A 26-year-old Indian female student pursuing a master’s degree Germany shared detailed breakdowns of her monthly expenses and life abroad, highlighting the financial realities of studying abroad. Before she moved, she was making money $10 lakhs annually. She says choosing to leave a stable income to study abroad was a calculated but challenging decision.
In a conversation with HT.com, the student, who is pursuing a master’s degree in South Asia at Heidelberg University, admitted that while the academic exposure and research opportunities are excellent, managing finances requires careful planning.
Part-time work and monthly expenses
The 26-year-old said she currently works part-time in a souvenir shop, earning Germany’s minimum wage of 13 euros (about $1,400) per hour. Its monthly rent is 450 euros (approx $49,000), while a German-wide public transport ticket covering trams, buses and regional trains costs 45 euros (about $4800) per month.
Health insurance is about 145 euros per month (approx $15,500). Spend between 80-100 euros ( $8,500 – $10,000) on groceries, about 50-60 euros ( $5,300 – $6500) for eating out, and about 10 euros ( $1000) to recharge her phone.
In general, her monthly spending is around 800 euros, which is about that $85000.
(Also Read: After 12 years in Germany, Indian woman says hard work ‘didn’t pay off’: ‘I’m disappointed in myself’)
University fee structure and other requirements
The women also shared the university fee structure. She said that despite studying at a public university, international students are required to pay tuition fees of approximately $1.5 lakh per semester. Additionally, Germany requires international students to maintain a “blocked account” as part of the visa process. She explained that she almost had to say goodbye $12k for about a year $1 thousand per month to cover living expenses, then disbursed in monthly installments.
Over two years, she said the total cost comes to approx $30 lakh, including approx $24 lakh for living expenses and $6 lakh for four semesters of tuition fees.
(Read also: The founder refuses to give up his Indian passport despite spending 9 years in Germany: “I am Indian”)
Life in Germany
When asked if she regretted moving to Germany, the student told HT.com that she did not. She cited clean air and water, walkable cities, public spaces and museums as major positives. “Work-life balance is the best thing here. People really respect that,” she said.
But life is not without challenges. The 26-year-old said the weather could be “difficult”. In summer the temperature can reach 38°C, while in winter it can drop to around -10°C.
Living alone also means handling everything independently, from cooking and laundry to paperwork and bureaucracy. “It’s not easy, but you get used to it. It gives you confidence,” she said, adding that the cultural exposure and interaction with people from diverse backgrounds was invaluable.
Regarding whether she faced racism, she said that experiences vary. While most people are polite, I have noticed that some older Germans can be unfriendly. “I don’t care much anymore,” she said.
Although leaving A $10 lakh annual salary in India and investment of approx $The 26-year-old, who earned $30,000 for her education abroad, said the move was worth it given the academic growth, exposure and personal independence it brought.
