Studying abroad in Berlin: What are the living costs?
You are looking to study abroad but want to make sure you can afford it first. You also want to pick a city that is vibrant and you think it would be a perfect fit for you. The pool of options is endless, but how does Berlin sound?
Berlin is the capital of Germany and a multicultural hub for students from all over the world. The city is very dynamic and offers lots of great places to see, different foods, diverse nightlife, and much more. So if you are looking to study in Berlin, today we are going to discuss the living costs, which is an information you will definitely need for your plans.
Accommodation costs
Finding the right accommodation is very important because your place of living will have a big impact on your overall study abroad experience. You have two options: student halls of residence and private accommodation. Renting an apartment can cost anywhere between 300 and 700 EUR per month. The student dormitories are much cheaper, around 250 EUR.
If you want to save money, you should opt for getting a place in the halls of residence. The places are given away by the “Studentenwerk Berlin” for which you can apply via their website. There are different types of accommodation in each hall of residence (single room, room for two, apartment, etc.) and more than 30 student residences located in the different urban districts of Berlin. If you are set on studying in Berlin, you should submit your application for a room in the student halls of residence as soon as you receive the letter of acceptance for your studies.
Most international students choose private accommodation. This is because living in an apartment means more privacy and less rules and procedures. If you are doing your own search for private accommodation, use the phrases “Studenten-WG” and “Studentenwohnung”. Make sure that’s followed by “Berlin” or a street address if you know exactly where you want to find a place. There are many websites where you can search for offers (Hochschulkompass, Erasmusu, HousingAnywhere). Consider joining a few Facebook groups as well.
If you want more information on this topic, make sure to check out our blog post about accommodation for international students in Germany.
Health insurance costs
All international students are obliged to have health insurance in Germany in order to enroll at a German University. Health insurance is mandatory by law, so if your health insurance cover at home is not valid in Germany you will have to take out an insurance policy. Regardless of your residence status or your income, you need health insurance. There are two types of plans: public health insurance and private health insurance.
Public health insurance is regulated by the government and charges lower premiums. At this moment, the monthly premium rate for public health insurance is 80 EUR. Private health insurance covers more medical needs and charges higher premiums. There are many different packages for different individual needs so there are no standard premiums for private health insurance.
Transportation costs
Whether you are going to classes, meeting friends for coffee or going back to your apartment, you will need to figure out your means of transportation. The best one is public transport. It’s fast, (almost) reliable and for free for students at Berlin International. Second best is taking the bike, while biking in Berlin is not for beginners. You can rent a bike, buy one second-hand or invest in a new one.
Travelling by taxi can be pretty expensive as the price per kilometre varies between 3.00 EUR and 4.50 EUR.
Costs of food and drinks
If you like to cook or enjoy eating at the university canteen, food and drinks won’t cost you much. Below is a list of prices for some common products at the supermarket and a list of prices for meals at the restaurant for when you want to eat out.
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Prices at the supermarket |
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|
Product |
Average price |
Price range |
|
Milk (1L) |
0.78€ |
0.62 - 1.00 |
|
Loaf of bread (500g) |
1.27€ |
0.89 - 2.00 |
|
Eggs (12) |
1.89€ |
1.30 - 2.82 |
|
Cheese (1kg) |
8.28€ |
5.00 - 15.30 |
|
Chicken (1kg) |
7.54€ |
4.99 - 10.00 |
|
Apples (1kg) |
2.22€ |
1.50 - 2.90 |
|
Bananas (1kg) |
1.42€ |
1.00 - 2.00 |
|
Oranges (1kg) |
2.11€ |
1.33 - 2.99 |
|
Tomato (1kg) |
2.32€ |
2.00 - 3.00 |
|
Potato (1kg) |
1.29€ |
0.90 - 2.29 |
|
Lettuce (1 head) |
1.02€ |
0.70 - 1.50 |
|
Water (1.5L) |
0.48€ |
0.19 - 0.90 |
|
Wine (mid-range) |
5.00€ |
4.00 - 7.00 |
|
Domestic beer (0.5L) |
0.84€ |
0.60 - 1.10 |
|
Imported beer (0.33L) |
1.26€ |
0.92 - 2.00 |
|
Prices at the restaurant |
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|
Product |
Average price |
Price range |
|
Meal, inexpensive restaurant |
8.00€ |
7.00 - 12.00 |
|
Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant, three-course |
50.00€ |
40.00 - 65.00 |
|
Fast food meal, e.g. McMeal |
7.50€ |
6.00 - 8.50 |
|
Domestic beer (0.5L draught) |
3.50€ |
3.00 - 3.80 |
|
Imported beer (0.33L) |
3.50€ |
2.50 - 4.00 |
|
Cappuccino |
2.70€ |
2.00 - 3.00 |
|
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L) |
2.50€ |
1.20 - 3.00 |
|
Water (0.33L) |
2.00€ |
1.00 - 2.50 |
Source: numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Berlin
Other costs to consider
If you are someone who enjoys working out, watching a movie at the cinema or shopping for clothes, here are a few other costs to consider. Monthly membership at a fitness club is around 27 EUR. Watching a movie at the cinema will cost you around 10 EUR for a ticket. As for clothing, in Berlin you will find many famous clothing brands.
We hope we made things more clear in terms of the living costs as an international student in Berlin. Should you choose to study at Berlin International, feel free to reach out to our Student Affairs office at any time via studentaffairs@berlin-international.de or the form below.