Munich still the most expensive city in Germany

[bluedave 2,499]

You think they are comparable areas in terms of standards of living, culture, infrastructure etc?

 

All of the above are relevant to cost of living.

[BenThere 11]

My question is: is it ridiculous for me to think I can live a decent life in Munich on 40.000 euros a year?

 

I know people like to come back with, "Well, how long is a piece of string?" as in, it depends how you slice it.

 

I responded to the potential employer's offer that Munich is one of the most expensive cities in Germany and that it's one thing if you want to pay me $40k to live in Smalltown USA, but if you ask me to go live in NYC, then that money isn't going to go as far. He came back and said, "Well, you don't have to live in Manhattan. You can find a place in Queens."

 

I'm 45 (46 in August). I believe my take home pay at the end of the month will be ~1.900. If I have to pay 750 for rent - call it 900 by the time I pay for utilities and cable... That leaves me 1.000 to pay for food (~300 - I know I'm going to want to eat out some), gym membership (~60), clothes and other incidentals... Plus, I'm going to need to save money for at least one flight home a year (~850 = 70 euros a month), plus savings for other holidays...

 

Also, they're issuing me a car, which I'll have to pay taxes on (I think I worked out that a 40K car would cost me about 125 euros per month) plus I'll probably have to pay for a parkplatz at my apartment (~75). So that's another 200/month right there.

 

Am I crazy to even entertain the thought of 40K? Seems I need to come back with at least 45K.

[Boba 326]

Yes.

[Kris17 161]

Do you have to take the car? Can you not use public transportation to get you back and forth to work? I do think that you should try to ask for a higher amount.

 

Kris

[ocirats 937]

 

My question is: is it ridiculous for me to think I can live a decent life in Munich on 40.000 euros a year?

 

I know people like to come back with, "Well, how long is a piece of string?" as in, it depends how you slice it.

 

I responded to the potential employer's offer that Munich is one of the most expensive cities in Germany and that it's one thing if you want to pay me $40k to live in Smalltown USA, but if you ask me to go live in NYC, then that money isn't going to go as far. He came back and said, "Well, you don't have to live in Manhattan. You can find a place in Queens."

 

I'm 45 (46 in August). I believe my take home pay at the end of the month will be ~1.900. If I have to pay 750 for rent - call it 900 by the time I pay for utilities and cable... That leaves me 1.000 to pay for food (~300 - I know I'm going to want to eat out some), gym membership (~60), clothes and other incidentals... Plus, I'm going to need to save money for at least one flight home a year (~850 = 70 euros a month), plus savings for other holidays...

 

Also, they're issuing me a car, which I'll have to pay taxes on (I think I worked out that a 40K car would cost me about 125 euros per month) plus I'll probably have to pay for a parkplatz at my apartment (~75). So that's another 200/month right there.

 

Am I crazy to even entertain the thought of 40K? Seems I need to come back with at least 45K.

 

Yes, that's low. As multiple people have already told you Sufficient salary ranges in Munich & surroundings.

[BenThere 11]

 

Do you have to take the car? Can you not use public transportation to get you back and forth to work? I do think that you should try to ask for a higher amount.

 

Kris

 

Yes, I'm going to need the car since I'll be working as a Field Service Technician and I'll need to drive to various locations around Germany and beyond. They also want me in Munich because they want me in a southern city with an airport that acts as a hub to serve the rest of Europe, in the instances when I have to fly.

 

I was excited when I saw the new survey, as I hoped it would provide me some statistics to bolster my justification for asking for more money, but I don't see any break down in the cost of living there.

 

They said they would be in touch by the end of the week with a proposal. As those who have been watching (hello ocirats!) know, they have been stringing me along for months. I got contacted last week after a long lapse in communication from them (thy told me they would be in touch back in April) and I told them last week that I figured they had gone a different route with the service solution, so I got active with my job search over here.

 

I don't want to burn any bridges, but at the same time, I can't help feeling a little resentful about the way things are (not) progressing.

[desdemona 1,412]

Well a good thing no German city is in the top 50 list. Good quality of life at a bargain, i'd say. It was the right decision to leave singapore.

[guitarman001 4]

 

Yes, I'm going to need the car since I'll be working as a Field Service Technician and I'll need to drive to various locations around Germany and beyond. They also want me in Munich because they want me in a southern city with an airport that acts as a hub to serve the rest of Europe, in the instances when I have to fly.

 

I was excited when I saw the new survey, as I hoped it would provide me some statistics to bolster my justification for asking for more money, but I don't see any break down in the cost of living there.

 

They said they would be in touch by the end of the week with a proposal. As those who have been watching (hello ocirats!) know, they have been stringing me along for months. I got contacted last week after a long lapse in communication from them (thy told me they would be in touch back in April) and I told them last week that I figured they had gone a different route with the service solution, so I got active with my job search over here.

 

I don't want to burn any bridges, but at the same time, I can't help feeling a little resentful about the way things are (not) progressing.

 

Ben, I'm watching and eager to see what happens in your case. I get mixed responses about moving and I'd hopefully be on be on $65k! It does sound like a great opportunity, but at the same time I wouldn't be so keen if I weren't saving even a couple hundred Euros a month... keep us informed either here or, more importantly, the cost of living in Munich thread we keep posting on!! Good luck!

[Hutcho 2,227]

 

He came back and said, "Well, you don't have to live in Manhattan. You can find a place in Queens."

 

The trouble is that the "Queens" of Munich are not really much cheaper than the city center, and are often more expensive when taking travel costs into consideration.

