Can You Live Well on This Salary in Germany?

There is a taboo question that we have nevertheless already asked in many German cities. And today we are in Cologne, asking people. How much do you earn? Here we go. How much money do you earn? Enough. Tell me how much money you earn? No. Why not? Because it's a private matter. It's nobody's business. How much do you earn? I don't earn anything at all. Am I entitled to a pension from you? How much did you earn before? That was about two and a half to three thousand. Gross or net? Netto. And in what profession? I am a nurse. I earn it, now I need to think about roughly five thousand net. In the month? Yes. In what profession? I am a university lecturer, but not here. Also at a university, so to speak? Yes, exactly. How much do I earn? That is, of course, never entirely accurate. I am partly employed and partly self-employed. I still have a partner who also earns money. I'll say three thousand five hundred gross per month. Alone. How much money do you earn? I'm not telling you that. What is your profession? Tell me, please. Psychological psychotherapist and adult education. And can you live on your salary there? I can't say for sure, because I'm self-employed and it varies greatly. Accordingly, it is always different. Could you perhaps mention any area? Yes, between two and three thousand net. As mentioned, it fluctuates with the tax over the year. It's very hard to say. I earn four hundred fifty. I am a master's student at the University of Cologne. And additionally, I will also be supported by Mom. And can you tell me how much money you earn? Yes, not much either. Just over a thousand euros. Net monthly? Yes. But you can still make it, though? Yes, because I am married. And in what profession? I am a physiotherapist. Also not much at the moment. I'm still a student. Also, I get a little money from my parents. But this month, I have a student worker job. So, um, six hundred. A bit more, depends on it. Six to seven hundred. I am currently in my probationary period myself. That is why it is regulated through collective bargaining agreements. I am currently earning 1,600 euros net. And then a primary school teacher, right? At a grammar school, a secondary school. And then later, as salary, what do you get there? Later, I think, it will go into the net area around three thousand. Yes, I also work part-time as a flight attendant. Then I go home with a thousand three hundred euros. Proto, please. Netto. And exactly, the other one is naturally freelance. That is, of course, completely different. And if it really gets intense, the job can occasionally be tough. Then directly sixty thousand euros come out. But in doubt, the order comes only once. What do you do freelance? I work as a voice actress. Audiobooks, advertising, precisely in that area. I'm no longer receiving a salary because I'm no longer working. What have you been working on? I worked as an engineer at television. And how much did you earn there? There, I earned gross or net? Net monthly income? Five thousand. And you? I earned less. I was a teacher. That's a scandal, that teachers earn less than engineers. Scandalous, but then again, I haven't worked in Bavaria either. I did not work in Cologne. But in Bavaria? In Munich. How much do you earn? Nothing. I'm just working voluntarily now. Only volunteer work now? Yes. I am already retired. Ah, okay. And I wanted to say, what do you live from? How much did you earn before? Between zero and, at most, three thousand euros per month. Net profit? Netto. And in what profession? In different professions. I was a bookseller, journalist, gardener, and masseuse. Wow. Yes, I have had many different jobs and still do some of them voluntarily. How much do you earn? Approximately three gross. What profession? As an agricultural scientist. Are you researching fields? It's about maize varieties. Ah, okay. And is the salary appropriate for what you do? Yes, I don't have a full-time position. I only have 32 hours, and I think that's okay. It could soon become more. I am also still a professional cutter. I earn approximately three thousand gross. So that means around 2,300 net per month? Yes. What profession? I am a staff member at a savings bank. And is that salary appropriate for what you're working for? Yes, it could always be more. But actually, not bad at all. Would you say that was appropriate for the work you have done? In fact, care staff and caregiving in general are poorly paid. That was already a long time ago. Also, I already know that if one works intensively, they earn even more. But I suppose now, in comparison to which management consultants Of course, it's a profession in care that is poorly paid. And do you find that justified for the work one puts in? That is a very good question. I would say that in the teaching profession, one works significantly more than the actual 40 hours. because a lot of the work that happens outside of school goes unnoticed. I think that if we were to calculate the hours, it would have to be more. But fundamentally, I am very satisfied with the salary. Especially all the corrections and everything else that comes up outside of it. Exactly. If you want to earn well, it helps if you speak several languages. And for that, we recommend our sponsor italki to you. italki is a platform where you can find tutors from all around the world. And there, according to your budget, no matter where you are right now, you can book private lessons. Pauline, which language are you currently learning? I am currently learning Spanish. How may I politely or formally ask again, how much do you want? You could perhaps say which ones are your incomes. With what you earn, you can afford to live. That's not so straightforward, but one can also find out whether it's sufficient or adequate. Such individual instruction is really extremely effective. and you can just try it out on italki, whether you are learning German or another language. And if you sign up through our link and with our code, Then you'll receive a 5 euro discount on your first hour with italki. How much money do you need to live well in Cologne? With apartment and everything that comes with it. Yes, with living. 