Cost of Living in Germany and the Blocked Account (Sperrkonto)

As a student in Germany, your monthly budget varies significantly by city; cities like Munich, Frankfurt or Stuttgart are notably more expensive than cities like Dresden, Braunschweig or Furtwangen.

As a general rule, a monthly budget covering accommodation, food, transport, insurance and other expenses tends to be lower in mid-sized cities and higher in major metropolitan areas; finding student housing also has a significant impact on your budget.

The 'blocked account' (Sperrkonto), a mandatory part of the student visa application, is a special bank account used to prove you can cover your basic living expenses in Germany; a set amount is deposited and locked, and the student can withdraw a fixed monthly sum from it.

Besides a blocked account, some students demonstrate financial resources through a formal declaration of commitment ('Verpflichtungserklärung') from a German resident, or a scholarship confirmation letter; which method suits you depends on your situation.

At Studiva, we build a realistic budget plan for your target city and manage the process with you — from opening a blocked account to tracking the current required amounts.