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obligatory costs that comes regularly

Last activity 30 April 2019 by GuestPoster3541

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GuestPoster3541

Hello,
I've got an job offer in Berlin as Accounts payable with a monthly gross salary of 3000€/month.
I calculated a net of +/- 1950€.
I read a lot of posts but I am not sure I get it all correctly.

What are the mandatory costs every individual has to pay?
I read health insurance of 170€/month. Is this correct?
Is there any others mandatory expenses e.g. home insurances, liability insurance, ...

Also, I understood there is a tax declaration at the end of the year.
Do we have to pay something as in France (earlier than this year) or is it mainly taken every month from your salary as in The Netherlands where you do not have to pay anything when you are an employee?

I found a furbished apartment for 980 €/month, utilities and internet included.
I will need to pay TV taxes for +/- 50€/3months.

I just want to have a real view of what I can expect to have left from my salary.

Thank for your replies.

beppi

With €3000/month before (and some assumptions: single, church member, public health insurance, etc.) you get €1920/month paid out after deductions. This includes taxes, health insurance (€285/month, the employer pays the same again) and all other compulsory social contributions.
The deducted amount of taxes is approximately correct, so unless you have unusual circumstances the adjustment after declaration will be minor.
€980/month rent is rather high - you could definitely save by renting unfurnished and buying your own stuff!
How much you have left at the end of the month depends laregly on your lifestyle and spending choices.

GuestPoster3541

Hello Beppi,

Thank you for your answer.
It is clear that I should not have any other expenses except the ones deducted from my salary.
I was not sure.

I do not agree with you about a non-furbished apartment and buying my own stuff but it is a personal point of view as I do  not know if I will be staying long enough in Berlin.

I have more questions about job process by German companies but I will ask on a different thread.

TominStuttgart

As Beppi mentioned, having a furnished apartment in Germany usually means paying a lot more than the normal rent. In most situations, even for someone just staying a year, buying basic furniture at IKEA or getting it used can save a lot. Of course for someone just staying for a month or 2 it will probably not be worth the effort. But without knowing the size, condition and neighborhood of one’s accommodation makes it impossible to estimate the premium one is paying for the furnishings.

It is also possible that a furnished apartment might be relatively reasonable if the charge for it has risen slower than other rents, which have been sky rocketing in most Germany cities in recent years. But just knowing one has a place to live from the start is a comfort. I would just suggest that if you stay longer; then try to find out what comparable places rent for and consider your options for the future. What people generally find out is that they basically pay say 300 – 400 Euros extra per month for a place containing furnishings that could be bought once for 500 – 600 Euros.

These days, a 980,- Euro furnished apartment with utilities included might be a pretty good deal if it is a nice place with say 50 to 60 square meters. If it is just a 30 - 40 m2  one room place in a run-down neighborhood with just a kitchenette in a corner and shabby furnishings then it is probably over-priced.

A big consideration in judging an apartment is the kitchen. Traditionally, apartments in Germany were rented with a bare room for the kitchen and one had to acquire the appliances and/or cabinets separately. If custom made, one would have to get the next renter to either buy the kitchen furnishings or take them with you. Having an already built in kitchen can save a lot of trouble if it is nice and one doesn’t have to pay a lot extra for it. Over the years it has become more common that there are built in kitchens that belong to the apartment – avoiding this question of having to buy from the previous tenant or getting things built in.

GuestPoster3541

Hi Tom,

Thanks for uour reply. Apartment is +/- 50m2 in Charlottenburg. Alle included, I find it correct as I would not have to deal with utilities bills or internet. Kitchen fully equipped.
Having my own furniture here in Amsterdam is a pain when I  want to be ready to be able to move fast.
Anyway I declined the job offer as I think I am not ready to move to Germany. Without speaking German and having no acquaintance there, it seems to me that it is not yet the right time to move and the job is absolutely not a bonus, even if they are looking for French speaking accountants.
So I will not take the apartment either. :)

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