Studying in Frankfurt
Germany's financial capital and one of its most international cities, home to the European Central Bank, major banks and Europe's busiest freight airport. Costs are high but below Munich, and the diversity makes settling in easier for newcomers.
Frankfurt at a glance
- Cost tier
- Higher cost
- Room (WG) / month
- €500–750
- All-in / month
- €1,050–1,400
Frankfurt is a high-cost but high-opportunity city for international students — plan for roughly €1,050–1,400 a month all-in (rooms from €500). Below you'll find its real halal-food, desi-grocery and mosque options alongside the cost breakdown, part-time job scene and universities, written for students from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
Real numbers
Cost of living in Frankfurt
Typical monthly student costs. Budget carefully and start your housing search early.
| Monthly item | Typical range (€) |
|---|---|
| Rent (shared room / WG) | €500–750 |
| Food & groceries | €150–250 |
| Health insurance (public student) | €120–130 |
| Transport (semester ticket / pass) | €30–60 |
| Phone, leisure & other | €80–150 |
| All-in monthly (typical) | €1,050–1,400 |
Line items are typical monthly ranges; the all-in total is a realistic combined estimate for Frankfurt, so it won't be a simple sum. Your blocked-account requirement (proof of funds) is separate — a student visa needs about €11,904/year, but a signed Ausbildung contract can cut that. Work out both in the blocked-account & cost calculator.
Living there
Student life in Frankfurt
Frankfurt is a compact, cosmopolitan city where dozens of nationalities live side by side, so you rarely feel like an outsider. There's strong nightlife, museums along the Museumsufer and fast rail links across Germany. Housing is tight and pricey, though a little easier than Munich.
What other guides skip
Halal food, desi community & worship
The practical, on-the-ground stuff that decides whether Frankfurt feels like home — not just the rent.
Halal food
Halal food is abundant, especially in the Bahnhofsviertel (station quarter), which is packed with Turkish, Arab, Afghan and some South Asian eateries and grocers. Halal butchers and certified meat are widely available across the city.
Desi grocery & community
Frankfurt has a visible South Asian presence, with Indian and Pakistani restaurants and grocery shops selling spices, rice, lentils and halal meat. The airport and logistics sector employ many South Asians, and community and religious gatherings are easy to plug into.
Mosques & prayer
Numerous mosques serve the region, including Turkish, Arab and Bosnian congregations, with well-attended Friday prayers. Prayer facilities exist near the universities and Muslim student associations are active.
For students from Pakistan, India & Bangladesh
Frankfurt has a visible South Asian presence, with Indian and Pakistani restaurants and grocery shops selling spices, rice, lentils and halal meat. The airport and logistics sector employ many South Asians, and community and religious gatherings are easy to plug into.
Our honest take: budget carefully and start your housing search early. Weigh the cost against the jobs and the size of the community that matters to you — and use the tools below to put real numbers on it.
A year of living costs in Frankfurt
≈ €1,050–1,400 × 12 months, in your currency
- PakistanRs3,969,000–Rs5,292,000
- India₹1,159,200–₹1,545,600
- Bangladesh৳1,612,800–৳2,150,400
Living costs only (excludes the one-off blocked account and fees). Local-currency amounts move with the exchange rate — treat them as planning estimates.
Part-time jobs
The part-time market is strong: banking-adjacent admin, retail, hospitality, trade-fair (Messe) work and airport logistics. Trade fairs in particular create well-paid short-term shifts. Wages are high, though so is rent.
Study & Ausbildung scene
Goethe University (large and research-strong) and Frankfurt UAS anchor the city. For Ausbildung, finance, IT, logistics (the airport and Fraport), hospitality and healthcare employers hire steadily.
Why Frankfurt
- Most international big city in Germany
- Huge halal & desi scene in the Bahnhofsviertel
- Strong finance, IT and logistics job market
- High cost, but easier to settle than Munich
Free, no sign-up
Put numbers on your plan
Two tools worth running before you talk to anyone — including us.
Frankfurt is a high-cost but high-opportunity city. A shared room (WG) runs about €500–750 a month and all-in student costs are roughly €1,050–1,400 a month including rent, food, insurance and transport. Budget carefully and start your housing search early.
Yes. Halal food is abundant, especially in the Bahnhofsviertel (station quarter), which is packed with Turkish, Arab, Afghan and some South Asian eateries and grocers.
Frankfurt has a visible South Asian presence, with Indian and Pakistani restaurants and grocery shops selling spices, rice, lentils and halal meat.
Yes. International students in Germany can work part-time alongside their studies within the legal limits. The part-time market is strong: banking-adjacent admin, retail, hospitality, trade-fair (Messe) work and airport logistics.
Yes. Numerous mosques serve the region, including Turkish, Arab and Bosnian congregations, with well-attended Friday prayers.
Goethe University (large and research-strong) and Frankfurt UAS anchor the city.
- Make it in Germany — official government portal — German Federal Government (BMAS / BMWK) (official)
- Study in Germany — DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) (official)
- Studienkolleg (university foundation year) — Studienkollegs in Germany
Figures are checked against these sources and reviewed each application intake. Last verified: 2026-07-20. Always confirm the current rule for your case with the official source before you act.
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