cost of living in GERMANY | housing, food, transport & more

How expensive is Germany? This video covers apartments and student housing, groceries, restaurants and take out, transport (trains, bikes and buses), health insurance and many more things. I did the best and accurate as I could. Let me know if there are any additional information I missed :))

If you’re planning to move to Germany for whatever reason, it’s good to know and have a clear view on the cost of living in Germany. This video covers the average basic costs.

Although Germany ranks above average in the OECD Better Life Index in terms of quality of life and well-being, shopping bills in major German cities are often significantly less than in other major European cities.

And surprisingly the cost of living in big German cities is lower than in other major European cities such as Paris, London, Rome, Brussels, and Zurich, except Madrid.

00:00 welcome to germany
01:40 wifi & mobile
01:50 additional housing costs
01:59 radio & cable
02:25 groceries
04:46 dining & take out
05:47 cafe & coffee
06:04 ov chipkaart
06:12 transportation
06:22 bikes
06:42 bus, trams & metro
07:12 trains
08:16 cars
08:42 health insurance
09:18 shopping
10:15 student life
11:03 in conclusion

The 49 euro ticket is rumored to come more in March or April and it will last for 2 years as an experiment. Sadly it was not super realistic to have it come out on January but I am looking forward to it.

NOTES:
Metros (subways, tube) are called the U-Bahn (underground train), whilst over ground trains in cities are referred to as the S-Bahn.
Regional trains are referred to as the RE (regional express) or RB (regional Bahn). Intercity trains are named IRE (interregio-express) or ICE (intercity express).

Some sources I used:
Tipping:

Costs and saving money:

Healh insurance in germany:

The confusing train system:

instagram: @helloerikapeanut

Disclaimer: Sorry if you see misspellings, it happens more often then i notice.

Thank you everyone for 7k subbies! Remember, you matter ✨ and see you soon! ✨

[yukiezi]

Important info to the tickets,

theres a subscription for 49€ as she mentioned in the video that's live, which allows for unlimited traveling in local public transport.

This includes every bus, subway and regional train, which are (RB, RE, IRE)

Basically if you see a white train with a fat red line, don't use it and you're fine.

[bellarobaf.]

As an Italian living in Germany i have to say this is the best video that i see so far about the cost of living. Keep doing that

[adilrabbani]

Hallo :) I'm an international living in Germany for about 4 years. Just wanted to say that your videos are very well made! I feel your channel is very underrated but pretty sure it is going to blow up soon with the amount of quality videos you have! The videos are fun to watch and also giving useful information. Almost has an "Emma Chamberlain" vibes to them! :D I subscribed! Keep it up!

[Theowest]

Federal Republic of Germany = F.R.O.G.

[ASMRWeekly]

Why your videos are so pleasing to watch😆? So fun and also educative! i don't plan on living in Germany but i'd love to stay on it for months
Keep making these, i can't stop watching cause they are so well made haha

[spiritadora]

Your sense of humor is on another league. I love your videos😁😁😁

[samuelbillman]

In America we pay taxes from our wage, on our purchases, and sometimes we have to pay money towards taxes as well as far as I know. And with these taxes we don't receive free health care, our roads and infrastructure are dismal, our school system is underfunded, and we do not receive free college outright. The only way for a full ride in higher education is through scholarships. But even with the additional support people still going into thousands of dollars in student debt. But hey, we have the one of the best and most funded militaries in the world am-i-right fellas?

[VictorFlamenco]

This is the most accurate video I have seen on this topic. I can confirm with precision, as a person living in Germany for 6 years.

The language barrier can hinder job seekers in Germany, as many employers require proficiency in the German language for most positions. This can limit job opportunities and make it difficult for non-German speakers to secure employment. Additionally, low salaries and high taxes can further compound the challenges faced by job. Apart from language barriers, cultural patterns of behavior can also pose challenges for individuals entering the German job market. Differences in communication styles and cultural norms can impact workplace dynamics and hinder effective collaboration. Germany's unique system of dual vocational training and bureaucratic processes can add to the difficulties faced by job seekers and students. The combination of language barriers, cultural differences, and complex systems can make it challenging to navigate and integrate into German society.

[Sosiska_aliska]

Thank you! Would actually love to know/hear about the differences you feel after living in the Netherlands compared to Germany

[MRmotorworkz]

Thank you Erika for taking the time to make these videos with so much information and perspective. I'm looking to move to Germany where my family is originally from and your videos have really helped me more understand of what to expect.

[josesalvador]

You forgot the psychological cost of learning german 😭

[tamborvivo]

This is a great video. Thanks for taking the time to make things so clear and straight forward. Well done, Erika!

[MissMiriamB]

Your vlogs are truly a comfort zone for me 🤗 Keep up the good work & greetings from Hanover 🙌

[daanwillemsen]

I'm from a Dutch border town and during the summer of 21 I visited a lot of Ruhr cities with the 5 euro ticket. My city also got leveled during WW2 so I feel right at home visiting the Ruhr area 😁

[shayinnit]

Thank you Erika for such a great detailed video! you are such a life saver

[Raven.the.vampire]

Thank you for making this! I'm looking to moving to Germany to start university and for a fresh start and actually gives me expectations on pricing so I know how to save up! That's super important to me as someone who is working an entry level position at a job that doesn't pay much trying to save up not only for the move but to have extra money to fall back on :)

[nimaj]

Wow such an instructive and helpful video . Tnx so much
Please make more videos by this way😍

[JanetJames-dwxo]

I lived in Germany in the 80s, really loved it. Hada good standard of living. The prices haven't really gone up that much. In England the cost of living seems to rise weekly. Wish I had stayed in Germany to be honest.

[paulvamos]

I just came over from Natasha and Debbie to subscribe! 😊 Love your content!