in the larger cities this could rise to approximately €1,500 - €2,000, as rent is considerably more expensive.
On average, the monthly living expenses in Germany is around €1,200, but let's take a look at how this can vary per location.
Cost of living in Berlin
Despite Berlin being the countries capital city, it is surprisingly one of Germany's cheapest cities to live in. Rental prices here can vary, depending on the type of property you are looking for and the location. For example, the west of the city works out more expensive than the east.
In terms of eating out and affording food, the large international population in Germany has helped to keep prices relatively low. Street food markets are becoming more and more popular, as this is one of the cities cheapest options for people living in Berlin. As well as this, the price of food in Berlin is also known to be considerably lower than other European countries, such as France, Austria, Belgium and Sweden.
Cost of living in Munich
Munich offers a higher cost of living, in comparison to Berlin. The city has a very strong economy where rent prices are sky high. The chances are, it'll be hard to find a one-bedroom apartment in Munich for less than €1,000. On top of this, you will need to take into consideration the price of food, healthcare insurance, transport and utility bills.
It's not just housing that's expensive in Munich, food is also pretty expensive. For example, going out for lunch could cost you around €14, which is over double what you would be expected to pay in other parts of Germany. This may not seem like a huge difference, but it starts to ramp up quite quickly when you start going out multiple times.
Cost of living in Hamburg
Living in Hamburg is slightly more expensive than living in Berlin, for example a one bedroom flat may cost you around €900 per month. This makes the city one of the top 10 most expensive cities in Germany. Experts predict that the high living expenses are driven by the high population of millionaires who choose to settle in this multinational corporation hub.
The expensive living costs are mirrored when it comes to the price for food. These prices are higher than those of Berlin, but relatively cheaper than Munich. For example, you can purchase lunch in a normal city restaurant and be expected to pay around €10, but then dinner for two people could be €50 - similar to London prices.
Cost of living in Frankfurt
Frankfurt is defiantly one of the most expensive cities to live in Germany, second to Munich. Be prepared to spend as much as €2,000 a month of living costs for a single person, and over double for a family. You may seem to be spending more within the first few months, because moving is expensive there and, unfortunately, there a lots of hidden costs to consider.
Most people living in Frankfurt budget for around €200 a month for groceries, however it depends on your diet, what foods you like and where yo shop. Frankfurt have a range of supermarkets, some offering more expensive, higher quality goods and some with cheaper options.
Germany is a very well connected city and transport in all of the above cities is relatively in-expensive. Most people tend to spend roughly €100 a month, which only equates to around €25 a week. In comparison to the cost of commuting to and from London for work every week, there is a considerable difference.
Overall, the cost of living in Germany depends on where you live in the country but there are always things you could do to keep the costs down, no matter where in the country you're living.
If you are considering moving to Germany, then check out our removals to Germany page.