Germany -> Ireland! Questions about living in Galway...

new123

Hello,
I am probably moving to Galway in May for an internship of 6 month, so I am currently looking for possible accomdation and stuff....

I am from Germany and have never been to Ireland before...

My main goal: Get to work every day fast and easy!
As my work will be in parkmore industrial estate I will probably have to take a bus from the city centre...right?
Have been on Eireen site already, but not sure which bus line to take or where exactly the bus stops are on the way to work when I look on a map.
When I am looking for a room, I want to make sure the place is ideally next to a bus stop on the way to the parkmore business center.

Does annyone know, which bus no. I have to take, or where to find a map showing the bus stops??


Thanks in advance...

Xiney

You could rent a place in Doughiska, there's a bus (number 9) that goes by every 15 minutes along that route to Parkmore and in the other direction to Eyre Square. Alternatively, it's close enough to cycle.

topper75

Bike is the best option - more reliable than the number 9 bus.

Doughiska and Ballybrit area are the most likely accommodation options.

Check out www.daft.ie and the Galway Advertiser newspaper online (classified section of the virtual newspaper).

Maybe best not to commit to living in a particular area for the first week though. Ask your work colleagues what they do. Some may drive past the centre and offer you a lift. Centre is nicest place to live.

Zzippy

The 9 bus goes from Eyre Square out College Road and the Dublin Road past Renmore then through Doughiska to Parkmore. Anywhere in the city centre is only 10 minutes walk at most from the bus terminus. Doughiska is cheaper to live, and has a good bus service to the city centre, also its close enough to cycle to Parkmore (5-10 mins), or walk (20-30 mins).
If you're only here for 6 months and you want to experience Galway, you'll probably enjoy living in town more - its more lively and there will be lots going on during the summer months, plus you don't have to get a taxi home as the last bus leaves at 11.30.

JohnCleary

Are you going to be working in SAP?

Mrs OBumble

Zzippy wrote: »

The 9 bus goes from Eyre Square out College Road and the Dublin Road past Renmore then through Doughiska to Parkmore. Anywhere in the city centre is only 10 minutes walk at most from the bus terminus. Doughiska is cheaper to live, and has a good bus service to the city centre, also its close enough to cycle to Parkmore (5-10 mins), or walk (20-30 mins).
If you're only here for 6 months and you want to experience Galway, you'll probably enjoy living in town more - its more lively and there will be lots going on during the summer months, plus you don't have to get a taxi home as the last bus leaves at 11.30.

Agree with all that, especially the suggestion to live in the city-centre-ish (Foster Court, The Elms, Augustine St/Middle St/Merchants Rd). Some bits of the centre (Shop St, High St, Quay St, Eyre Square townhouses) are VERY loud at night (til 4am!) in summer.

Another option is Roscam: just across the road from Doughiska, serviced by the same bus, but a bit nicer neighbourhood. Renmore is a more established neighbourhood, a lot closer to town and also on the 9 bus route. Merlin Park is in-between the two, but has lots of students living there.

Someone suggested Ballybrit: this is fine if you're brave enough to walk or bicycle (suggest you look at the traffic in person first before deciding that: it's pretty mad), but really bad if you want to use the bus.

Places to avoid: Ballybane/Castlepark (no direct transport links .. and some other reasons too!), Westside, Tirellan, Rahoon (all those same "other" reasons). Also Knocknacarra, Barna, Shantalla, Newcastle, Claddagh, Salthill (all on the wrong side of the river, and a pain from a transport perspective).

topper75

JustMary wrote: »

Places to avoid: Ballybane/Castlepark (no direct transport links .. and some other reasons too!), Westside, Tirellan, Rahoon (all those same "other" reasons).

Fair play for squeezing so much snobbery into one post.

happyoutscan

Most of Westside is grand and also close to town.

left_behind

There is a parkmore industrial estate bus that runs from 7am in the morning from eyre square with stops through the city. It leaves parkmore direct into the square at 4pm. Its a workers bus only very handy.

