Moving to Munich for your studies? Here’s what you need to know.
8 min read
Cycling along the Isar river, shopping locally at the Viktualienmarkt, and indulging yourself with Weisswurst and Brezel—in Munich, you can enjoy student life to the fullest. To help you get settled in, we’ve created this student guide with lots of tips on how to find housing, where to look for a student job, and how to discover Munich and its surroundings on a budget. So studying in Munich will truly be a Mordsgaudi—even when you’re short on money!
Things to know when renting an apartment in Munich
Truth to be told, living in Munich certainly comes at a price! In 2021, the average cost of living was roughly €21 per square meter—in comparison to a “mere” €12 per square meter in Berlin. So when you plan to study in Munich, be aware that housing costs are pretty high. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that most students choose to live in a shared apartment. This comes with more than one advantage—you’ll meet new friends really quickly, share experiences with your flatmates, and can divide the costs for electricity, internet, gas, and groceries. To make splitting finances with flatmates even easier, consider creating joint sub-accounts with smart tools such as Shared Spaces, available with all N26 premium accounts! This way, you can manage your finances collectively and always make sure you’ll pay the rent and utilities on time.
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There are quite a few options for finding accommodation in Munich. On WG-gesucht, you can choose from lots of furnished rooms located in the city or popular student quarters. With an average 15 square meters per room, a fully equipped kitchen, and diverse housemates, this platform is a great choice for finding accommodation. However, most of the rooms are only short-term rentals, as many students go on Erasmus for one semester or do an internship abroad and sublet their room. Nevertheless, it’s a good starting point when you first move to Munich. And, by moving into a pre-established WG, you’ll be able to remove many kitchen utensils and bedroom items from your checklist on what to take to uni!If you just plan to stay in Munich only for your Bachelor’s degree, or just for part of your studies, you might consider moving from one short-term rental apartment to another. This way, you won’t have to buy any furniture or appliances, and moving house will be quite cheap! If you’d rather stay in the same room or apartment, you can intensify your search with the following options:
Housing Anywhere or Wunderflats with (partially) furnished rooms in privately owned student apartments
WG-Suche for shared flats and furnished apartments
ImmobilienScout 24, Immonet, or Immowelt for your own, long-term rental apartment
The Studentenwerk München with cheap student accommodation in Munich, Freising, and Rosenheim
Websites of building societies and property management companies
Facebook groups
Ads in local newspapers
Bulletin boards at university or supermarkets, as well as notes on lamp posts
Friends, family, and other people from your network
The average cost for a room in Munich is €600, and even with student financial support, that’s quite a lot. If your parents or other family can’t provide sufficient financial support, you might want to consider taking on a student job. Read on to learn how you can find a side hustle in Munich.
How to find a student job in Munich
Living costs in Munich are pretty high, but so are wages! Why not look for a side hustle to earn some cash while you study? Earning your own money means you’ll be better able to finance your studies in Munich. Plus, you’ll have some extra cash to spend on yourself! There are a number of platforms to find a student job online, such as:
On top of that, don’t be shy to ask around. There are lots of shops, cafés, and restaurants looking for that extra help. Waiting tables or making coffee is always a good option—and tips in Munich aren’t too shabby either! Don’t see yourself succeeding in the service industry? How about unpacking boxes and filling supermarket shelves at the shop nearby? This only requires basic German skills and you’ll be saving money on a gym membership at the same time. You can also stay in shape and get paid decently as a delivery driver for companies such asGorillas, Wolt, Getir, Foodpanda, or Lieferando. In order to deliver pizza and groceries as fast as possible, some jobs require you to have your own bike. Learn where to buy bikes cheaply and what other transit options to choose from in our guide to student transport on a budget.
