AUSTRALIAN €3000 TO SURVIVE UNTILL EMPLOYED IN GERMANY.

How much you spend depends largely on your choices.
If you have free accommodation, a place to cook yourself, and go el-cheapo on everything, you might be able to manage on €600/month (travel excluded). Accommodation starts at €15-20/night for a bed in a dorm, or €30-50/night for a room. Fast food can be had at €5/meal (with all its dubious health benefits) and a cheap restaurant meal costs €10-15.
You can also check numbeo.com for more price information.
There are plenty of Irish and British pubs (I haven't seen an Australian one), but you won't be able to afford them at your budget - beer starts at €2.50, or €3.50 for a brand you are familiar with.

Thank you for that. I wasn't planning on splurging my cash until I have enough money from a job and my own share accommodation or room. Im looking for a room to rent or share accommodation to rent with a number of people if possible. Does this happen allot in Germany? Whats the best website to put up an ad for ''share accommodation needed''


Many thanks

Matthew Turner.

Sharing flats (but not rooms) is quite common in Germany, but only for the long term (and places are almost invariably unfurnished). For what you want to do, a hostel (at the nightly prices I mentioned) is the most reasonable option.

Thanks for that. Whats the job market like for basic German speakers? Will I have a better chance in a Irish, British pub?

The job market for non-EU foreigners without specialised skills (and without good German skills) is practically non-existent.
Any similarly skilled EU citizen would have to be hired first (by law) - and believe me: There are plenty of unemployed queuing up for those jobs!
Also: A tourist (Schengen) visa cannot be converted to a work permit - you'd have to return to your country and apply for one from there. If you have the intention to work here, better come with a job seeker visa!

Oh, I just saw that you're coming on a WHV - in that case what I said before does not apply and you CAN take up informal and unskilled jobs. You'll just be paid badly.

OK that's fine. How many euros per hour on average for pub\hospitality jobs that you are talking about? I can live off bare minimum and Im very good at saving. Is there backpacker hostels that give free accommodation if someone works there plus a wage? I can read perfect German its just pronouncing at the right time is hard for now. In your opinion to get an extension can I just get sponsored to work longer by a employer or go into a university course or language course? Can a working holiday visa be extended or changed into a work permit or other permit allowing me to work longer or study so i can stay longer?

Many thanks

Matthew Turner

I guess you'd be lucky to get a kind of McJob at €6/hr. Customer-facing ones will definitely require better German, so you'd be looking at washing dishes, cleaning offices or similar. Construction jobs and agricultural helpers (harvesters) are paid €8-10/hr for hard work.
I don't think a WHV can be converted or extended, but better ask the embassy.

hey, I'm an Australian living Leipzig. Not sure what your work experience or specific skills are, per se. Basically you would have the most chance of getting employment in Berlin without fluent german (compared to other places). But that said, there's a fair amount of unemployment in Berlin (again compared to other parts of Germany). There's quite a few facebook groups and pages regarding accommodation for different regions and I'd encourage you to also search 'expat berlin' on FB as there's a lot of resources specific to Berlin.  I'd encourage you to put the word out to any contacts you have already in the places you are visiting, alot of people seem to find work from informal networks rather than advertised.

Hi Matt,

What a crazy bugger you are coming over with about 1/4 of a plan behind you! SO Australian I just can't help but love it.

Ok, lets try and cover everything in order...

0. Register
You need to register in every town that you're planning to live.

Sure, you can get away without it, but if you want any kind of security or legality in Germany, you have to go to the local Rathaus (mayoral office) and complete an Anmeldungsformular (a proof of residence).

1. Job

If you've got experience in the related field, you could work as an English speaking Au Pair or something similar. You could make as much as 400 a month with the right family, and you'll get room, board and use of the car. Make sure you have an international drivers license.

Many of the things in the bars and pubs around here are at least called the same as in English. But if you're heading to Stuttgart or anywhere that's a uni town, you're already competing with German students.

The pay is relatively shit, compared to Australia. No award wages or penalties here! No supermarket jobs unless you speak German. You can expect 4-7 euros per hour plus meagre tips.

It's lucky for you, most of the boys get to stand behind the bars and the women wait the tables and pick up glasses over here. But then they also get the tips.

What skills other than bar tending do you have? Make a resume, get someone on a freelancing site to translate it to German (or on here), and drop them around.

2. Cost of living.

Fresh food, and pork, are relatively cheap here. If you can live on mince, pasta, fresh fruit and veg you won't spend more than 50euro a week on your groceries. And a case of beer costs around 10-20 euros. (Don't forget to take ALL plastic and glass bottles back for a refund, you can make so much money back that way).

Travel is good, if you're going long distances take the bus. Its cheaper than the trains. Last time I looked train to Berlin was >100euro, a bus was about 9euro.

A one way tram ticket costs 2.40 for an adult, and prices are about to go up to 2.60. (all values in Euros).

3. Air BnB/ couch surfing <stay somewhere for free>

Over here there's a service called "Air BnB" google it. People will rent rooms and even houses out for reduced rates. they're usually people who are keen to show you around as well. Try Couch Surfing as well (google it). For the cost of a host gift (bottle of wine or something) you can crash on someone's couch for a couple of nights.

4. Advertise yourself?

Definitely advertise that you're an Australian looking for adventure and see what you pick up. You'll meet lots of young people travelling around at this time of year to ski and holiday, christmas markets, the whole works.

5. can you get around without German?

Sure, I've got a friends who don't speak German, but not every German can or will speak English with you. And remember everything, labels on your food, everything will be in German. I learned how to speak/write/read it before I came over and sometimes its still baffling.

If you get stuck send me a message on here.

Cheers and Good LUCK!
Lisa