Average expenses in Germany

[tesox]

Hey there,
Can anyone give me some idea of what average expenses would be in Germany. Ive researched a few sources, but the more info the merrier.

Satellite TV
Internet
Phone
Cell Phone
house insurance
car insurance

Cheers,
Mike

[spike_scramble]

Satellite TV

free, cable-TV will be about 40€/month

Internet

comes with cable, via phoneline 30€/month

Phone

included in cable-TV/Internet via phoneline

Cell Phone

depends on you, 40€-50€/month should fit

house insurance

about 40€/month, maybe less

car insurance

starting from 400€ up to ..... a year


hope that helps, cheers

[BIRD2008]

Medical

How about medical insurance. How much is that per month/year?

[sberk]

tricky question. The medical insurance depends how much you earn. If you are a member of the public medical insurance it will be between 12%-15% of your monthly income (children included). If you take a private medical insurance, you will pay from 60 euros to ... depending on you age, health, children etc.
Not everybody has both options. It depends on your income and on your citizenship and probably some other points,
sberK

[spike_scramble]

As an ATCO you'll have the choice between the public health care and the private one.
Just my 5 cent: forget about the public health care, you'll be the last one in the (waiting room) queue...
The private health care (mid 30, male) is about 350-400€/month, kids about 100-120€/month, the spouse (mid 30, female) will be about 400€/month. You'll get from the DFS 270€ for the private health care. Starting in 2010, your expenses will be deductible from your gross salary (net about 200€/month more in the pocket).

[BIRD2008]

Nice, thank you guys dor that info. Is there anything else I should know about expenses or living in Germany, I'm hopefully starting there this summer?

[tesox]

Thanks for the great responses. One other question, what would anticipate the total monthly expenditures to be for a family of four, spouse not working, 6 and 8 year old. I roughly anticipated all expenses to amount to roughly 4500 euro per month, that includes food, housing, travel, etc.
Thank you very much,

[tesox]

PS I too am hoping to move in August to start training in October.

[spike_scramble]

I roughly anticipated all expenses to amount to roughly 4500 euro per month, that includes food, housing, travel, etc.

Well, depends on your lifestyle and the unit/area you're posted to..... Once again my 5 cent: 4500€ should fit in the northern part of Germany. In the south I'd add 1k. e.g.: I've a monthly rate of 2700€ just for housing in the southern part and I'd say you'll need additional 2500€-3000€ for a family of four for a decent lifestyle.

PS I too am hoping to move in August to start training in October.

Do you know, where you're posted to?

[tesox]

Im posted to Karlsruhe ACC.

You said 2700 euros for housing...is that food heat insurances tv etc? Or just housing.

Im budgeting roughly for family of four
1200 rent
1200 food
500 heat light tv internet phone
500 personal (cloths,haircuts, entertainment, memberships etc)
2000 kids school

Reasonable?

[spike_scramble]

Hi,

the 2700€ are just for housing (mortgage) - other region than Karlsruhe..... I'd say 1500€ for a midsize house/flat in Karlsruhe are reasonable (includes the additional charges like heating, electricity....). 2k for the kids' school is too much. We'll pay for our two kids about 1400€/month for private schooling (depends on your annual gross salary). The other positions are reasonable....

Cheers

[tesox]

The international school Karlsruhe is 12000 euro per year per child, now we can claim 30% on our tax reduction, but the school has a fantastic program providing our children with the European Baccalaureate by graduation. We'll just live in a cheaper place.