Food is one of the main living costs students need to plan for in Germany. Before you arrive, it can be hard to know how much groceries, Mensa meals, coffee, takeaway, delivery, and familiar ingredients will really cost.
This guide will help you understand typical food costs, where students usually shop, and how to build a realistic food budget in Germany.
How much should students budget for food in Germany?
A realistic food budget for many international students in Germany is around €220–€420 per month. Your spending may be higher in a larger city, during your first month, or if you often eat out, order delivery, buy café food, or need specialist ingredients.
Students who cook most meals at home and use lower-cost supermarkets may spend closer to the lower end. Students who eat out often, order delivery, buy coffee and snacks regularly, or rely on imported ingredients may need more.
| Food cost | Typical monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Groceries | €180–€280 |
| Eating out, delivery, Mensa meals, snacks, coffee, and drinks | €40–€160 |
| Estimated total | €220–€420 |
These figures are planning estimates, not guaranteed spending amounts. Your monthly total may be higher in cities like Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, or Berlin, and lower if you live in a smaller university town, cook regularly, and have good access to discount supermarkets.
Germany does not usually use required meal plans in the same way as some countries. Many students cook for themselves and use the Mensa, which is the student canteen run by the local Studierendenwerk, or student services organization.
What can change your food budget?
Your food budget is not only about being in Germany. It also depends on your daily routine, where you live, and how easy it is to shop and cook.
| Factor | How it can affect your budget |
|---|---|
| City or region | Larger and more expensive cities can make eating out, snacks, cafés, and some groceries cost more. Smaller university towns may be easier for lower-cost food shopping. |
| Cooking access | A shared kitchen can help you save money, but limited fridge, freezer, or cupboard space can make it harder to buy larger packs or store leftovers. |
| Mensa or campus food | Mensa meals are often one of the cheaper ways to eat a hot meal outside the home, especially at lunch. Prices vary by university and menu. |
| Eating out and delivery | Restaurant meals, delivery fees, and app service charges can quickly raise your monthly food spending. |
| Dietary needs or familiar ingredients | Halal, vegan, allergy-aware, gluten-free, specialist, or imported foods may cost more or may require trips to specific stores. |
| Local shopping access | Living near Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny, Kaufland, markets, or international grocery stores can make budgeting easier. Relying on small convenience shops is usually more expensive. |
Where students usually buy food in Germany
Germany has a strong supermarket and discount-store culture. Many students use a mix of discount supermarkets for basics, larger supermarkets for choice, and the Mensa for affordable campus meals.
| Shopping option | What to expect | Budget tip |
|---|---|---|
| Discount supermarkets | Stores such as Aldi, Lidl, Netto, and Penny are popular for basics like pasta, rice, bread, dairy, eggs, frozen food, fruit, and vegetables. | Use these for regular weekly shopping, especially staples and own-brand products. |
| Mainstream supermarkets | Stores such as Rewe, Edeka, and Kaufland usually offer more choice, branded products, and longer opening hours in some locations. | Compare prices with discount supermarkets and use them for items you cannot find elsewhere. |
| Organic supermarkets | Stores such as Alnatura, Bio Company, or Denn’s focus on organic and specialist products. | Useful for some dietary needs, but not usually the cheapest place for a full weekly shop. |
| Local markets | Weekly markets can be good for fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, cheese, and local products, depending on the city. | Go near closing time only if it is practical, as some sellers may reduce prices, but do not rely on this every week. |
| International and specialist grocery stores | Turkish, Middle Eastern, Asian, African, Latin American, and other international stores are common in many cities. | These can be useful for familiar ingredients, spices, rice, lentils, sauces, halal meat, or specific staples. |
| Mensa and campus cafeterias | The Mensa is usually cheaper than eating in restaurants and often has vegetarian or vegan options. Campus cafeterias may sell coffee, sandwiches, snacks, and pastries. | Use the Mensa for occasional hot meals, but still track snacks and drinks because small purchases add up. |
| Convenience stores and kiosks | Small shops, train-station stores, petrol-station shops, and kiosks are useful in emergencies but often cost more. | Avoid using these for regular grocery shopping unless you have no other option. |
| Online grocery delivery | Online grocery delivery is available in many larger cities, but coverage and prices vary. Delivery fees or minimum orders may apply. | Check the full cost before ordering, including delivery, service fees, and substitutions. |
How to save money on groceries
Saving money on food in Germany does not mean you need to cook perfectly or avoid every treat. It usually means knowing where to buy your regular items and planning a few simple meals you can repeat.
- Use discount supermarkets for basics: Aldi, Lidl, Netto, and Penny are often good starting points for pasta, rice, oats, bread, dairy, eggs, frozen vegetables, canned goods, and simple snacks.
- Compare own-brand products: Many German supermarkets have own-brand or value-range items. These are often much cheaper than branded versions.
- Check the unit price: Supermarket shelf labels often show the price per kilo or liter. This helps you compare products that come in different pack sizes.
- Build meals around repeat ingredients: Rice, pasta, potatoes, lentils, eggs, frozen vegetables, beans, yogurt, and bread can be used in many simple meals.
- Buy only what you can store: Many student kitchens have limited fridge, freezer, and cupboard space. A large pack is not cheaper if you cannot store it safely or use it in time.
