Many foreigners view Germany as an affordable and convenient option when it comes to higher learning, training and education. Well, that is accurate because Germany is one of the most expensive countries in the whole of Europe thanks to its stable economy. Actually, that is why landing a job in Germany is regarded lucrative.
However, just like in other countries in the world, some parts are regarded as extremely expensive to live in especially if you don’t have a job that pays well. Some factors that can make a city be regarded as either cheap or expensive to live include rent and utilities’ prices.
So, what are some of the expensive cities to live in Germany? Well, the top five include the following:
- Berlin
Anyone wouldn’t mind living and working in Berlin because it is a mixture of both urban and provincial culture. Moreover, it is a leading international education center and therefore the are many foreigners around. In Berlin, you’ll likely pay about 21.4% to your landlord every month, and the figure will likely go up in the coming years. Remember, the German government has still opened opportunities for expatriates to come and work in Germany, and most people will definitely prefer to be based at the capital.
- Hamburg
With no doubt, Hamburg has to be one of the most expensive cities to work and live in, if you don’t have a fat paycheck. What makes Hamburg an expensive city to live in is the rent rates which sees tenants handing over up to 21.9% of their after tax salary to tenants. The rent rate is at €2,810 per square meter. However, the city is busy and there are many job opportunities thanks to it being the only harbor for Germany. Therefore, in as much as you have the culture of hard work well inculcated in you, you’ll have nothing to worry about living in Hamburg. You can still live without straining with the remaining 80% of the salary.
- Frankfurt
Frankfurt is a leading international banking destination and it would be accurate to say that the expensive lifestyle is fueled by plenty of money circulation. The fact that many foreigners live in Frankfurt makes it have the second highest rent in Germany which stands at about €10,43 per square meter. However, you must also note that the income rates are high and such an expensive rent may amount to only 22% of most salaries. Therefore, if you are planning to live in Frankfurt, you better make sure that you are pocketing a big check every pay day.
- Stuttgart
The kind of life that you’ll experience in Berlin is not that different what you’ll experience when you move to Stuttgart. Actually landlords and agents in Stuttgart charge one of the most expensive rent rates in the whole of Germany as it stands at €10,04 per square meter. In other words, as a gainfully employed resident of Stuttgart, you’ll likely pay your landlord up to 21.5% of the after tax salary. However, there are also many job opportunities in Stuttgart for skilled labor force and most of them pay well. So, you can still take your chances with the city and still have enough to save.
- Heidelberg
Lastly, another expensive city to live in Germany would be Heidelberg. Heidelberg is an international education center and thus has a high number of foreigners living within the area. At Heidelberg, you’ll pay an average rent of up to 23.1% of your monthly income.