How to earn and save money
Having a student job will not only help you finance your studies and cover the rent. It’ll also give you the chance to start saving money as a student! With N26 Spaces, you can create up to 10 sub-accounts with individual IBAN numbers. Send your employer the bank details of one of your Spaces, and get paid directly to that space instead of your main account. This way, you won’t be able to spend it when paying with your contactless card, helping you stay in-budget. Then, create a Rule to transfer the money you need for your expenses to your main account, so you’re always in total control of your spending. Yup, it’s that simple to start saving on a budget!
Student life in Munich—what to do in your spare time
Working and studying in Munich can be quite exhausting at times. That’s why it’s important to relax once in a while and breathe in some fresh mountain air! There’s so much to discover in the Bavarian capital and its green surroundings. And, you don’t even have to spend a lot of money to do so.
Discover Munich and its surrounding suburbs with the MVV-Semesterticket
In Germany, the costs for the universal student transit pass are already included in your biannual semester fee. So, we definitely recommend you use public transport as much as possible! With the MVV-Semesterticket or the optional IsarCard Semester, you can commute cheaply in all 7 fare zones of Munich and even reach rural areas such as München-Land, Dachau, Freising, and Starnberg. Lake Starnberg is the fifth largest lake in Germany and a great place for a day trip. From there, it’s just a short ride to Andechs Monastery, an impressive Baroque church and historic brewery. In Dachau, you can visit the Concentration Camp Memorial Site (audio guides and guided tours are available in English). And if you’re looking for some exercise, there are plenty of beautiful bike routes around Munich that lead you all the way back to the city.
Eating, drinking and walking along the Isar
Munich is famous for its countless beer gardens—and in some of them, you can even bring your own food! The Englischer Garten is a large public park in the city centre and equally popular among locals and tourists. Discover delicious German food and fresh groceries at the Viktualienmarkt. And if you feel like escaping the city buzz, take a walk through beautiful Pasinger Stadtpark, and maybe even spot the beavers in the streams. In the summer months, you can take a refreshing swim in the Isar river and have a barbecue at the beach with your friends! Dining out with friends and divvying up grocery bills has never been easier thanks to Split the Bill, the N26 feature that makes it possible to split costs and request payment from your friends in just a few taps.
Culture and Nightlife
If you love art, music, and architecture, Munich is the place to be! The Bavarian capital is known for its many cultural activities and beautiful surroundings. Simply go to the city’s official website to discover upcoming events, as well as plays, classical concerts, and exhibitions. Students benefit from reduced entrance fees in most museums, music halls, and theaters, so don’t miss out on your chance to visit the Munich state opera, the residential theatre or the Pinakotheken at a reduced price!Looking for some alternative weekend fun? Discover hip bars, vintage shops, queer parties, or small galleries in the trendy neighborhoods of Maxvorstadt, Glockenbachviertel, Ludwigsstadt, Isarvorstadt, and Schwabing.
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Living in Munich might not be the cheapest, but it’s definitely possible to make ends meet on a student budget! One way to set yourself up for success is by having the right bank at your side. With N26, you’re in full control of your finances: keep track of your monthly spending and learn more about your financial habits with N26 Statistics. This intelligent feature automatically categorizes incoming and outgoing transactions, so you can adjust your budget where necessary. With MoneyBeam, instantly send and receive money to all your N26 contacts. Plus, take advantage of Perks from partner brands like Booking.com or Reebok. Open a free N26 Standard account, or a premium plan with even more features. and discover banking you’ll love.
Culture, courses, people and places: studying abroad comes with a host of benefits to help you grow as a person. Check out our online guide on 10 fantastic places to study around the world.
This guide takes a closer look at the main options students in Europe have to pay for college and the eligibility requirements for each one. It includes links to databases for scholarships and grants.
Culture, courses, people and places: studying abroad comes with a host of benefits to help you grow as a person. Check out our online guide on 10 fantastic places to study around the world.
This guide takes a closer look at the main options students in Europe have to pay for college and the eligibility requirements for each one. It includes links to databases for scholarships and grants.
