Germany Budget & Cost Planner
Plan every euro — one-time set-up costs and monthly living costs for your move to Germany, in one editable spreadsheet.
Prefer it sent on WhatsApp? We'll add a quick personalisation tip for your situation. Free, no obligation.
What's inside
What you get
- Two ready-to-edit sheets — one-time set-up costs and monthly living costs — each with a 'Your amount' column to fill in.
- The 2026 blocked-account figure (€11,904 / €992 a month) marked clearly as refundable: it is proof of funds, not a fee.
- Every one-time cost broken out: visa (€75) and VFS fees, uni-assist, language test, certified translations, flights, deposit and arrival set-up.
- Realistic monthly lines — rent, food, health insurance, transport, phone and misc — with auto-summing totals.
- City context built in so you can adjust rent (Munich/Frankfurt highest; Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz lowest).
- The Ausbildung wedge noted: a signed training contract can cut or remove your blocked-account requirement.
How to use it
Make it yours in four steps
- 1
Fill the one-time costs sheet
Work down the 'Your amount' column for each set-up cost. The refundable blocked-account line is your buffer — you get that money back monthly after you arrive.
- 2
Adjust the monthly sheet to your city
Replace the rent estimate with your city's range, then tweak food, transport and misc. The total updates automatically.
- 3
Compare against €992 a month
The blocked account releases about €992 per month. If your total is higher, plan a part-time job or use your Ausbildung salary to close the gap.
- 4
Verify before you commit
Every figure is a 2026 estimate. Confirm the current blocked amount, fees and rents with the official sources before you transfer any money.
Keep going
Tools that pair with this template
Free, no sign-up — build your document list and check the details specific to your case.
Document checklist builder
Generate the exact documents you need by country and route.
OpenBlocked account & cost calculator
See the required blocked-account amount in your currency — and how an Ausbildung salary can reduce it.
OpenWhich path is right for me?
Answer 6 questions and get a personalised recommendation: Ausbildung, Bachelor's, Master's, or studying elsewhere in Europe.
OpenAll templates
Browse the full free application kit.
OpenGood to know
Questions about this template
€11,904 for the year — about €992 per month — for a student visa in 2026. It is set by the German Federal Foreign Office and tied to the BAföG rate. The money is yours: the bank releases roughly €992 to you each month after you arrive, so it is proof of funds, not a fee.
Budget roughly €850–1,500 a month depending on the city. Munich and Frankfurt are most expensive; Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz are cheapest. Rent is the biggest variable — a shared room (WG) runs about €250–900 — and food, health insurance, transport and phone add roughly €400–500 more.
Often much less, sometimes none. With a signed Ausbildungsvertrag your monthly training salary usually counts toward proof of funds, so you may only need to block the gap up to about €992 a month. Confirm the current practice with the German embassy handling your case.
Yes — it is your own money, held to prove you can support yourself. After you arrive and register, the bank releases about €992 to your German account each month. The only non-refundable costs are the provider setup fee (about €89–159) and the visa, test and translation fees.
The national visa fee (€75, or €37.50 for minors), the VFS service charge (about €38), uni-assist for the university route (€75 first application), a language test (around €250), certified translations (€100–300), flights, and arrival set-up such as a rental deposit and first supplies.
- Subsistence / blocked-account minimum (BAföG-linked) — German Federal Ministry of Education (BMBF) (official)
- Make it in Germany — official government portal — German Federal Government (BMAS / BMWK) (official)
- Study in Germany — DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) (official)
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.
One honest read
Want us to check your draft?
Fill it in, then send it over. We'll tell you what an employer or visa officer will actually notice — usually within 24 hours, free.