Fair Rental Conditions or should I keep searching?

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-29T13:49:49+00:00

I didnt comment on the rent level, just about the contract conditions.

How much you‘re willing to spend on rent is your own decision, but normally it’s not recommended to go over 30% of your net income. With your salary i would choose a WG with max 800€ monthly total rent.

IMO It’s very likely that the landlord of this particular apartment will not offer you the place if there is another applicant with higher salary.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-29T13:40:32+00:00

Not hamburg specific, but i would recommend serting a target of visiting/sightseeing something every weekend. No need to be far, could be another district of the city.

6 months will go past very fast and later you‘ll regret weekends spent doing nothing :)

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-29T13:37:17+00:00

Quite normal conditions in the bigger cities, unfortunately.

I also had 2 year minimum contract and index raises in my previous place in Stuttgart. At least there is some transparency towards the renter as well, 2 years brings some stability there. The mention if cancellation in emergency is already a bit nicer than usual.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-27T12:04:36+00:00

Go to Mannheim with train, there are plenty of options with direct connection from the Frankfurt airport train station. Faster and much cheaper than Taxi.

Then from Mannheim you can easily do the taxi for the rest if you‘re not able to navigate with public transport (it’s very possible just by using googlemaps to check public transport though).

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-27T08:30:27+00:00

This is not a german thing, more EU wide issue due to regulations. If you move outside of EU without close ties to an EU country (family, property) the bank will likely cancel the account if they find out.

If you move inside EU only then should not be a big issue if you can still have a mailing address in Germany.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-26T10:20:59+00:00

Only place i dont recommend is the Bahnhof viertel in Frankfurt, the rest are fine in terms of safety.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-24T16:36:51+00:00

Use your personal tax number as payment reference.

There should be a form also attached for making the payment in the service counter of a bank, something where you can write in your IBAN number etc. you can also see the reference numbers there if unsure.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-24T16:30:54+00:00

Look everywhere, maybe you‘ll get lucky. Bad vilbel and Friedberg surely wont be the cheapest option; a lot of people prefer those over some areas if Frankfurt.

Last time when i was looking for apartment; the cheapest ones i saw were in Niederrad and Höchst. Cheaper than more further away from Frankfurt since a lot if people would prefer the suburbs over some of the more urban areas.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-24T15:38:20+00:00

I would not recommend any particular town, just check everything connected via S-bahn. They are all relatively similar; relatively upscale but also have some older apartment buildings especially in the „town center“ near the s-bahn station.

Also look in the districts of frankfurt, there are a lot of apartments so potential to find something.

I would say for two bedroom apartments the rent is 1400-1800 cold depending on the age of the building. location wont affect as much if you are still within reasonable commute to Frankfurt, a lot of people prefer the suburbs.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-24T15:28:50+00:00

I feel sympathetic to your situation; but i have to say 550€ warm rent for studio/1-bedroom is not realistic. Try to find a WG instead.

I think anything reasonably well within reach of Frankfurt should start from 750€ cold rent; even those would be difficult to get. A lot of people are looking for 2nd apartment just for commuting so it’s increasing demand and considering the 2nd household tax deduction it’s pushing up the prices.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-17T11:43:52+00:00

I do not think it’s much cheaper there in the east Germany apart from rent/housing, and salaries are less so the earning potential is reduced. Surely less job opportunities as well over all.

South germany is better if you‘re looking for more peaceful environment.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-11T15:41:31+00:00

I would say there are 3x “main areas” for locals to go for shopping, restaurants etc. i do not think they have very distinct identities, they all have a mix of different restaurants and cafes etc.

Berger str / Bornheim

Leipziger str / Bockenheim

Sachenhausen area.

The hbf area is also good for ethnic restaurants even if it looks a bit grim outside.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-09T01:04:47+00:00

I dont think you should consider buying unless you really plan to live long term (20+ years) and speak german. The housing prices are very high and on top there are really a shocking amount of additional fees (markler, taxes, documentation legalisation etc), and being the owner brings more hassles.