Chris_533976

If you're from Germany be prepared to make a MASSIVE drop in the quality of Bus services. Dont expect it to be ANYTHING like what you get in Germany. Expect a disaster. Consider the timetable as theory.

galah

If you can find a timetable (they only seem to exist at the first and the last stop of a bus route, but nowhere inbetween).

There's the number 9 bus, but it's pretty unreliable I've been told (I refuse to take public transport until they actually provide a better service, so I'm not the best source). Plus there's no bus shelter, so prepare to get soaked on our lovely summer days in Galway.

You could also mail your contact in your new job (SAP?), and ask if anyone has a room going for 6 months, solving a couple of problems with the one stone.

Zzippy

All the people saying the bus on the 9 route is unreliable - do you actually take this bus on a regular basis??
I live in Doughiska and use the bus regularly, its timetabled for every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 mins in the evening, and tbh its usually there on time. If I have one complaint its that some of the drivers actually leave early and beat the timetable...

ScumLord

Galway isn't a city by European standards, it's very small yet has terrible traffic. If I was living in the city I'd seriously consider using a bike to avoid the traffic and I have a car, love to drive and I'm also unfit. But the traffic is that bad, at times it can be quicker to walk across the city rather than drive.

inisboffin

JustMary wrote: »

Another option is Roscam: just across the road from Doughiska, serviced by the same bus, but a bit nicer neighbourhood. Renmore is a more established neighbourhood, a lot closer to town and also on the 9 bus route. Merlin Park is in-between the two, but has lots of students living there.


Places to avoid: Ballybane/Castlepark (no direct transport links .. and some other reasons too!), Westside, Tirellan, Rahoon (all those same "other" reasons). Also Knocknacarra, Barna, Shantalla, Newcastle, Claddagh, Salthill (all on the wrong side of the river, and a pain from a transport perspective).

Really? Avoid these areas?
Have to say would disagree with your "other reason" selection.

Rahoon in particular has plenty of 'posher bits' and you could have just as easily lumped it in the too far bracket (further than Shantalla for example). It also stretches waaay up into bighousedom (see lovely map in other post by someone - sorry forget who)
But Claddagh? I consider that pretty much City Centre, though on the other side of the river.

new123

WOW, thank you so much for the numerous responses!

I have a better picture now and know on which areas to concentrate during my room search.
Priceless insider information!
Guess would prefer to live in the city center as it is supposed to be pretty...so, bus no 9 it is then and I will prepare myself for timetable-difficulties!

Although your are right that in germany there probably exists a map and a plan and than another map and another plan for almost any bus line and any bus stop in even the smallest cities (We tend to document EVERYTHING in written form!), the timetables are also not that reliable... I guess that is they way it is in public traffic.
Will try the cycle-option as an alternative!

leninbenjamin

new123 wrote: »

WOW, thank you so much for the numerous responses!

I have a better picture now and know on which areas to concentrate during my room search.
Priceless insider information!
Guess would prefer to live in the city center as it is supposed to be pretty...so, bus no 9 it is then and I will prepare myself for timetable-difficulties!

Although your are right that in germany there probably exists a map and a plan and than another map and another plan for almost any bus line and any bus stop in even the smallest cities (We tend to document EVERYTHING in written form!), the timetables are also not that reliable... I guess that is they way it is in public traffic.
Will try the cycle-option as an alternative!

on the cycling: it's a great way of getting around Galway, you'll fly in in less than half the time it would take by car or bus most times. However, most drivers pretend cyclists don't exist so you have to have your wits about you!

PopeBuckfastXVI

leninbenjamin wrote: »

However, most drivers pretend cyclists don't exist so you have to have your wits about you!

We don't pretend you're not there, we just don't care...

munchkin_utd

But be prepared for the drizzle (Sprühregen in german I think) in Galway if youre cycling.
Germans always think germany is rainy. Galway will put that in perspective very quickly and make germany seem like some tropical paradise!!
The only thing is that Galway has great pubs where you can escape the rain and wind!

