How much money does a student need per month? Two benchmarks are supported by sources and both come to around €990. The maximum BAföG rate for students in their own flat is €992 (including health and long-term care insurance). The maintenance requirement for a child studying away from home in the Düsseldorf Table is €990, without insurance. Rent has the biggest impact on your student monthly budget. A shared flat room costs €510 on average across Germany and €850 in Munich.
The most important points in brief
- The benchmarks are €992 (maximum BAföG rate) and €990 (maintenance requirement, without health and long-term care insurance).
- A shared flat room costs €510 per month on average. In 76 of the 90 university cities examined, the rent is above the BAföG housing allowance of €380.
- Student health insurance costs about €143 to €148 per month, depending on the insurer, if you are not covered by family insurance.
- There are no reliable official average figures for food, leisure, clothing and phone. Your own bank statements are the better basis.
Which benchmarks apply to the student monthly budget?
For the total requirement, it is best to use two anchors, one from BAföG and one from maintenance law. Both apply to students living in their own flat.
| Benchmark | Amount per month | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| BAföG maximum rate (under 30) | €992 | Basic amount €475, housing allowance €380, health insurance supplement €102, long-term care insurance supplement €35 |
| Maintenance requirement under the Düsseldorf Table (as of 2025) | €990 | Includes up to €440 warm rent. Health and long-term care insurance come on top |
If you add the contributions to student health insurance of about €143 to €148 to the maintenance requirement, you arrive at just under €1,140. The BAföG FAQ of the Studierendenwerke states the BAföG maximum rate, and the costs of studying page states the maintenance requirement. The figure of €990 is the guide value from 2025. How BAföG is made up is explained in our BAföG overview (in German).
What is the average rent for students?
A shared flat room costs €510 per month on average across Germany. Munich is at €850, Berlin and Hamburg are at €650 each, and Cologne is at €640. These figures come from the 2026 university city scoring of the Moses Mendelssohn Institute with data from WG-Gesucht.de, which the German Student Union presented on 17 September 2026.
In 76 of the 90 university cities examined, the average rent is above the BAföG housing allowance of €380. In these cities, 84 % of all students live there. On the national average, you are therefore €130 short between the allowance and the room rent, and in Munich €470 short. The government draft provides for the housing allowance to rise to €440 from 1 April 2027. This has not yet been decided.
Check the student residence places of your Studierendenwerk as well. There is no nationwide average for residence hall rents, because prices depend on the location. Ask early how long the waiting lists are.
What does health insurance cost for students?
Student health insurance (KVdS) costs €118.16 per month if you are under 23 or have a child, and €123.29 if you have no children and are at least 23. The additional contribution of your health insurer comes on top. At the average rate of 2.9 %, this amounts to about €143 and €148 per month respectively.
The calculation is based on a contribution assessment base of €855 and a contribution rate of 10.22 %. The base premium is €87.38 and is the same nationwide. You will find an overview in the contribution overview of the Techniker Krankenkasse.
You are covered free of charge through your parents’ family insurance if your total income is below €565 per month (€603 for a minijob only) and you are no older than 25. If you are insured yourself and receive BAföG, there is a fixed supplement for this. Details are in our guide on the BAföG supplement for health insurance (in German).
What comes on top for semester fees, ticket and broadcasting fee?
The semester contribution consists of contributions for the student body, the Studierendenwerk and, where applicable, the semester ticket. It differs at every university. Check the re-enrolment documents of your university. Some states also levy enrolment, administrative or re-enrolment fees of about €50 per semester. General tuition fees do not exist in any state.
The Germany semester ticket costs €37.80 per month in 2026 (€226.80 per semester), where it is offered. The Deutschlandticket costs €63. For 2027, €66.80 and €40.08 have been decided.
The broadcasting fee is €18.36 per month per flat. If you receive BAföG and do not live with your parents, you can apply to the Beitragsservice for an exemption. The exemption applies retroactively for up to three years from the date of application.
What does a worked example of fixed costs look like?
