Compare the cost of living in two German cities

Smaller university cities such as Aachen, Dresden and Leipzig are far cheaper than Munich, Frankfurt or Hamburg, mainly because of rent. Public universities charge almost no tuition anywhere.

Often yes for tech and finance, because Munich and Frankfurt salaries are 10 to 25 percent above the national average. Compare the net salary with the monthly total here before deciding.

Yes, for one person. A student figure assumes a shared flat room, a professional figure assumes a small one bedroom flat, health insurance and a transport ticket.

Munich pays more, especially in automotive, IT and consulting, but rent is the highest in Germany and flats are hard to find. Berlin costs clearly less, has the largest Indian community, more English speaking jobs and far more Indian grocery shops and temples. For a first move Berlin is usually the softer landing; for maximum savings on a senior salary Munich can still come out ahead.

A student sharing a WG room manages on roughly €950 to €1,150 including rent, food, insurance and the semester ticket. A working professional in a small flat should plan €1,600 to €2,000. Indian groceries at the shops in Neukölln and Wedding cost little more than cooking German staples.

Landlords in Germany generally want rent to stay under a third of net income, and many ask for proof through payslips or a Schufa report. In Munich and Frankfurt a single person often ends up at 35 to 40 percent, which is the main reason people take a room in a shared flat for the first year.