Oh. and at night it is not near as safe as Germany either. Nothing really to worry if you are sensible, just dont walk in quiet areas on your own if youre a woman.
Heres a sad story (in german) of a Swiss girl who was murdered a couple of years back on a quiet path along the railway from town out to Renmore Barracks.
http://www.blick.ch/news/ausland/schweizerin-18-in-irland-ermordet-73290

ScumLord

leninbenjamin wrote: »

on the cycling: it's a great way of getting around Galway, you'll fly in in less than half the time it would take by car or bus most times. However, most drivers pretend cyclists don't exist so you have to have your wits about you!

Or you could wear a costume. I find superman really effective.

spurscormac

I love all this talk of traffic gridlock in Galway.
Yes its bad in places - but to be honest, I can get from Knocknacarra to Parkmore in 15-20 minutes in the morning.
If its bad, that might stretch to 25-30 mins.

All you have to do is use your noggin, plan the time you leave & a route that avoids most of the traffic and you'll be sorted.

I don't think its as bad as people make out.

PopeBuckfastXVI

spurscormac wrote: »

...

I mostly agree (I travel knocknacarra to mervue in the morning), but that's probably because I (and I'm guessing you) work flexitime and can pretty much pick the time we go into work. On the few occasions when I've had to get into work for 9 the traffic has been really bad and turns a normal 15 minute journey into a 35-40 minute ordeal, no matter which route you take.

I guess I'm lucky to be able to pick when I go in, cause I normally leave it till after 9.

rain on

Working in Parkmore does have the advantage that you're going in the opposite direction to traffic most times. I live in Mervue and I have to say it's nice to be flaking down the dual carriageway to work in the morning while the traffic on the other side of the DC is backed up from one roundabout to the next. It's never taken me longer than ten minutes to get to work even when I leave at the times of heaviest traffic, and usually only five minutes.

I'd be reluctant to cycle in Galway though, the roads are so narrow in a lot of places and there are flip all cycle paths to speak of (are there any?), and drivers can be so inconsiderate. Mind you I cycled everywhere for years in Dublin and emerged unscathed. Galway still makes me a bit nervous though.

Webbs

It would help if cyclists followed a few common sense ideas like lights on their bikes, wear fluorescent material etc.
I have cycled in many places and it amazes me the number of cyclists in Galway who dont do either. As a car driver as well, anyone wearing a fluorescent yellow jacket is seen straight away.
As for the poster saying it is safer in Germany they obviously havent been to Hamburg - Galway is a very safe city in comparison to any other city I have been to. The murder of the poor Swiss girl was appalling but thankfully is a very very uncommon event

ScumLord

Webbs wrote: »

It would help if cyclists followed a few common sense ideas like lights on their bikes, wear fluorescent material etc.

Muuhh but it makes you look stupid.

ethernet

new123 wrote: »

Hello,
I am probably moving to Galway in May for an internship of 6 month, so I am currently looking for possible accomdation and stuff....

I am from Germany and have never been to Ireland before...

My main goal: Get to work every day fast and easy!
As my work will be in parkmore industrial estate I will probably have to take a bus from the city centre...right?
Have been on Eireen site already, but not sure which bus line to take or where exactly the bus stops are on the way to work when I look on a map.
When I am looking for a room, I want to make sure the place is ideally next to a bus stop on the way to the parkmore business center.

Does annyone know, which bus no. I have to take, or where to find a map showing the bus stops??


Thanks in advance...

Wie gesagt, öffentliche Verkehrsmittel bei uns ist sehr schlecht. Man muss immer einige Minuten früh sein, obwohl der Bus/Zug hat fast immer Verspätung.

Es gibt oft Streit, wenn Sie aussteigen wollen aber der Bus nicht an allen sog. Bus Éireann Bushaltestellen haltet!

Am besten wohnen Sie im Stadtzentrum. Fast alle Busse fährt von Eyre Square ab. Galway ist ziemlich klein und wir haben noch keine S-Bahn -- nur Busse für Nahverkehr.

Ich möchte Ihnen erzählen, dass eine Stadtführung von Galway wird von der Uni am 9. Mai gegeben, wenn Sie Interesse daran haben (kostenlos). Ich kann mehr Infos geben.

Ich wünsche Ihnen eine tolle Erfahrung bei uns. Hoffentlich mache ich nächtes Jahr auch ein Praktum bei euch!

