A student monthly budget is the most effective tool against an empty account at the end of the month during your studies. It shows what comes in, which costs are fixed and what is left for you. You can copy the table below into a spreadsheet. All figures are examples or placeholders, not benchmarks for your city.
Short answer: Record income, fixed costs, variable spending and a reserve in one monthly budget. As an example, health and long-term care insurance for students (Krankenversicherung der Studenten, KVdS) without children and under 23 comes to 142.96 euros per month, assuming an average additional contribution of 2.9 percent. Enter rent, semester fees and side-job income from your own documents. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- A budget only works with real figures from notices, contracts and bank statements.
- Fixed costs come first, variable spending second and the reserve last, but the reserve is planned in advance too.
- Student health insurance is one of the costs people most often overlook.
- Side-job income and BAföG affect each other, because your own income is counted above allowances.
- The template only helps if you enter actual figures each month and compare them with the plan.
Which income should you record?
Only enter amounts you can rely on. If income varies, calculate with the lower figure. The most common sources are listed below:
| Income source | What to enter | Proof or source |
|---|---|---|
| BAföG (state student financial aid) | Monthly amount from the notice | Notice from the BAföG office |
| Side job (net) | Net pay from the payslip | Payslip |
| Support from parents | A realistic, fixed amount | Agreement with your parents |
| KfW student loan | Monthly instalment between 100 and 650 euros | KfW loan contract |
Example for a side job (assumption): 10 hours a week at the statutory minimum wage of 13.90 euros (2026) comes to roughly 602 euros per month (13.90 times 10 times 52, divided by 12). The minijob limit in 2026 is 603 euros per month. Above that limit, you are generally subject to social security contributions, so check this before you take the job.
Under BAföG, your own income is counted above allowances. The monthly allowance for your own income was 389 euros in 2026. Clarify the effect of your side job in advance. Our guide on earnings limits explains the details: BAföG income limit 2026: how much can you earn?.
Which fixed costs matter for students?
Fixed costs are everything you pay each month in the same or a similar amount. They form the basis of your budget. Enter them with the amount stated in the contract or notice. Estimates are the most common source of error here.
| Fixed cost | Example amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rent including utilities | Assumption: 480 euros | Enter your own rent, this is not a benchmark |
| Health and long-term care insurance | Example: 142.96 euros | Depends on insurance obligation, fund and child status |
| Semester fee | Set by the university | Divide by six, because a semester is roughly six months |
| Phone and internet | Your own contract | Spread annual costs over twelve months |
| Transport | Semester ticket or Deutschlandticket | Check the price with your transport association |
A tip on income: for each source, note when the money actually reaches your account. BAföG is usually paid monthly, while wages are often paid at the end or the beginning of the following month. If payments shift, your plan shifts too, so the payment rhythm matters.
How do you calculate the student health insurance contribution?
Student health insurance (KVdS) has its own calculation basis. With the 2026 figures you can trace the contribution. Here is the calculation for a student without children who is under 23 (example B):
- Calculation basis: 475 euros basic amount plus 380 euros housing allowance equals 855 euros per month.
- Student rate for health insurance: 0.7 times 14.6 percent equals 10.22 percent. Applied to 855 euros, this gives 87.38 euros without the additional contribution.
- Average additional contribution: 855 euros times 2.9 percent equals 24.80 euros. Your health insurer sets the actual rate.
- Long-term care insurance: 855 euros times 3.6 percent equals 30.78 euros.
- Total: 87.38 plus 24.80 plus 30.78 equals 142.96 euros per month.
If you are childless and 23 or older, a surcharge of 0.6 percentage points applies to long-term care insurance. The total then comes to roughly 148 euros per month (example A). The additional contribution varies by insurer, so enter the actual amount from your notice. Information on health insurance during studies is also available in our guide on health insurance with a side job (in German).
What does the template look like in practice?
The table below is the framework. Fill in the plan column once a month and the actual column after the month has ended. The difference shows where you need to adjust.
| Area | Item | Plan (euros) | Actual (euros) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | BAföG | ||
| Income | Side job (net) | ||
| Income | Support | ||
| Income | Total income | ||
| Fixed costs | Rent including utilities | ||
| Fixed costs | Health and long-term care insurance | ||
| Fixed costs | Semester fee (monthly share) | ||
| Fixed costs | Phone and internet | ||
| Variable | Groceries | ||
| Variable | Transport | ||
| Variable | Study material and leisure | ||
| Reserve | Exams, travel, unexpected costs | ||
| Result | Total spending and remainder |
To use the table, enter only expected amounts in the plan column and only what was actually booked in the actual column. Total income minus total spending shows what is left. A negative balance is a signal, not a failure. Two levers help: reduce variable spending, or raise income with a clearly limited side job.
Frequently asked questions
How large should my reserve be?
There is no fixed rule. Plan a reserve for irregular costs such as semester fees, study material or exam fees, and set aside a little every month. Even small amounts stop one cost from emptying your account at month end.
Do I have to rebuild the budget every month?
No. The template stays the same and only the actual column changes. After two or three months, you will recognise patterns, for example in groceries or transport.
What counts as income under BAföG?
Your own income is taken into account through allowances. The monthly allowance was 389 euros in 2026. The BAföG office decides on anything above that amount.
Can I plan with a KfW student loan?
Yes, it can be part of your income. Plan the repayment from the start, though. According to KfW, the effective interest rate has been 6.38 percent per year since 1 October 2026, with adjustments every six months.
What if money runs short at the end of the month?
First check which item differs from the plan. Variable spending, such as eating out or online orders, is often the cause. Adjust the plan for next month and set a fixed amount for unexpected costs in the reserve. If fixed costs are the problem, check your contracts and tariffs before considering further credit.
What to do next
- Gather notices, contracts and bank statements from the last three months.
- Enter all fixed income and fixed costs using real amounts.
- Plan variable spending per week, for example for groceries.
- Compare plan and actual at the end of each month and adjust the next one.
Related guides
- Budget Planning for Students: A Monthly Plan in 3 Steps
- BAföG Income Limit 2026: How Much Can You Earn?
Sources: Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Fifth Minimum Wage Ordinance (status 2026, in German); GKV-Spitzenverband, contribution calculation values 2026 (status 1 January 2026, in German); Studierendenwerke, BAföG needs rates (status 1 August 2024, in German); KfW, questions and answers on the student loan (interest status 1 October 2026, in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