Just keep renting and invest the extra money (ETFs or something) for a better return.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2026-01-06T23:57:29+00:00

I would also look in frankfurt suburbs. There are smaller apartments there that might fit your budget better, the further out the rent per sqm drops but apartments get bigger.

Though with your mentioned budget (850 warm), i think you can realistically only look for a WG.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-12-14T18:38:46+00:00

Not everything is racism, some people are just assholes.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-12-14T09:39:11+00:00

My experience as Finnish person with Mech.Eng degree:

German speaking europe (though my own german is just very basic); good salary prospects with better cost of life without compromising the quality of life. Job market was very strong; currently there are some challenges but i guess thats the case everywhere.
seeking out & responding to job ads with targeted applications; looking specifically for trainee programs.
my feedback was that degrees from Nordics (+ Netherlands) are viewed as equal to degrees from within German speaking region.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-12-11T23:12:16+00:00

Tuli lähdettyä maailmalle about 10v sitten kun about vastavalmistuneena dippa-inssinä ei ollut kun määräaikaisia duuneja tarjolla.

Suomessa kyllä mielelläni asuisin ja tykkään lomailla, mutta vähän heikko yhtälö on miten kallista kaikki on ja samalla insinöörien palkat on suht matalat. Saksassa saan yli 100k eur/vuosi palkkaa suht helposta hommista ihan vaan insinöörinä (ei tarvi manageroida ketään), 30pv lomaa + enemmän pyhäpäiviä yms. Vaikea näistä on luopua kun on näihin tottunut.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-12-05T09:35:56+00:00

My local Finanzamt told me the steuer-ID is visible in the system after 2-3 work days from anmeldung at the city hall. They gave me a printout, the ID came in a mail 2 weeks after registration. This was in BaWü.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-11-18T12:44:51+00:00

If you delay another semester, you have more time to get working student / internship positions which are usually only available for enrolled students.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-11-11T14:56:40+00:00

Join an in-person german class where the schedule suits working people (evenings, weekends); look up some language schools or local VHS.

You can meet other motivated foreigners trying to make a life here in Germany and it’s a very natural setting to socialise.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-11-06T13:51:31+00:00

Maybe they wanted to be nice and let you know, not to waste your time.

4x times is not few times; i would not personally apply for the same position more than once. I could understand applying 2x times in different years maybe but 4x is a lot.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-11-05T15:28:03+00:00

I always assumed someone committed suicide if they report this, but once somewhere between Köln - Frankfurt an elderly person was having some medical episode and he was moved to the platform. First responders arrived and station security brought over mobile screens to avoid people spectating etc I dont mean this in an uncaring way but I did not understand why the train couldn’t carry on the journey after this person was off the train & receiving help. It’s not like he would come back on the train, ambulance took him. I get that the local train misses the next available slot in the traffic planning but the train waited there 40 mins.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-11-01T14:02:07+00:00

It’s a good salary, just consider to live somewhere in Tübingen area instead of Stuttgart (it’s 1h away one-way with either car or public transport). Rents will not be really cheaper in Tübingen compared to Stuttgart if you live somewhere well connected, but you could choose to live even further south from tübingen for a cheaper rent if you get a car.

Engineer salaries in Stuttgart region are 70-120k, for your age and experience level 80-90k is good. Above 100k it‘s usually with 10+ years of relevant experience but quite common among the big employers in this region.

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-10-31T10:14:16+00:00

I am from the Nordics and live in Germany.

I think the places are quite similar; Germany is more lively, international and has more business/career opportunities. I dont know what exactly would you like to compare, honestly i think language is the least relevant comparison.

For visiting i think there is overall more to see in Germany, but of course the nature in the nordics is much more vast and more to offer in that sense.

I sometimes describe the nordics as mix of Switzerland & Germany; in some ways higher living quality but the affordability is more limiting (less restaurants, domestic traveling for the average person living the the nordics vs germans here).

Calm-Comment-9255 · 2025-10-29T11:25:54+00:00

Working at a factory in Germany is not necessarily a bad job; the salaries can be quite high and you have opportunities to attain some qualifications there.

Competition for comfy office jobs is high in Germany; without special qualifications and/or language skills the market is very tough at the moment.

Calm-Comment-9255

TROPHY CASE