Mrs OBumble

happyoutscan wrote: »

Most of Westside is grand and also close to town.

Aye. And a few bits aren't.

A kid who's just got here from Germany might not be able to spot which is which easily. So I'm totally unrepentant about suggesting that s/he lives elsewhere. If that's "snobbery", then so be it.

Mrs OBumble

Chris_533976 wrote: »

If you're from Germany be prepared to make a MASSIVE drop in the quality of Bus services.

And most other services too. Except perhaps for the number of pubs per person, and the number of street musicians.

Mrs OBumble

inisboffin wrote: »

But Claddagh? I consider that pretty much City Centre, though on the other side of the river.

Had to draw a line somewhere, thought the river was the easiest way to do it. You could make the argument about Lower Salthill too.

inisboffin

JustMary wrote: »

Aye. And a few bits aren't.

A kid who's just got here from Germany might not be able to spot which is which easily. So I'm totally unrepentant about suggesting that s/he lives elsewhere. If that's "snobbery", then so be it.

Just curious as to which parts of the giant barony of Rahoon that you consider to be 'ghetto'? :P

If I was taking the 'kid from Germany' angle, then I would not suggest town either! Plenty of parts of city centre one would need to watch yer back.

Flat over Supermacs - hee hee!

new123

new123 wrote: »

WOW, thank you so much for the numerous responses!

I have a better picture now and know on which areas to concentrate during my room search.
Priceless insider information!
Guess would prefer to live in the city center as it is supposed to be pretty...so, bus no 9 it is then and I will prepare myself for timetable-difficulties!

Although your are right that in germany there probably exists a map and a plan and than another map and another plan for almost any bus line and any bus stop in even the smallest cities (We tend to document EVERYTHING in written form!), the timetables are also not that reliable... I guess that is they way it is in public traffic.
Will try the cycle-option as an alternative!

I work in Parkmore myself and used the bus for a while before i started driving.

My advice, live as close to the centre of town as possible and take the bus from eyre square.. it's very reliable to be honest, get the bus 45 mins before you start work and you'll never be late.

Living outside of town as some suggested is not the way to enjoy galway for 6 months. I'm in galway 4 years and still feel i'd be missing out if i lived out in roscam etc.

and cycling isn't an option in my opinion.. it will rain here an awful lot during the summer and unless your living very close to work, you'll have to cycle along the dual carriageway.

Xiney

ethernet wrote: »

Wie gesagt, öffentliche Verkehrsmittel bei uns ist sehr schlecht. Man muss immer einige Minuten früh sein, obwohl der Bus/Zug hat fast immer Verspätung.

Es gibt oft Streit, wenn Sie aussteigen wollen aber der Bus nicht an allen sog. Bus Éireann Bushaltestellen haltet!

Am besten wohnen Sie im Stadtzentrum. Fast alle Busse fährt von Eyre Square ab. Galway ist ziemlich klein und wir haben noch keine S-Bahn -- nur Busse für Nahverkehr.

Ich möchte Ihnen erzählen, dass eine Stadtführung von Galway wird von der Uni am 9. Mai gegeben, wenn Sie Interesse daran haben (kostenlos). Ich kann mehr Infos geben.

Ich wünsche Ihnen eine tolle Erfahrung bei uns. Hoffentlich mache ich nächtes Jahr auch ein Praktum bei euch!

...show off :P

ethernet

Xiney wrote: »

...show off :P

Hardly! Seven years learning the language so far. Might as well try and use it. :pac:

Xiney

no worries, was just kidding!

happyoutscan

JustMary wrote: »

Aye. And a few bits aren't.

A kid who's just got here from Germany might not be able to spot which is which easily. So I'm totally unrepentant about suggesting that s/he lives elsewhere. If that's "snobbery", then so be it.

I didn't ask for you to be 'unrepentant' nor did I mention anything about snobbery. All i said was 'most of westside is grand', which it is. I'm impressed by your superior knowledge of Galway considering (if memory serves) you're only here a short time. A valued opinion for the 'kid' I'm sure...