[2B_orNot2B 8,451]

 

They want me in a southern city with an airport that acts as a hub to serve the rest of Europe, in the instances when I have to fly.

 

Have they/you thought about Stutti? Rents are less expensive than Munich.

 

2B

[yourkeau 7,723]

 

Like i'm going to take any poll or survey seriously that ranks Europe, The Middle East and Africa in the same grouping?

 

This rating is for expatriates, not for locals. Living western standards life in African city can be indeed damn expensive.

[engelchen 13,041]

 

I was excited when I saw the new survey, as I hoped it would provide me some statistics to bolster my justification for asking for more money, but I don't see any break down in the cost of living there.

 

Cost of living is only one component of the equation and I think we all seem to agree that 40k is too low for what you're describing. You might want to consider paying for a professional Gehaltsanalyse.

[BenThere 11]

 

Cost of living is only one component of the equation and I think we all seem to agree that 40k is too low for what you're describing. You might want to consider paying for a professional Gehaltsanalyse.

 

Thanks again.

 

They said they would be in touch with me this week, but here it is coming on 4pm German time and I still haven't heard anything.

 

Is the notion of German directness and punctuality really just a myth? I have to say that in my experiences dealing with them I find them to be quite self-centered and actually quite rude in their correspondences; they take forever to answer e-mails, if they answer them at all. i suppose this is part of their strategy, though: keep stinging me along as long as possible until they absolutely have to hire me.

 

I'm really tempted to fire off an e-mail and just tell them to forget it, but I don't guess that makes much sense, either. I mean, why bother? It's like in a courtship when one party doesn't call the other for so long - it doesn't make much sense for the other party to call them just to say, "Don't bother calling me!"

[LukeSkywalker 7,643]

Hi Engelchen,

 

BenThere and Guiterman001 already received so much info from me and others in different threads. They know what public transportation costs, housing, groceries, eating out, etc. They know about salaries, holiday money, trade unions and God knows what else. Guiterman001 is very anxious about saving enough money.

 

They just can't make up their minds. I also believe that BenThere shouldn't come although he really really wants to and that Guiterman001 will be perfectly fine with €65K per year in Munich. He can easily save €1000 per month. I also mentioned before that if you're not 100% sure, then don't do it. I will not answer their questions anymore. Time to move on. I'm sorry for being blunt.

[DG800 70]

 

This rating is for expatriates, not for locals. Living western standards life in African city can be indeed damn expensive.

 

Providing adequate security for yourself and your family often plays a major role in raising costs in places like Luanda. Actual costs of living often take a backseat to that. It's a sad reality, but that's the way it is.

 

Ciao,

 

Dg800

[engelchen 13,041]

 

BenThere and Guiterman001 already received so much info from me and others in different threads.

 

Yes, I noticed and I agree with your assessment, there is more than enough info to calculate a rough budget . Although it is important to be able to make ends meet, I'd also want to try to obtain at least the market rate in their shoes'. In Berlin it is not possible for many unskilled foreigners to cover their expenses even if they earn the market rate (since their is an oversupply of unskilled non-German speaking labour). However, I wouldn't advise a professional moving here to concentrate solely on the lower cost of living in Berlin, but also look at how much they should be earning.

 

I think we all agree that BenThere shouldn't consider moving for 40k, however, do you have any idea how much he should be making? I think his background makes it difficult and a Gehaltsanalyse might help him sway his prospective employer. On the other hand, his prospective employer might be a firm believer in Geiz ist Geil and then he just needs to forget them.

 

 

I'm sorry for being blunt.

 

I don't think you should apologise for being honest. Sometimes being too polite obscures the truth. On the other hand, there are other expats who refuse to believe any answer that doesn't fit in with their views (and I'm actually not thinking about the two you specifically mentioned).

[guitarman001 4]

I can see why one would get agitated - I've definitely posted a lot. No need to go over it all but thanks for everybody's help in all threads - appreciated. Just have to make my mind up at some point..! (That was a bit blunt, though - could have just not replied..!)

[guitarman001 4]

Apologies if that last post was heated - I do take things to heart too easily.

You're right, Luke (and thanks for all your help).. On €65k (I hope!!) one could easily save €1k per month. Not as much as I'm saving now but I'd have independence and so many other things money couldn't buy.. To be honest if I got that figure I'd jump at the chance.

[BenThere 11]

 

Yes, I noticed and I agree with your assessment, there is more than enough info to calculate a rough budget . Although it is important to be able to make ends meet, I'd also want to try to obtain at least the market rate in their shoes'. In Berlin it is not possible for many unskilled foreigners to cover their expenses even if they earn the market rate (since their is an oversupply of unskilled non-German speaking labour). However, I wouldn't advise a professional moving here to concentrate solely on the lower cost of living in Berlin, but also look at how much they should be earning.

 

I think we all agree that BenThere shouldn't consider moving for 40k, however, do you have any idea how much he should be making? I think his background makes it difficult and a Gehaltsanalyse might help him sway his prospective employer. On the other hand, his prospective employer might be a firm believer in Geiz ist Geil and then he just needs to forget them.

 

I don't think you should apologise for being honest. Sometimes being too polite obscures the truth. On the other hand, there are other expats who refuse to believe any answer that doesn't fit in with their views (and I'm actually not thinking about the two you specifically mentioned).

 

Thanks once more for your input.

 

I won't mention the matter again.

 

Best Regards,

 

Ben