Cost of Living in Germany 2026: Official Figures
This guide uses measured spending rather than price lists: the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) records what households in Germany really pay each month, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) publishes a full student budget. Together they show where the money goes, what a single person spends on food, and what rent to expect. All figures were read from those sources on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
The average household in Germany spent €3,257 a month on private consumption in 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Housing and energy took €1,181 of that, more than a third, followed by food, beverages and tobacco at €457 and transport at €448. A person living alone spent 269 euros a month on food, beverages and tobacco in 2023. Students need between 900 and 1,200 euros a month, the DAAD says, and pay around 489 EUR for accommodation on average. The statutory minimum wage has been 13.90 EUR per hour since January 2026.
What households in Germany spend each month
The figures below come from the continuous household budget surveys of the Federal Statistical Office. They are monthly averages per household for 2024, across all household sizes.
| Category | EUR per month | Share in % |
|---|---|---|
| Housing, energy, maintenance of the dwelling | 1,181 | 36.3 |
| Food, beverages and tobacco | 457 | 14.0 |
| Transport | 448 | 13.8 |
| Recreation, sport and culture | 309 | 9.5 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 215 | 6.6 |
| Interior decoration, household appliances and articles | 148 | 4.5 |
| Information and communication | 140 | 4.3 |
| Clothing and footwear | 114 | 3.5 |
| Health | 110 | 3.4 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 107 | 3.3 |
| Education services | 23 | 0.7 |
| Insurance and financial services | 6 | 0.2 |
| Private consumption expenditure, total | 3,257 | 100 |
Read the table the way the statisticians intend: it is an average over every kind of household, from a person living alone to a family of five. The lesson that carries over to any budget is the proportions. More than a third goes on the home, and housing, food and transport together take almost two thirds.
How the total has moved
| Year | Monthly household spending |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2,517 |
| 2020 | 2,507 |
| 2021 | 2,623 |
| 2022 | 2,846 |
| 2024 | 3,257 |
The Federal Statistical Office attaches two cautions. The survey was not run in 2018 and 2023, and since 2022 it has used a new classification of expenditure, so comparisons across that break are approximate. The 2022 figure also excludes households of farmers and self-employed persons and households with a monthly net income of EUR 18,000 and over.
Food costs by household size
A separate survey, the Sample Survey of Income and Expenditure, breaks food spending down by who lives in the household. These are monthly averages for 2023 for food, beverages and tobacco.
| Household | EUR per month |
|---|---|
| Single-person household | 269 |
| Man living alone | 277 |
| Woman living alone | 264 |
| Two-person household | 477 |
| Couple without a child | 492 |
| Single parent | 423 |
| Three-person household | 579 |
| Couple with children | 617 |
| Four-person household | 636 |
| Households with five or more persons | 793 |
| All households | 430 |
What a single person's 269 euros buys
- Milk, other dairy products and eggs: 34
- Cereals and cereal products: 33
- Meat: 33
- Vegetables, tubers and pulses: 30
- Non-alcoholic beverages: 26
- Alcoholic beverages: 23
- Ready-made food and other food products: 22
- Fruit and nuts: 21
- Tobacco: 17
- Sugar, confectionery and desserts: 16
- Fish and other seafood: 7
- Oils and fats: 6
Rent: the biggest line
The DAAD's figures for students show what a room costs:
| Accommodation | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Average student accommodation | Around 489 EUR |
| Room in a shared flat in Munich | Around 790 EUR |
| Average price in Jena | 328 EUR |
| Room in a student residence run by student services | 280 EUR on average |
Affordable rooms are especially hard to find in large cities such as Munich, Frankfurt am Main and Berlin, and in student cities such as Freiburg and Tübingen. Three German words decide what you actually pay:
- Kaltmiete: the basic rent for the rooms.
- Nebenkosten: utility costs such as waste collection, water and other amenities in the house, often also gas and heating.
- Warmmiete: the total rent, which is the basic rent plus the utility costs.
Expect a deposit (Kaution) as well. It usually amounts to three times the monthly basic rent and is returned when you move out if you leave the flat in good condition. Whether internet and electricity are billed separately depends on the accommodation, so ask before you sign.
A measured student budget
The DAAD publishes the average monthly expenses of a student in Germany, taken from the 22nd Social Survey of the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies, 2023.
| Item | EUR per month |
|---|---|
| Rent, including utility costs | 410 |
| Food | 198 |
| Health insurance, doctor's fees, medications | 100 |
| Transportation (car or public transport) | 89 |
| Tuition fees | 76 |
| Recreation, culture and sports | 65 |
| Clothing | 46 |
| Semester contribution | 36 |
| Telephone, internet, radio and TV licence, postage | 32 |
| Working materials such as books | 31 |
| Other expenses | 144 |
According to the same survey, students have expenses totalling an average of 876 euros per month. The DAAD's own planning range is between 900 and 1,200 euros per month, depending on where you study.
Health insurance
Every person in Germany must have health insurance. Statutory providers offer students under 30 a reduced rate of about 120-130 euros per month, the DAAD reports. Private plans generally offer more benefits but are significantly more expensive and require advance payments, which is why most people are covered by statutory insurance.
What you earn against what you spend
- Minimum wage: 13.90 EUR per hour since January 2026.
- Minijob: up to 556 EUR per month without paying taxes.
- Skilled workers: the 2026 salary threshold for an EU Blue Card is €50,700 a year, or €45,934.20 in shortage occupations.
The DAAD adds that hourly wages in cities like Munich or Hamburg are usually higher, but so is the cost of living.
What the German state considers enough
Visa rules set an official floor for living costs. In 2026 a student must show €992 net a month, and a jobseeker with an opportunity card generally €1,091 net a month, according to the federal portal Make it in Germany.
Germany compared with its neighbours
The DAAD places German living costs slightly above the European average: significantly lower than in countries like Denmark, Luxembourg or Switzerland, but rather high compared with countries like Poland, the Czech Republic or Italy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of living in Germany per month?
The Federal Statistical Office recorded average private consumption spending of €3,257 a month per household in 2024. Students need between 900 and 1,200 euros a month, according to the DAAD.
How much does a single person spend on food in Germany?
Single-person households spent an average of 269 euros a month on food, beverages and tobacco in 2023, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
How much is rent in Germany?
Students pay around 489 EUR on average for accommodation. A room in a shared flat in Munich costs around 790 EUR, while the average in Jena is 328 EUR.
What share of spending goes on housing in Germany?
Housing, energy and maintenance of the dwelling took 1,181 of the 3,257 euros that households spent each month in 2024, more than a third and the largest single category.
Is Germany expensive compared with other European countries?
The DAAD describes living costs as slightly above average: lower than Denmark, Luxembourg or Switzerland, higher than Poland, the Czech Republic or Italy.
What is the minimum wage in Germany in 2026?
13.90 EUR per hour since January 2026.
How much is a rental deposit in Germany?
The deposit usually amounts to three times the monthly basic rent and is returned when you move out if the flat is in good condition.
Official sources
- Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) — Private consumption expenditure of households, continuous household budget surveys
- Destatis — Expenditure on food, beverages and tobacco by size of household, 2023
- Destatis — Expenditure on food, beverages and tobacco by type of household, 2023
- DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) — Costs of education and living
- DAAD — Renting a room
- DAAD — Healthcare and health insurance
- DAAD — Side jobs
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government) — Financial security for living expenses, as of January 2026
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. The household figures are national averages for 2023 and 2024 and are not a quote for any one city. Information, not financial advice.