Example: Lea, 24, has no children, lives in a shared flat room, is insured with KVdS (about €148 contribution) and uses the Germany semester ticket for €37.80. The table shows what remains of the BAföG maximum rate of €992 after rent, insurance and ticket. Each figure excludes the broadcasting fee and any semester contribution outside the ticket.
| City | Shared flat room | Health and long-term care insurance | Semester ticket | Total fixed costs | Remainder of €992 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National average | €510 | €148 | €37.80 | €695.80 | €296.20 |
| Cologne | €640 | €148 | €37.80 | €825.80 | €166.20 |
| Berlin, Hamburg | €650 | €148 | €37.80 | €835.80 | €156.20 |
| Munich | €850 | €148 | €37.80 | €1,035.80 | minus €43.80 |
You pay food, phone, clothing, study materials, leisure and all unexpected expenses from the remainder. In Munich, the maximum rate does not even cover the fixed costs. There you need additional income, maintenance or a cheaper room.
How do you plan for food, leisure and clothing?
There are no proven average values for these items. Your own behaviour is the better source. Take the bank statements of the last three months, sort the spending into categories and form a monthly average for each category. This gives you a budget that fits you. You will find step-by-step guidance in our article on budget planning during your studies (in German).
Also plan a buffer for unexpected costs. From 1 January 2027, statutory co-payments will rise: the minimum will then be €7.50, the maximum €15, and inpatient treatment costs €15 per day. This has already been decided.
How do you cover the monthly requirement?
The usual sources are BAföG, parental maintenance and a side job. If you receive BAföG, you may earn up to €603 gross per month without your funding being reduced. At a minimum wage of €13.90, this corresponds to around 43 working hours per month. As a student employee, you remain exempt from health, long-term care and unemployment insurance if you work no more than 20 hours per week during the lecture period. Ideas for a side job can be found in our article on earning money alongside your studies (in German).
If you have no BAföG entitlement, alternatives help. An overview is given in our article on financing your studies without BAföG (in German). Scholarships supplement the budget as well. The Germany scholarship pays €300 per month. Our overview of scholarships (in German) shows the different types. The article what studying costs in total (in German) gives you the overall sum.
What changes with a child during your studies?
With a child under 14, you receive a childcare supplement of €160 per child and month under BAföG. The assets allowance also increases by €2,300 per child. How high your total requirement becomes depends on your location and your type of housing.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does a student need per month at least?
The anchors are €992 (BAföG maximum rate including insurance) and €990 maintenance requirement without insurance. In expensive cities the actual requirement is higher, because the rent alone can be between €650 and €850. Enter your fixed costs and calculate the rest from your bank statements.
What is the average rent for students?
A shared flat room costs €510 per month across Germany on average. Munich is at €850, Berlin and Hamburg at €650, and Cologne at €640. The figures come from the 2026 university city scoring (as of September 2026). There is no nationwide average for residence hall rents, as prices differ between the Studierendenwerke.
Is the BAföG maximum rate of €992 enough to live on?
It covers the fixed costs in many cities, but leaves little room. After the average rent (€510), health insurance and the ticket, about €296 remain for food and everything else. In Munich, it is not enough for a room at €850. So check additional income, such as a side job.
Do I have to pay the broadcasting fee as a student?
In principle yes, €18.36 per month per flat. If you receive BAföG and do not live with your parents, you can apply for an exemption. The application goes to the Beitragsservice and applies retroactively for up to three years. If you live in a shared flat, you agree internally who pays the fee for the flat.
How to proceed now
- Write down rent, health insurance, ticket and other fixed costs in a table.
- Read three months of bank statements and form monthly averages for food, leisure and clothing.
- Compare the total with your income from BAföG, maintenance and side job.
- Check the broadcasting fee, the BAföG supplement and family insurance for possible relief.
If you want to review your health insurance during your studies, you will find the way to advice on the Academycon homepage (in German).
You can find reviews of us on ProvenExpert, Trustlocal and Trustindex. Academycon was mentioned, among other things, in a press release on the portal of the Süddeutsche Zeitung. An overview of all mentions is on the press page (in German).
Related articles
- Budget planning during your studies: monthly budget in three steps (in German)
- What does studying cost? Total costs at a glance (in German)
- Financing your studies without BAföG: the options (in German)
- Finding a scholarship during your studies: types, providers and requirements (in German)
- Health insurance during your studies by age (in German)
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
