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Hi there,
I was wondering if people who live in Germany can share some facts about COL in Germany, excluding price to rent/buy housing which is easy to find online.
For exampe in US I spent per 1 person / month:
1. Meals - $600. I don't eat junk food, canned soups, donuts and other crap than Americans like, prefer organic foods.
2. Gas - $200, around 300 miles/m.
3. Health insurance - $60.
4. Utilities (heat/cool, Internet, cell phone) - $140
5. Car insurance - $60
6. Basic clothing - $50
7. Other - $100
--------------------------
Total: $1210
How would this look like for a average size city in Germany?
Does Germany has something similar to 401K in the US?
What would be net income from salary of 70K euros?
Scratch all the car crap off the list. Get a monthly metro pass for 45 Euro
For sure. Because gas will cost you 3-4 times as much as in the US. And where in he11 does car insurance cost only $60?! And clothes in Europe are generally more expensive, too.
It is really quite simple: some 'luxery' items like Apple, Levi's, expensive clothes, or expensive cars are cheaper in the US, the rest is cheaper in Germany. Fuel is cheaper in the US per gallon/liter but people need to drive much less in Europe so fuel costs per month are generally lower too. I spend around 30 euros per month on fuel, and nowhere near 200$. Health care costs you 60$ per month in the US, really?
Your budget is unrealistic. Food may work if you are not picky. Life without car is possible though somewhat restricted. Taking the last bus may work for teenagers
What are you basing the other figures on?
It is really quite simple: some 'luxery' items like Apple, Levi's, expensive clothes, or expensive cars are cheaper in the US, the rest is cheaper in Germany. Fuel is cheaper in the US per gallon/liter but people need to drive much less in Europe so fuel costs per month are generally lower too. I spend around 30 euros per month on fuel, and nowhere near 200$. Health care costs you 60$ per month in the US, really?
Sorry, health insurance is more like $100/m, this is corporate sponsored group plan, $300/m for a family of 3 and I have $4K deductible.
So if COL besides luxury items is same in Germany and the US, how do folks survive on lower European salaries and higher taxes?? I can't barely save anything in the US despite my salary being 4 times higher than average.
I have other costs like: $200/m for my kid pre-school, and this is just 3 hours/day, full day for 5 days would cost me $1000/m. And than I have to save for my kid's colledge, which will easily run $100,000+ total. How much is this in Germany?
I have other costs like: $200/m for my kid pre-school, and this is just 3 hours/day, full day for 5 days would cost me $1000/m. And than I have to save for my kid's colledge, which will easily run $100,000+ total. How much is this in Germany?
Daycare is much cheaper than that, and college is free. Except a few administration fees of EUR 200-300.
I think what drro said is pretty accurate. Most day-to-day expenses aren't much higher in Germany, especially groceries and rents. My car insurance in Germany was pretty cheap (around EUR 350 / year). It's possible to live car-free depending on where you live, but it comes in handy every once in a while. You won't drive nearly as much as in the US, so even though gas prices are high your overall cost is not going to be much higher.
So if COL besides luxury items is same in Germany and the US, how do folks survive on lower European salaries and higher taxes?? I can't barely save anything in the US despite my salary being 4 times higher than average.
Costs of living are not the same, they are actually lower in Germany. Still, you'd have to accept most people don't live an American lifestyle with a huge McMansion, a huge SUV. Housing and cars are smaller, then again most Americans do not live like that either.
The real advantage of Europe lies in historic, walkable cities, everything being close, no urban sprawl, good public transportation, good and low cost health care for everyone, better quality and cheaper food, more holidays, much better employee rights, etc.
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I have other costs like: $200/m for my kid pre-school, and this is just 3 hours/day, full day for 5 days would cost me $1000/m. And than I have to save for my kid's colledge, which will easily run $100,000+ total. How much is this in Germany?
Last time I checked studying at a university costs 500 euros per semester in Germany. Compare that to 20k to 40k $ per year in the US. That's what I meant when I said costs of living being lower in Germany.
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