Why you need a cash buffer
- Salary is paid at the end of the month (often the last working day). If you start on the 1st, your first money arrives about 4 weeks later, and your first rent is due before that.
- The first payslip is often taxed too heavily. Until your employer receives your tax ID, it must use tax class VI (the highest withholding). The difference comes back in later payslips or with the tax return.
- A rental deposit (Kaution) of up to 3 months' cold rent is due at the start (instalments are allowed — Chapter 12).
- Unfurnished flats often have no kitchen. A used kitchen (Einbauküche) costs €500–3,000, and you also need lamps — bare cables hang from the ceiling.
Realistic landing budget (single person, mid-sized city)
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Temporary furnished flat, 1–2 months | €1,000–1,800/month |
| Deposit for permanent flat (3 × cold rent of €800) | €2,400 |
| First month's rent | €800–1,100 warm |
| Kitchen, bed, basics | €1,500–4,000 |
| Deutschlandticket | €63/month |
| Phone + home internet | €15–25 + €30–45/month |
| Groceries | €250–400/month |
| Permit fees (eAT card) | about €100 |
| Recommended buffer before the first salary | €5,000–8,000 (more in Munich/Frankfurt) |
Moving money
- International bank transfers (SWIFT) can cost €20–50 plus a poor exchange rate. Compare specialised transfer services with your home bank before moving large amounts.
- Keep at least one home-country card working for the first months as a fallback.
- Since October 2025, EU banks must offer instant SEPA transfers at no extra cost compared to normal transfers, and they check the recipient's name against the IBAN (Empfängerüberprüfung). If the bank warns "name does not match", stop and verify — it is a classic scam pattern.
Landing plan
- Weeks 0–2: live from the buffer, open a German account (Chapter 14), register (Chapter 8).
- Weeks 2–4: give your employer the IBAN, tax ID and health insurer details.
- Month 2: check the first payslip (tax class, church tax, health insurer).
- Month 3: start an emergency fund (Chapter 45).