Renting an apartment in Germany
You will often need to pay up to three months’ rent and a deposit in advance in order to rent an apartment, so make sure you have enough savings. Also, budget for Nebenkosten: additional monthly payments to cover fees, refuse, Internet, and other bills. The amount you will pay per month for an apartment before bills and Nebenkosten will be referred to as cold rent or Kaltmiete.

How much money do you need to live in Germany?
Rental costs vary across the country, but you will likely need in excess of €1000 a month to cover rent, bills, transport and food. Draw up a realistic budget so you know how much you will need to earn. You can find out more about rent and other living costs on our Cost of Living in Germany page and supporting pages.

Where is the best place to live in Germany?
There is no single best place to live in Germany. Young creative people are drawn to the vibrancy of Berlin, whilst the highest standard of living is reportedly enjoyed in the cities of Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Munich. Leipzig is a relatively small but popular, diverse, and culturally rich city that is gaining in popularity with younger people.

The German “Pfand” System
The Pfand system in Germany means that consumers pay a deposit on glass and plastic bottles, which they get back when they return the bottle. Not all shops will accept all empty bottles, however. They will only accept bottles which they sell in store. So, collect them up and take them to a supermarket, as these tend to sell/accept most bottles, provided they have a German Pfand barcode - and this way, you’ll get a mini windfall of change!

Medical Care in Germany
To access medical care in Germany, you need to register with the state healthcare system (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung). Once registered, you will be given a health card (Krankenversichertenkarte) which you need to take to any appointments or visits to the hospital.

Certain people, like freelancers and high-earners, can also choose to take out private medical healthcare. EU citizens can also access basic medical care if they are in possession of an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). Find out more about medical care and insurance on our Health insurance in Germany page.

To be continued......