Which cities are the cheapest cities in Germany to study and live in? Germany is among the best countries to consider for study or work migration. Germany has been considered an industrial and very advanced country in the past, and the living standards in this country are very high. Germany’s inflation and unemployment rate is meager, and skilled people can be quickly attracted to the labor market. But you might be interested that the cost of education and living in Germany is lower than in many countries such as America, Canada, and England. In this article, we want to check the cheapest cities in Germany and compare the cost of living and studying in these cities. Stay with us.
Advantages of studying in cheap cities in Germany
Before introducing the cheapest German cities for studying and living, we highlight the most important advantages of studying in Germany’s affordable towns. As you know, educational migration can be a relatively expensive task. For educational migration, you need to pay expenses such as:
- The cost of preparation of documents
- Getting a plane ticket
- Provision of housing in the destination country
- Paying gas, water, and electricity bills
- Internet provision
- Payment of registration fee and university tuition
- commuting
- Daily necessities
- And…
A significant part of the expenses of educational migration is related to the provision of housing, daily necessities, and tuition fees. Therefore, the cheapness of these two items can take a significant burden off the shoulders of immigrant students. You should know that studying in German public universities is cheap, and rent is low in many cities.
Study cheap in Germany
Regardless of whether the university you are looking for is located in the cheapest cities in Germany to study and live or not, you should know that studying in German public universities is very reasonable. You ask why Germany is an industrialized and advanced country and owes an integral part of its progress to the specialized workforce trained in prestigious German universities.
Therefore, it is clear that the government of this country should use all its efforts to improve the education system and train as many specialists as possible. In line with this effort, the German government has provided free education in most of the country’s public universities, Of course, for German citizens.
However, Germany’s need for a specialized labor force has made it possible to provide suitable facilities for international students’ cheap education. Studying for international students in German public universities is very affordable Because they usually charge a small fee for registration and providing student services. Tuition fees in German public universities are so low that studying in Germany can be considered free compared to many other countries.
Cheap education and the possibility of doing part-time work while studying (for 20 hours a week) make international students not only able to pay the costs of studying and living in Germany but also a decent amount to improve their quality of life and even Consider savings.
Easy provision of housing and necessities in the cheapest cities in Germany for studying and living
Renting housing in some German cities is very cheap. Also, the average cost of food and other daily necessities is meager. The cheapness of these things is entirely in favor of students who leave their homes and come to another country to improve their education and career. Accessible provision of housing and necessities brings peace of mind to international students. Because it allows them to focus all their attention on their studies and finally become professionals that the labor market expects.
But apart from the existence of cheap universities and the possibility of providing affordable housing, what other factors should be considered in choosing a city as a cheap destination for studying and living?
Criteria for choosing the cheapest cities in Germany to study
The most important criteria that we have considered in this article to introduce a city as a cheap destination for studying and living are:
- The cost of providing housing
- Existence of efficient and cheap public transportation
- The cost of food
- Wages paid by local employers
- The cost of entertainment and leisure time
- tax laws
In the following, we will cover these things and introduce cheap cities in Germany for studying and living so that you can make a better decision in choosing your destination city and university.
Introducing 5 of the cheapest cities in Germany for studying and living
So far, we have understood that studying in Germany can be very cheap and at the same time high quality. But in which German cities will we get this experience more easily?
1.Dresden
Dresden is the capital of the state of Saxony, and its population is close to 555 thousand people. There are many places to visit in Dresden. International students in this city can visit cafes, galleries, historical buildings, parks, etc. Among the most famous places of interest in Dresden, the following can be mentioned:
- Royal Palace
- Frauenkirche
- Pillnitz Castle and Garden
- Transportation Museum
In addition, there are many job opportunities in Dresden branches of several essential and active companies in the technology field, such as Amazon, Apple, IBM, Intel, and AMD.
The Technical University of Dresden (ranked 246 according to the QS ranking) is located in this city and is one of the top German public universities. About 6,700 student dormitories are located in this city; renting them costs between 107 and 370 euros per month.
Also, many international students live in shared apartments. Estimates have shown that the cost of living in Dresden is lower than that in more than 63% of the world’s cities. For this reason, we consider it one of the cheapest cities in Germany to study and live in. The average cost of living in Dresden (not including rent) is around 900 euros.