2,000 euros I would say around 2,000 as well. How much money do you need to live in Cologne? I'd say with rent. Probably already 1,000 euros in the month. Maybe around 1,300, so minimum. At minimum, let's say 600 for rent, Then so 300 to 400 meals, minimum. And then just a little something extra for life. How much rent does one pay? All in all, what they're saying, rent is already 500 euros and then, additionally, living expenses. Around 1,500, I'd say, 1,500 euros. One must eat something after all. Then one might go to the hairdresser, the cinema, or something like that. We definitely need that. It depends on one person, several people. A person. Room at least 500 euros. Also, I'll say, if you really save, 900. Also 500 rent, somehow 400 euros, where you really push yourself. That is a very good question. I don't live in Cologne; I'm only here on business. If I were to equate it with the city where I currently live, That's in Bavaria, I'd say—the question is always what's good. Good is relative. But I'd say you can comfortably get by from 1,500 onwards. I would say that even if one lives in a shared apartment room, One spends at least 1,000 euros per month. At a study level. When one is truly dedicated to their profession and maintains a certain standard of living wants and would like to keep, certainly rather double that. I think at least 2,000 euros. And then everything included, so rent, living expenses. Depending on where one lives, so relatively close to the city center, It is approximately to be expected at around 20 euros per square meter, warm. Then quite a lot follows, depending on how much space one needs Living costs are also relatively high in areas close to the city center. We are certainly not the most expensive city in Germany, but with the top one at the top. Just rent, or life in general? Everything, the whole life. 1,500 euros Yes, I said just over 1,000. How does Cologne compare to other major cities in Germany? How much does it cost? I would say, in the upper field. Yes, I would have said the same, somewhere in the middle. but trending upward. It depends, I'd say, whether you're a student or not. As a student, you usually have the Germany Ticket, don't you? That is, moving around the city is relatively easy. But I would say 800 euros, at least, if you're ready to live in a shared apartment. Rather more. And if you say you still want to indulge in some hobby then Maybe go out once in a while or something like that, then it will naturally go up. And if you say you want to keep living even further outside, Then it can go down a bit. But in itself, it already costs something. The topic of salary, especially discussing it That's already taboo. Yes, in Germany more than in other countries, I would say. What do you think of it? That is also a difficult question. Typically German. Super answer. Salary is often such a taboo topic too. How do you see it? I think we should talk much more about salaries. Even just to create transparency and for salary negotiations and also having much more basis for salary negotiations, to have comparison values with other people. Is that a taboo question in Germany? Making money? Yes, how much money one earns. Yes, of course, absolutely. Why did you tell me? Because I find that stupid. But forever already. I find it utterly ridiculous that people don't talk about money. I believe we do this far too little. Is talking about salary still a taboo? I would definitely think so. I don't see it that way. But I think the vast majority don't talk about it. I like this Finnish example, The tax return will be published in the newspaper. Really? A Finn once told me that, and I thought it was great. This could never work here. Also, that would also appeal to me. Is asking about salary a taboo question? I think it shouldn't be. I don't know if it still means anything to people anymore but I think it's good to talk openly about salary, It is solely in the interest of the workers. Also, from that perspective, I think if it's still a taboo question, should there be none left. Do you think asking about salary is a taboo question? Yes, I think so for many already. But not with you? Why not? After all, I suppose it is through all these payments men, women, Who gets what and how much is already quite logical. to get an estimate of how much each person earns. Because I believe many earn relatively little, What many don't realize is that there is actually rather little. You can't imagine it anymore, can you? I also believe the lower salary groups and the highest salary grades, They'd have more trouble naming their salary there, I'd say. I believe it's important to talk about it. Why? Because one can also compare it that way, whether a person in the same position earns the same or similarly earned, or whether it could be more. And if one doesn't talk about it, Then one doesn't even know where one stands. Now we want to know from you, Is the salary question a taboo topic or not? Write it down in the comments below. And we earn money only because of that, because many of you support us as members. That's on easygerman.org/slash-membership. Thank you very much for your support and for watching. Until next time.