Visa & Papers

Cost of Moving to Germany: Full Relocation Budget in €

By the GoGermany Editorial Team · 2026-08-05

A realistic 2026 relocation budget for moving to Germany in euros — Sperrkonto, deposit, flights, insurance and living costs, with low, mid and high ranges in one clear table.

Moving to Germany is very achievable — but arriving under-funded is the single biggest mistake people make. Between the Sperrkonto (blocked account), the rental Kaution (deposit), flights, insurance and everyday living before your first paycheck, the real up-front cost is far higher than the visa fee alone. This guide lays out a realistic, line-by-line relocation budget in euros for 2026, with low, mid and high ranges so you can plan for your situation. Figures are general guidance — your actual numbers depend on your visa type, city and lifestyle.

The short answer

For most people arriving from outside the EU, plan for roughly €15,000–€22,000 in cash and proof-of-funds to move to Germany and stay afloat until your first salary lands. A large chunk of that — the Sperrkonto — is your own money that you get back monthly once you arrive, but you still have to show it exists before you get a visa.

Let's break it down.

1. Visa and permit fees

Your first hard cost is the residence permit itself.

• National (D) visa — around €75 at most German embassies for the initial long-stay visa (work, study, jobseeker).
• Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card, the points-based jobseeker permit) — the visa fee is likewise around €75.
• Aufenthaltstitel (residence title) issued after you arrive — roughly €100 for the electronic permit card, sometimes more for the Blue Card.

These fees are small. The paperwork behind them — documents, translations, and proof of funds — is where the money goes.

2. Sperrkonto (blocked account)

If you need to prove you can support yourself — students and most jobseekers do — you open a Sperrkonto (blocked account). You deposit a fixed sum that unlocks in equal monthly instalments after you arrive.

For 2026 the required amount is roughly €11,900–€13,000 for a full year (about €992/month, tied to the BAföG maximum rate the government uses as a living-cost benchmark). You cannot touch it all at once — it drips out month by month, which is exactly the point: it funds your living costs.

Providers (Fintiba, Expatrio, Coracle and similar) charge a setup fee of ~€49–€89 plus a small monthly fee (~€5). Work out your exact figure with the Sperrkonto calculator.

Important: the Sperrkonto is not a "cost" you lose — it is your own money returned to you. But you must have it available up front, so budget for it as cash you cannot spend on anything else first.

3. Getting there: flights and shipping

• One-way flight — €250–€900 depending on origin and season. Book early; avoid peak summer and the winter holidays.
• Excess baggage or air freight — €100–€500 if you bring more than the airline allows.
• Shipping boxes / small container — most people don't ship furniture (it's rarely worth it). A few boxes by post run €150–€600.

Travel light. German flats are cheaper to furnish locally than to fill with shipped goods.

4. Your first month: the big one

The first month in Germany is by far the most expensive, because you pay several one-off costs at once.

Kaution (rental deposit)

Landlords charge a Kaution (security deposit) of up to three months' cold rent (Kaltmiete — rent without utilities). On a €700 cold-rent flat that's €2,100, paid before you get the keys. You get it back when you move out, minus any damage.

First month's rent

You typically pay the first month's warm rent (Warmmiete — rent including heating and service charges) on top of the deposit. Budget €700–€1,400 depending on city and size.

Agent fee and furniture

• Provision (agent fee) — usually paid by the landlord for rentals now, but a relocation agent or flat-finding service can cost €300–€1,500.
• Furniture and basics — an unfurnished German flat often comes without a kitchen. A starter kitchen, bed, and essentials run €800–€3,000 (IKEA + second-hand keeps this low).

Costs vary hugely by city. Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg are far pricier than Leipzig or the Ruhr — compare with the city comparator, and read our housing guide before you sign anything.

5. Health insurance

Health insurance (Krankenversicherung) is mandatory from day one.

• Public (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) — around €250–€450/month once you're employed (a percentage of salary). Students pay a reduced student rate of roughly €130/month.
• Private / incoming (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) — jobseekers and some new arrivals use expat/incoming cover at €30–€110/month until they start a qualifying job.

Budget at least one to three months of premiums up front — you often need proof of cover for both the visa and the Anmeldung.

6. Anmeldung, banking and admin

• Anmeldung (mandatory address registration at the Bürgeramt) — free, but you can't get a tax ID, a proper bank account or a permit without it. Book the appointment early; slots are scarce.
• Bank account — a basic Girokonto (current account) is usually free; some cost €5–€10/month. See our banking guide for options that work for newcomers.
• Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee) — €18.36/month per household, unavoidable.
• Phone / SIM — €10–€30/month.

7. Translations and recognition (Anerkennung)

If you're moving to work in a regulated profession (nurse, doctor, teacher, engineer), you'll pay for:

• Certified translations of diplomas and certificates — €30–€80 per document; a full set often totals €200–€600.
• Anerkennung (formal recognition of foreign qualifications) — application fees typically €100–€600, more for medical professions.
• Apostille / legalisation in your home country — variable, often €20–€100 per document.

Not everyone needs this — skip it if your job isn't regulated.

8. Living costs before your first salary

Even with a job offer, your first German salary may not arrive for 6–10 weeks after you land. You need a cash cushion for:

• Groceries and eating out — €250–€450/month.
• Transport — the Deutschlandticket (nationwide public-transport pass) is €58/month in 2026.
• Mobile, internet, miscellaneous — €100–€200/month.

Estimate your monthly burn precisely with the living-cost calculator, then multiply by two or three months.

Summary budget table (2026, single person, non-EU)

*The Sperrkonto is your own money, released to you monthly after arrival — not a sunk cost. Excluding it, the true out-of-pocket spend is roughly €3,700–€14,400.

How to trim the budget

• Pick a cheaper city. Leipzig, Dresden or the Ruhr can cut your rent and deposit by a third versus Munich.
• Find a WG (Wohngemeinschaft — shared flat) first. Deposits and rent are far lower than a solo apartment, and it's the fastest way to land an address for your Anmeldung.
• Buy furniture second-hand on eBay Kleinanzeigen or in Facebook "Zu verschenken" (free-to-take) groups.
• Learn some German. It widens your housing and job options and saves on paid translators — start with learn German.
• Time your move. Off-season flights and non-summer flat-hunting are cheaper and less competitive.

Plan for the high end, hope for the mid, and you'll arrive in Germany with a buffer instead of a panic. For more country-specific breakdowns and checklists, browse our articles.

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