Cost of Moving to Germany for Students: Real Budget Guide

Contents

• Why families misjudge the cost
• Costs before you leave India
• The blocked account: what it is and is not
• Rent and deposit
• Health insurance
• Your first months: a realistic budget
• Tuition and semester fees
• Step-by-step: how to plan your budget
• Mistakes to avoid
• FAQ
• How German Studio helps

Why families misjudge the cost

The most common question we hear is: “Is the blocked account amount enough for everything?” The honest answer is that the blocked account is designed to prove that you can pay your living costs. It is not a full budget for your move. It does not cover your flight, your visa and application fees, or the cash you need in the first weeks, such as a rental deposit and furniture. Costs also vary a lot between a small university town and a big city like Munich, Frankfurt or Hamburg.

Another source of confusion: Germany is often called “tuition-free”, and that is partly true for public universities, but it is not true everywhere or for every programme. We cover that below.

Costs before you leave India

These are the items students often forget to add up. Amounts change, so treat the table as a checklist rather than a price list.

Item	What to know	Rough guide
German language exam (e.g. telc / Goethe)	A1, A2, B1 or higher depending on your course. A valid passport is needed for telc exams at our centre.	Fee per exam level; check the exam provider. Retakes add up.
University applications	Some universities apply directly and some use uni-assist, which charges per application. Check each university’s page.	Free to a few tens of euros per application
APS certificate	Required for Indian students applying to German universities. Check the current procedure and fee.	Fee paid to APS India
Documents and translations	Degree certificates, transcripts, sometimes certified translations or attestation.	Varies by number of documents
Visa fee	The national (D) visa fee has been about €75 in the past. Check the embassy or VFS website.	Roughly €75, paid in INR
Blocked account set-up	Providers charge a set-up fee and often a small monthly fee.	Check each provider
Travel / arrival insurance	Often needed for the first weeks until your student health insurance starts.	Small, but do not skip it
Flight and luggage	Depends on the season and the airport. Booking early usually helps.	Often a significant one-time cost

Do not pay anyone “guaranteed admission” or “guaranteed visa” fees. Nobody can guarantee these. For the visa process itself, see our Germany study visa guide and the official page of the Federal Foreign Office.

The blocked account: what it is and is not

A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a special bank account where you deposit a fixed amount before the visa. After you arrive in Germany, you can withdraw only a set monthly amount. It is usually accepted as proof that you can support yourself.

• The required amount is linked to a legal figure that has been updated from time to time. At the last update we checked it was about €11,904 per year (about €992 per month). It may have changed by the time you apply, so confirm the current figure with the embassy, the Auswärtiges Amt and Make it in Germany.
• It is your own money. It is not a fee. But you must have it available upfront, and for Indian families that can mean arranging a large transfer, an education loan or savings.
• Providers charge their own fees, so compare them. Also check whether the provider is accepted for your visa.

Read our detailed blocked account guide for the steps in India.

Rent and deposit

Housing is the biggest monthly cost and the hardest to find. Student halls (Studentenwohnheim) are usually the cheapest option but often have waiting lists. Private rooms in shared flats (WGs) are more common in big cities.

Housing type	Typical monthly range (approx.)	Notes
Student hall room	€250–€450	Apply early; limited supply
Shared flat room (small town)	€300–€500	Usually easier to find
Shared flat room (big city)	€450–€800 or more	Competitive, especially at semester start
Own studio flat	Often higher than a shared room	Rarely the cheapest choice for a first-year student

The deposit (Kaution) is usually paid before or on move-in and is often up to three months of “cold rent” (rent without utilities) under German rules. For a room with €400 cold rent, that can be up to €1,200 at once, on top of the first month’s rent. Always get a written rental contract and never transfer money to someone you have not verified. Fake room ads targeting students abroad are a known problem.

Also check whether your rent is warm (utilities included) or kalt (cold). Electricity, internet and sometimes heating can be extra.

Health insurance

Health insurance is compulsory for students in Germany, and you need proof to enrol at a university. Public student health insurance has historically cost roughly €110–€130 per month, but check the current rate with the insurer. Private insurance may be an option in some cases, but it can be hard to switch later, so ask a neutral adviser before you decide. Do not buy a policy only because an agent recommends it.

For the very first days you may need short-term travel or arrival insurance until your German policy starts.

Your first months: a realistic budget

Monthly running costs (approximate)

Cost	Approximate monthly range
Rent (room)	€300–€700
Health insurance	About €110–€130
Food and groceries	€200–€300 if you cook at home
Phone and internet	€10–€30
Public transport	Often covered by a semester ticket; otherwise check the Deutschlandticket price
Broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)	About €18, per household; shared flats usually split it
Books, clothes, small extras	€50–€150

Adding these up gives roughly €900–€1,300 per month, depending on the city and your lifestyle. That is a planning estimate, not a promise, and it can be higher in expensive cities.

