Full guide
Process, exceptions, and official sources
Every step in order, with exceptions, special cases and official sources.
Budgets and tariffs are indicative. München and Berlin cost much more than eastern cities — adjust figures to your university.
Daily life roadmap
First week (setup) → Weekly routine → Optimisation (ticket, shopping, Müll)
Student checklist — daily life
- Week 1: SIM/eSIM, transport ticket, discount store map, banking app.
- Every week: meal prep, correct recycling, check Nebenkosten.
- Every month: review subscriptions, compare Strom.
- Buffer: €200–300 for pharmacy, repairs, last-minute train.
Indicative monthly budget (2026)
| Item | Berlin / München | Hamburg / Köln | Leipzig / Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (Warm room) | €550–900 | €500–800 | €350–550 |
| Groceries + Mensa | €200–320 | €180–280 | €150–230 |
| Transport | €30–60 (ticket) | €30–55 | €20–45 |
| Phone | €10–25 | €10–20 | €10–20 |
| GKV insurance | approx. €141–146 | approx. €141–146 | approx. €141–146 |
| Leisure | €60–120 | €50–100 | €40–80 |
| Indicative total | €970–1,450 | €870–1,280 | €690–1,045 |
Transport
- Deutschlandticket: monthly regional pass (current price on bundesregierung.de).
- Semesterticket: included in Semesterbeitrag — often covers the whole region.
- DB: Deutsche Bahn — book IC/ICE early; BahnCard discounts.
- Bike: many cities are bike-friendly; lights mandatory at night.
Shopping and cooking
- Aldi, Lidl, Penny, Netto — Low prices.
- Rewe, Edeka — More variety, higher prices.
- University Mensa — Subsidised meals with student card.
- PFAND: bottle deposit — do not throw away; redeem at machines.
Mülltrennung and building rules
- Separate: paper, plastic, glass, bio, residual — rules vary by Land.
- Ruhezeiten: often 22:00–06:00 — respect in WGs.
- Sunday: shops closed (except petrol stations, essential bars).
Phone
| Operator | Note |
|---|---|
| Telekom, Vodafone, O2 | Wide network |
| Aldi Talk, Congstar | Cheap prepaid |
| eSIM | Useful before Anmeldung |
Laundry — quick guide
- Programmes: Kochwäsche, Buntwäsche, Feinwäsche.
- Book a slot if the building laundry has a calendar.
- Dry on a rack — tumble dryers rare in WGs.
Safety and emergencies
- 112 — EU emergency number.
- 110 — Police.
- 116 117 — Out-of-hours doctor (non-emergency).
Useful links
Sources
Evening and Sunday quiet hours (Ruhezeit) in flats — neighbours may call police.
Quick reference
Orderly life, regulated shop hours, quiet Sundays in many Länder. Excellent public transport in cities; countryside needs planning.
Transport
Deutsche Bahn for travel; local VBB/MVV/BVG. Bike + S-Bahn typical. Car sharing (Share Now) for weekends.
- Deutschlandticket optional
- Second-hand bike
Climate and what to pack
Humid dark winter; waterproof jacket and grippy shoes. Short pleasant summer — do not underestimate grey November.
Phone and internet
SIM and internet
Prepaid Aldi Talk, Telekom, O2. 24-month contracts common but avoidable. Fibre in flat: ask Vermieter.
Food and groceries
Light breakfast, main lunch. Turkish/Asian markets for Italian ingredients. Etiquette: quiet in library and on trains.
Habits and settling in
Punctuality and written appointments. Waste separation. German helps a lot outside English-speaking campus bubbles.
Deep dive (optional)
Go deeper
Useful numbers
| Service | Number / note |
|---|---|
| Single EU emergency | 112 (police, fire, ambulance) |
| Police (emergency) | 110 when a crime is in progress or there is acute danger |
| Non-urgent medical on-call | 116117 (unified out-of-hours service; fee may apply) |
| Crisis listening line (Telefonseelsorge) | 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222 (verify current routing on telefonseelsorge.de) |
| Consumer advice | verbraucherzentrale.de |
Post & pharmacy
Pharmacy
Prescription medicines; duty pharmacies rotate—116117 can help locate out-of-hours care.
Go deeper
Driving licence & ID
Exchange rules, international permits, and minimum ages differ widely. Confirm with the national or state motoring authority in Germany before driving; rental desks usually require licence plus passport or national ID.
Mobile plans & SIM
Compare prepaid vs contract; you will usually need ID and sometimes proof of address. Ask about number portability, fair-use data caps, and EU/international roaming if you travel outside Germany.
Groceries & food
Mix discount supermarkets with local markets and food-rescue apps where they operate. Check Sunday opening rules and bag/bottle deposit schemes in Germany—they affect weekly cost.
Official sources and verification
3 HTTPS sources are already linked where they are used in the guide.