Living Cost

Although living costs vary from person to person but we will give you a rough idea for a person who is neither a kangoos (miser) nor a Musrif (spender). In the Accommodation section we have already discussed the rent so take out that much money from your budget. Then take out Health Insurance Costs. The monthly expenditure for groceries (food stuff and households) for a single person is between €100 and €150 where as for a married person with 2 kids its around €300 and €500. If you need internet at home, the broadband connection (256 Kbps) starts from €15-25 per month. If you want to eat outside, because your cooking is pathetic or you are too lazy to cook then the famous Doener Kebab is around €2.5-3.0 and is sufficient for one time meal. This Kebab is available almost every where in Bonn. Add up cost of mobile phone around €15. Add what you have to send back home and for little bit of shopping.

Mobile Phone

It’s not that easy to get a mobile phone connection as it is in Pakistan. Getting a prepaid connection is easy, but people usually prefer the post paid connection since you get a 'cool' looking mobile phone for free or almost free. However, companies have different criteria for giving a postpaid connection. Their conservative behavior is due to people who buy connections, get a mobile phones and then run away. So to safeguard themselves against such people they look for customers who have at least six months visa, a credit card, can pay some security fee etc.

Heating and Electricity Charges:

For those of you who are living with families or living in private accommodation Achtung. You have to be careful about both these charges. If you are cooking 'Salan' regularly and making 'Rooti' twice a day every day then the electricity bill may be well above your expectations. It can be up to 40-50 Euros per month so its wise to use some preventive measures for e.g. switching the geyser off when its not being used, don't use the maximum level on the cooking range, use energy savers instead of bulbs etc.

Regarding Heizung (Heating), this cost may be included in your rent but that is just an approximation based on some past experience. If you are using more heating (by increasing the flow of hot liquid using the valve) then you may have to pay extra at the end of year. Some of our friends had to pay around 400 Euros extra at the end of year. So be careful. Our advise is to wear worm clothes inside the house and keep the heating to an acceptable limit. It is a good idea to buy a room thermometer for keeping an eye on the temperature. If you want to move around in the house in 'Banayan' while outside temperature is in minus then you will have to pay for this extra 'heat' at the end of the year.

Groceries:

The cost for chicken varies between 1.5 to 3.0/kg. Why is there such a big difference, its a long discussion! ask the seniors about it. Beef is around 5-6/kg. Mutton is around 6-9/kg.

You can buy almost all kind of vegetables.

Luckily almost all kind of Daals (Lintels) are also available.

Keeping Your Own Car:

The car itself is not expensive. You can get a nice car in approx. €2000 to €3000 (although some people buy cards for €100 as well, but then it comes with its own problems). If you want to keep a car then add another €100 for the insurance and about €50 for the fuel. Remember, the idea of expenditure is again based on assuming a moderate person. You should also keep some money for the maintenance of the car.

Television and Radio License:

Bad news is that there is a licensing fee for TV and Radio. Worse is that the cost is around 20 Euros per month!!! Good news is that you can get an exemption for being a student. If you are living in a student hostel then check with the administration, there is a possibility that they have already paid for all the students so you do not have to worry about it.

Now if you think that 'Who will come to my place so why worry?' then you are mistaken. They do visit houses and will fine you if you do not have the license, Ignorance of Law is certainly not an Excuse. So better do it as soon as possible.

Sample Chart: