A Beginner's Guide To Living In Munich

Munich

This is the capital of Bavaria also known for being the place that holds Oktoberfest annually. With a population of 1.5 million people Munich is one of the largest cities in Germany! The city has several of the largest breweries in Germany and is famous for its beer halls which we urge you to go and visit.

Munich has beginnings going back as far as the 12th century. This was when Germany was split into tribes before it was known as a whole country of people known today as Germany.

With at least 900 years of history lining the streets. As you conduct simple tasks such as your weekly grocery shopping or going on your daily run, you will pass buildings and areas that have had substantial impacts on the trajectory of the city.

If you are thinking of making the move we hope this will help you feel more confident in your decision, and give you some insights to make Munich feel like home as soon as you arrive.

Transport

Munich is a very walkable city. With many parks and shopping areas to browse on your way around the city.

Germany as a whole has great public transport links and this of course includes Munich. The city has the S-Bahn train, U-Bahn (underground train), buses and trams. In addition, the city has many green options in order to get around the city such as public bikes, scooters and car sharing options! These options can help you navigate this small city and find interesting corners and spots along the way.

Here are a few of the adult ticket prices you will need to know when using the IsarCard in accessing the public transport within the city to access all 6 zones:

Weekly tickets cost 18.60 euros.
Monthly tickets cost 59.10 euros.
Annual tickets cost 561 euros.

In order to purchase the IsarCard these can be bought at MVG (Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft / Munich Transport Company) ticket machines. These machines are located at the U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations and MVG customer service areas.

Accommodation

In order to feel truly comfortable in a city this is the most important aspect you need to find when you make a new city your home. There are many safe and secure apartments in Munich on platforms such as Spotahome. This platform can help you find the best place for all of your needs. Protected from scams and all securely online so you don’t have to visit various homes around the city to find the perfect place for you!

Bicycles are allowed on public transport but not on buses. On the S-Bahn and U-Bahn keep in mind that bicycles are not allowed during these hours:

Monday to Friday 6 am to 9 am and Monday to Friday 4pm to 6pm excluding public holidays.

Animals are also allowed to be on public vehicles but, they must be kept on a leash and wear a muzzle on all modes of transport in order to keep all passengers within transport safe.

Living Costs

The living standards in Munich are high with the average salary being around 3,000 euros more or less. Due to this the costs of everyday items match the buying power of the citizens.

Here are some of the prices of common items living in Munich:

A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs 15.50 euros.
Domestic beer 0.5l costs 4.20 euros.
Coca cola 0.33l costs 3.07 euros.
A McDonalds meal costs 9 euros.
500g bread costs 1.88 euros.
Potatoes 1kg costs 1.99 euros.
A mid range bottle of wine costs 7 euros.
Gym membership costs 40 euros.

Language

Munich has a big international community with a lot of people from outside of the country studying in university and living in the city due to the bustling business community. Due to this English is widely spoken within the city but, speaking German is very helpful.

Knowing German will help you get around the city and interact with natives of the city and if you want to get a job within the city knowing German will give you that upper hand! So if you plan to move to the city be sure to start learning some German to help you move around the city that bit easier.

Internet

Germany as a whole has amazing internet connection. For fixed internet the average speed of downloads is 88.46 mbps, upload speed 29.11 mbps and 11ms latency. This is some of the fastest internet speed just behind The Netherlands.

While in the capital of Bavaria choosing the best internet for your needs is important. There are providers such as Vodafone, Tele Columbus, M-Net, 1&1, Deutsche Telekom and O2.

Coworking Spaces

There are many coworking spaces within Munich for natives, expats and students alike to share ideas and work within inspiring spaces.

A few spaces that you can check out within the city are places such as Idea kitchen, Werk1, Velvet space, Mindspace, Base, Wework and ImpactHub. So when you end up in the city check out some of these spots to help you switch up your working environment.

Source: **Maria-Theodora Andrikopoulou**

Weather

If you have never seen snow, Munich is the place you can experience it. The city experiences milder weather with temperatures reaching as low as -1 degrees Celsius in the colder months of January and February. The highest temperatures you will experience will be during July and August of 20 degrees Celsius.

Living in Munich means woolly hats and boots in the winter and a light t-shirt during the summer. If you do not like to experience extreme temperatures and want a city that has cooler weather, especially if you want to see snow on a regular basis during the winter Munich is the city for you.

Safety

Munich is a VERY safe city. It is one of the safest cities in Germany. You can walk around alone at night with very little issue. Pickpocketing and minor theft is the most you will experience in the city.

Should You Live In Munich?

If you want to live in a thriving international community that is traditional but cosy this is the spot for you. Cost of living is high but this is relative as it matches the salaries that are paid to the people within the community. Many reputable companies are located in this city and has many amazing business opportunities. If you are from an entrepreneurial background this is a great place to make connections.

There is so much to do in Munich and there are many connections to the rest of Europe from this city. If you thrive in warm weather over the 4 seasons this city is not for you. In addition shops close on Sunday so if you forget to buy a few things on Saturday, tough luck the shops are closed.

With all this information we hope you have a good idea of whether Munich is for you and if it is, go for it!