- Try local brands before imported ones: Familiar foods from home can be comforting, but imported products may cost more. You may be able to use a local alternative for everyday meals and save imported items for when they really matter.
- Use supermarket apps or loyalty programs carefully: Some supermarkets offer digital coupons, points, or weekly discounts. These can help, but only if you are buying things you already need.
- Do not rely on delivery for basic groceries: Delivery can be useful when you are busy or new to the city, but fees and minimum orders can make it more expensive than shopping in person.
Eating out, takeaway, delivery, and student discounts
Eating out in Germany can be moderate or expensive for students, depending on where you go. A Mensa lunch is often one of the most budget-friendly hot meals, while restaurants, cafés, and delivery apps can raise your monthly spending quickly.
Lower-cost options may include:
- Mensa meals on campus
- Bakery snacks, sandwiches, or pastries
- Döner, falafel, pizza slices, or snack bars
- Lunch specials in student areas
- Food courts or casual restaurants
- Supermarket ready meals or salads when cooking is not realistic
Delivery apps are common in larger cities, but the final price can be much higher than the menu price once delivery fees, service fees, small-order charges, and tips are added. It is fine to use delivery sometimes, but it helps to give it a separate budget line so it does not quietly take money from your grocery budget.
Student discounts are more common for transport, culture, museums, cinemas, and some services than for everyday groceries. For food, your best student-friendly option is often the Mensa, plus supermarket offers and loyalty discounts.
A simple monthly food budget example
This example shows how food spending can change depending on habits. It is not a fixed rule, and it may not match every city or student lifestyle.
| Budget item | Lower-cost month | Higher-cost month |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | €180–€220 | €250–€300 |
| Eating out, delivery, Mensa meals, snacks, coffee, and drinks | €40–€80 | €120–€180 |
| Estimated total | €220–€300 | €370–€480 |
A lower-cost month usually means cooking most meals, shopping mainly at discount supermarkets, using the Mensa sometimes, and keeping delivery or café spending limited.
A higher-cost month may include more restaurant meals, delivery, coffee, snacks, specialist groceries, imported foods, or shopping at more expensive supermarkets. This does not mean the student is doing anything wrong. It just means those costs need to be planned for.
Your first month may also cost more than later months because you may need to buy kitchen basics, try different shops, and rely more on convenience food while you settle in.
First-month food budgeting tips
Your first month in Germany may feel more expensive because everything is new. You are learning where to shop, what products are called, how prices compare, and what your kitchen already has.
To make the first few weeks easier:
- Check your kitchen before buying equipment. Student accommodation may already include some pans, plates, cutlery, or shared items, but this varies.
- Buy basic kitchen items slowly. Start with what you need for simple meals, such as one pan, one pot, a knife, a chopping board, containers, and a few utensils.
- Stock a small cupboard. Useful basics can include pasta, rice, oats, lentils, canned tomatoes, beans, oil, salt, pepper, and a few spices.
- Find your nearest lower-cost supermarket. Check how far you are from Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny, Kaufland, or other affordable shops.
- Try local brands first. German supermarket own-brand products can be much cheaper than imported or familiar brands.
- Plan easy meals for the first few weeks. Choose meals that use repeat ingredients and do not need lots of equipment.
- Use the Mensa when you need a break. A campus meal can be cheaper than a restaurant or delivery when you do not have time or energy to cook.
❗ First-month reminder: Leave extra space in your first food budget for kitchen basics, first grocery shops, trying local brands, and a few convenience meals while you settle into life in Germany.
Food access, dietary needs, and familiar ingredients
Food costs can change if you follow a particular diet, need allergy-aware products, or want familiar ingredients from home. Germany has many options, especially in larger cities, but access and prices vary.
Vegetarian and vegan food is widely available in many supermarkets, Mensa canteens, cafés, and restaurants. Many Mensa canteens label vegetarian and vegan meals clearly, although choice depends on the campus.
Halal food is often available through Turkish, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and other specialist grocery stores, especially in larger cities. Smaller towns may have fewer options, so students may need to plan shopping trips more carefully.
Allergy-aware or gluten-free products are available in many supermarkets, drugstores, organic stores, and specialist shops, but they can cost more than standard products. Students with allergies should learn the German words for key allergens and check labels carefully.
International grocery stores can be very helpful for rice, spices, sauces, noodles, lentils, beans, frozen foods, snacks, and familiar ingredients. Some imported foods may cost more, so it can help to mix familiar ingredients with local alternatives.
Food budgeting checklist
Use this checklist before you arrive and during your first few weeks in Germany.
- Set a realistic monthly food budget before arrival
- Check whether your accommodation includes meals, kitchen access, or cooking equipment
- Find affordable supermarkets near your accommodation
- Compare discount supermarkets, larger supermarkets, markets, Mensa meals, and delivery prices
- Plan a few simple meals you can cook regularly
- Keep eating out, takeaway, delivery, coffee, and snacks in a separate budget line
- Leave extra room in your first-month budget for kitchen basics and settling-in costs
- Check whether your university Mensa has student prices and meal options that fit your needs
- Look for international or specialist grocery stores if you need familiar ingredients
- Review your budget after your first few weeks and adjust it based on real spending
Next step
Once you have a rough food budget, compare it with your accommodation costs, Mensa or campus food costs, and first-month setup costs so you can see how much you may need before you arrive.