“Is it really expensive? Or is it still economical?”
Most students reading this blog have the same question in mind: “Is Germany expensive in 2026, or does it still make sense?”
In order to clarify the answer to this question, we compared the costs city by city, compared them with Istanbul and presented the results in TL.
Let’s take a look together. 👇
Average Monthly Expenses of a Student in Germany
Student’s monthly expense according to realistic standards for 2026:
When we add them all up, it is approximately 850–1,000 € (17,000 – 20,000 TL)
This is still economical compared to many countries in Europe.
Which city in Germany is more affordable for a budget? The average picture in 2026 is as follows:
| City | Monthly Total (TL) | Euro Equivalent |
| Leipzig | 13.000 – 16.000 TL | (650–800 €) |
| Bochum / Essen | 14.000 – 17.000 TL | (€700–850) |
| Hanover | 15.000 – 18.000 TL | (750–900 €) |
| Cologne / Dusseldorf | 16.000 – 19.000 TL | (€800–950) |
| Berlin | 17.000 – 20.000 TL | (€850–1,000) |
| Munich | 19.000 – 24.000 TL | (€950–1,200) |
In a nutshell:
| Expense | Istanbul (TL) | Berlin (TL) | Berlin (€) |
| Rent (shared) | 11.000 – 14.000 | 10.000 – 12.000 | (500–600 €) |
| Market | ~6,000 | ~4,600 | (€230) |
| Transportation | 1.200 | 0–600 | (0–30 €) |
| Social | 3.000 | ~2,000 | (100 €) |
Total Monthly
Istanbul: 20,000 – 24,000 TL
Berlin: 17,000 – 20,000 TL
In other words, the perception that “Berlin is more expensive than Istanbul” is actually not true.
Students in Germany can work part-time. Average earnings per month:
What does that mean?
→ The student’s cost of living can be covered by his own earnings. This is an advantage that most students in Turkey do not have.
To summarize in a short sentence, being a student in Istanbul is an expense, being a student in Germany is an investment.
