“If there is no tuition fee, why do people say Germany is expensive?”
Because the cost is front-loaded. Tuition at a public university is close to nothing, but you need roughly €14,000–€15,000 arranged before you fly, most of it sitting in a blocked account you can only draw on monthly.
What you pay the university
At public universities in almost every German state there is no tuition fee, including for Indian students. What you do pay is a semester contribution of roughly €150–€400, which usually includes a regional transport pass. Baden-Württemberg is the exception: non-EU students pay €1,500 per semester there.
Private universities are a separate market entirely, at €10,000–€20,000 a year. They are worth considering only if you cannot get into a public programme and have a specific reason for choosing the private option.
What you pay to live
Rent decides your budget. A dorm room from the Studentenwerk costs €250–€400 but waiting lists run into months. A room in a shared flat is €400–€500 in Aachen or Dresden and €600–€800 in Munich or Berlin.
On top of rent, plan €190–€250 for food, around €130 for public health insurance, €29–€49 for transport if it is not already covered, and €120–€180 for everything else. That puts a realistic total at €850 a month in a cheaper city and €1,200–€1,400 in Munich.
The blocked account is the real barrier
For the visa you must deposit €11,904 into a blocked account, from which you can withdraw €992 a month. This money is yours, but it must be liquid before you apply. Families who plan around tuition alone are often caught out by this figure at the last minute.
Budget the blocked account, the visa fee, insurance, flights and an initial deposit for accommodation as one lump sum. For most students that first payment cluster comes to roughly €14,000–€15,000.
The next decision
Pick your city band before you pick your programme. Munich and Dresden are the same country on paper and about €400 a month apart in practice.
If that is where you are stuck, read why the blocked account catches families out, or build the number for your own city and lifestyle.
Figures in this guide are indicative and were checked on 2026-07-28. Fees, visa rules and financial-proof amounts change; confirm the current numbers with the university and the relevant embassy or immigration authority before you act.