2.Frankfurt city
Frankfurt, the economic capital of Germany, is considered one of the cheapest cities in Germany to study and live in. Frankfurt is the largest city in the state of Hessen and has a population of nearly 754,000. Tall skyscrapers and the sight of sales representatives hurrying to and fro make this city stand out from other German cities. Frankfurt is also considered a city with lively and active nights.
In Frankfurt, prestigious educational centers such as the Goethe State University (ranked 302 according to the QS ranking). Frankfurt educational institutions are among the best centers in the world for studying economics, art, management, communication, etc.
Frankfurt is a place to connect with new people, learn about different cultures, quickly assimilate into the labor market, and advance your career. The average cost of living for one person (excluding rent) in Frankfurt is 966 euros.
3.The city of Leipzig
Leipzig (with a population of nearly 590 thousand people) is located in Saxony and is one of the most important cities in eastern Germany. Leipzig is the city for you if you like to live without the hustle and bustle of a town, have quality education, and be able to visit beautiful places.
Several of Germany’s top educational centers are in the city, including Leipzig State University (ranked 479 according to the QS ranking). International students can fill their free time with things like visiting the famous Leipzig Zoo. The average cost of living for one person (not including rent) in Leipzig is 894 euros, making it one of the cheapest cities in Germany to live and study.
4.Aachen city
Aachen is the 28th largest city in Germany, and the Aachen University of Technology (ranked 106 according to the QS ranking and among the top technical universities in Europe) is an ideal destination for studying various engineering fields such as electrical engineering, computer engineering, data science, material engineering, etc. is considered.
Aachen has a spectacular nature and has many hot springs. Also, the historical and sightseeing places of Aachen, including the cathedral of this city, are worth seeing many times. Aachen is located near the borders of the Netherlands and Belgium; therefore, international students can visit and travel to these countries.
Many of those applying for a German study visa consider Aachen their destination. Compared to cities like Hamburg, Berlin, and Cologne, Aachen has cheaper houses, and the average house rent is around 600 euros per month. This issue has made Aachen one of the most affordable cities in Germany to study and live. The average cost of living in Aachen (excluding rent) is 924 euros.
5.Bilehfeld city
This city, located in the northernmost part of North Rhine-Westphalia, is also one of the cheapest cities in Germany to study and live. The population of Bilehfeld is about 350 thousand people. This city is an ideal place for students to rent a house. The cost of renting a house in Bielefeld is 46% lower compared to a city like Berlin. In the city center of Bielefeld, you can rent houses for 400 euros per month.
There are many cheap restaurants and cafes in this city. The average money you have to spend for a meal for one person in cheap restaurants in Bielefeld is 10 euros. Therefore, this city can be very affordable for students.
Bielefeld State University (ranked 951 according to the QS ranking) is one of the top universities in Germany with 13 faculties. In these faculties, fields related to humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, etc. are taught.
Bielefeld University hosts international students from more than 20 countries. Therefore, Bielefeld is a cheap city with a high-quality university that international students can consider studying in. The average cost of living for a person in Bielefeld (not including rent) is 924 euros.
6.Munich
If you are a football fan, you must have heard the name of Bayern Munich football club. This club belongs to the city of Munich, Germany. Munich has over one million two hundred thousand people and hosts 12 universities. Exploring Munich, one of the cheapest cities in Germany to study and live in can be a lot of fun.
Munich has its architecture, and many museums are located there. Also, various celebrations are held annually in Munich. Therefore, you will be satisfied as an international student studying in Munich.
Academic migration to Munich allows one to study in the best universities in Germany. Germany’s top state universities, the Technical University of Munich (ranked 37th according to the QS ranking and as the best university in Germany) and the Ludwig Maximilian University (ranked 54th according to the QS ranking), are located in this city and host tens of thousands of international students every year. The degree from these universities is highly valued and helps to be quickly absorbed in the German and European labor markets.
Apply now to study in Germany
In this article, we introduced six cities as the cheapest cities in Germany for studying and living. Of course, you can experience a more affordable life in Germany by being frugal and satisfied. Also, doing part-time work helps a lot to cover living expenses. If you are interested in studying in cheap universities in Germany, you can apply right now to check the conditions and process of obtaining a German study visa.