Munich

1. Get a prepaid SIM for a German number. 2. Order the Deutschlandticket (student €43/mo) so you can move around. 3. Book your KVR Anmeldung appointment immediately — Munich slots go weeks out. 4. Once registered, open a bank account and wait for your tax ID by post.

Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern runs 9,000+ subsidised rooms averaging about €400/month — the cheapest way to live in Munich. Apply online early (from 15 May for winter semester, 15 Nov for summer); waiting lists run 1–7 semesters, so this is a "apply the day you can" task.

Munich is Germany's most expensive city to rent. Rough monthly figures for 2026: a WG room ≈ €700–800, a one-bed flat ≈ €850–1,500 (average ~€1,125). Expect a deposit (Kaution) of up to three months' cold rent up front. Treat these as a range, not a quote.

If you insure with Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), the central Munich branch is at Elisenstraße 3 (Elisenhof), 80335 München, near the Hauptbahnhof. Bring your enrolment certificate to sort your student cover. Open Mon & Thu 09:00–16:00, Tue/Wed 10:00–16:00, Fri 09:00–13:00.

Once you have your Anmeldung confirmation and tax ID, you can open an account. Free student current accounts are widely available from both online banks (N26, DKB) and branch banks (Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank). A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is separate — that is set up before you arrive, for the visa.

Munich's KVR (registration office) often books weeks ahead, so plan around the wait rather than against it. Use the time to gather every document (passport, Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, biometric photos), start a German course, and set up your SIM, ticket and bank account so that the day you register, everything else falls into place quickly.