One-time arrival costs

• Rental deposit and the first month’s rent
• Semester contribution at enrolment (see below)
• Bedding, kitchen basics, a winter jacket (Indian students often underestimate winter clothing)
• A German SIM card, a laptop if needed, a bank account
• Temporary accommodation if your flat is not ready on arrival

A sensible approach is to keep a separate emergency amount in your regular account, in addition to the blocked account, for the first month. Because blocked-account money is released only monthly, it cannot cover the deposit and initial setup at once.

Working part-time

International students are generally allowed to work a limited number of days per year alongside their studies, but the rules are specific and can change. Check the Make it in Germany website and your residence permit. Do not plan to fund your entire stay through part-time work. Jobs may take time to find, and German language skills matter. If you want to know which jobs can follow your studies, see our article on jobs for international students.

Tuition and semester fees

• Many public universities do not charge tuition fees, but they do charge a semester contribution, often a few hundred euros per semester. It may include a semester ticket for local transport.
• Some federal states, notably Baden-Württemberg, have charged tuition fees for non-EU students, and some Master’s programmes at public universities charge fees. Check each programme page.
• Private universities charge tuition, sometimes at a high level.

Comparing countries? Our article on studying in Germany vs the UK helps you weigh the costs.

Step-by-step: how to plan your budget

1. Shortlist programmes and cities. Check tuition and semester fees on each university’s own website.
2. Decide your German level and exam date. Your language requirement affects how many months of courses and which exam fees you need. See German levels A1 to C1 explained.
3. List pre-departure costs from the table above and add 10–15% as a buffer for changes.
4. Confirm the current blocked-account amount on official sources and compare provider fees.
5. Plan how the money will be arranged: savings, family support or an education loan. Start early because banks take time.
6. Research housing before you leave. Apply for student halls as soon as you get admission, and arrange temporary accommodation for the first days.
7. Set aside an arrival cash cushion for the deposit, first rent and setup costs.
8. Re-check everything a few weeks before the visa appointment, as fees and rules may have changed.

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming the blocked account covers all your costs, including the flight, the deposit and setup.
• Relying on old numbers from a YouTube video or WhatsApp group. Always check the date and the official source.
• Paying a room deposit to a stranger online without a contract or verification.
• Choosing a programme only because it is “cheap”, without checking whether it is accredited and suits your career goal.
• Ignoring the semester contribution or per-semester fees in your budget.
• Buying health insurance or a blocked account from an agent without comparing alternatives.
• Planning to pay for everything from part-time work from day one.
• Paying anyone for a “guaranteed visa” or “guaranteed admission”.

FAQ

1. Is the blocked account amount a fee that I lose?

No. It is your own money, released to you in monthly instalments after arrival. You do pay the provider’s set-up and service fees, though.

2. How much money should I have in total before I fly?

There is no single number. Add the blocked account, the visa and application costs, the flight, and an arrival cash cushion for the deposit and first rent. Then add a buffer. Our counsellors can help you build an estimate for your specific city and course.

3. Is study in Germany really free?

Many public universities charge no tuition, but you pay a semester contribution, and some states and programmes do charge fees for non-EU students. Always check the specific programme.

4. Can I live on less than the blocked account amount?

Some students do in cheaper cities, but the visa requirement stays the same, and you should not plan around the minimum. Unexpected costs are common in the first months.

5. Is a student hall better than a private flat?

Student halls are usually cheaper and simpler, but supply is limited. Apply as early as the university or student services (Studierendenwerk) allows.

6. Do I need to speak German to live in Germany?

For English-taught programmes you may not need it for admission, but daily life, housing, part-time jobs and later careers are much easier with German. Even A1–B1 helps a lot.

7. Can I work after my studies to recover the cost?

Germany has residence options for graduates to look for work, but rules change and nothing is guaranteed. Read the official pages on Make it in Germany and Bundesagentur für Arbeit. Also see our overview of professions in demand.

8. What if the visa is refused? Do I lose the money?

Fees paid for the visa application are generally not refunded, and other costs depend on each provider’s terms. Read the cancellation and refund terms of your blocked account provider, university and housing before paying.

How German Studio helps

We are an official telc cooperation partner in Ahmedabad (17 Indraprasth Bungalows, Opp. Management Enclave, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380015). Here is how we support students who want to plan realistically:

• German courses A1 to C1: offline in Vastrapur, online or hybrid, with morning, afternoon, evening and weekend timings. New batches start every Monday.
• telc and Goethe exam preparation, with telc exams at our centre (JG University, Thaltej). A valid passport is compulsory; Aadhaar is not accepted. telc helpline: +91 92748 07820. You can also practise online at exams.germanstudio.in.
• Guidance to Germany: university choice and applications, APS, documents and translations, blocked account, insurance, visa appointment and preparation.
• Free counselling: at our office (please book a time) or by phone / video call if you are outside Ahmedabad. Our counsellor can walk through your budget and explain costs of the support services personally.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 am – 5 pm, Sat 9 am – 3 pm. Call or WhatsApp +91 93285 67820 or +91 95860 59999.

Please note: this article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Fees, minimum amounts and rules change. Always confirm current details with the official sources: Make it in Germany, Auswärtiges Amt, BAMF and Gesetze im Internet.