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. €120 | approx. €120 | approx. €120 |
| 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.