Pete4779

Live as close to the city centre as possible, or else just live 30 mins out in the countryside. The suburbs have useless public transport, no bicycle lanes and you will need a taxi or car to get around. Basically live a 10-15 walk to city centre and it's fine. Salthill is an example - it's a 20 min or so walk, and at the outskirts of what is reasonable.

Biking is a good way to get around, but the roads are very poorly surfaced, it rains around 80% of the days of the year there as well and driving standards are very poor (many many provisionally licensed students driving rustbuckets with no knowledge of road saftey or regulation).

city centre living, bus to suburbs for work, walking distance to all the good pubs and restaurants which are mostly city centre anyway.

jester77

Webbs wrote: »

As for the poster saying it is safer in Germany they obviously havent been to Hamburg - Galway is a very safe city in comparison to any other city I have been to. The murder of the poor Swiss girl was appalling but thankfully is a very very uncommon event

Have you lived in Hamburg? I've lived for a number of years in both cities and they are both safe. The only major problems in Hamburg lie around the Rote Flora and they only arise on may day and a few years back when the G8 were in town. Otherwise there is very little trouble, you are more likely to see a scrap outside abreakebabra or supermacs than on the Reeperbahn.

new123

ethernet wrote: »

Wie gesagt, öffentliche Verkehrsmittel bei uns ist sehr schlecht. Man muss immer einige Minuten früh sein, obwohl der Bus/Zug hat fast immer Verspätung. .....

Sieben Jahre? Nicht schlecht. Deutsch lernen ist 100x schwieriger als Englisch!

My first work day (yes, at SAP!) is May 4th. So I might be interested in a city tour of Galway. Maybe I will contact you when I arrived for further information about it. Need to find a place to live first.....


The more I read from you, the more I wanna live in the centre.... ideally next to Eyer Square and famous line no.9.

new123

hey,
moving to Galway from Germany in may for 6 months for an internship, I successfully got valuable information about my possible way to work in another thread.

Got still so much more questions...hope that some of you could help me out here to plan my journey successfully?

- How much days will I have to calculate living in a hostel before I might find a room in Galway city? (Unfortunately cannot fly to Ireland much early before my first day at work...)
Have been on www.daft.ie, is it by any chance likely to get a room from Germany?

- Possible rent for my purposes (Shared house in single room in the centre) differs between 300-400/month. How much will I have to calculate for utilities? (Electricity, Gas/Oil, Telephone, Internet, other...)

- Living cost for food etc are supposed to be higher than I might be used to in Germany? Are 150/month a realistic amount?

Thanks in advance

sarahspud

new123 wrote: »

hey,
moving to Galway from Germany in may for 6 months for an internship, I successfully got valuable information about my possible way to work in another thread.

Got still so much more questions...hope that some of you could help me out here to plan my journey successfully?

- How much days will I have to calculate living in a hostel before I might find a room in Galway city? (Unfortunately cannot fly to Ireland much early before my first day at work...)
Have been on www.daft.ie, is it by any chance likely to get a room from Germany?

- Possible rent for my purposes (Shared house in single room in the centre) differs between 300-400/month. How much will I have to calculate for utilities? (Electricity, Gas/Oil, Telephone, Internet, other...)

- Living cost for food etc are supposed to be higher than I might be used to in Germany? Are 150/month a realistic amount?

Thanks in advance

Hi,
I moved to Galway recently from Dublin. Its easy enough to find a room at the moment & rents have gone down slightly. 300-400 is what you would pay for a nice place close to the city centre, you could get a place for less if you have lower standards & /or live further out. I know you have gotten info before so you probably know about the Galway Advertiser accomodation supplement which comes out on Tuesday (I think) and you can get it from 1 or 2 pm (not sure which exactly)if you go in and pay 2 euro-theres usually a big queue of people so get there early. Their office is very centrally located on Eyre square, i think they also put them online so check their website: http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/classifieds
And you know about daft.ie. Id say 1 week would gt you somewhere, if you are unlucky it might take longer, but I would budget for 1 week.

As regards cost of living, its high compared to Germany. If you shop in Aldi & Lidl, which Im sure you know offer great quality, you can have food for the week for around 30 to 40-that is eating very well with maybe a bottle of wine & not buying the cheapest stuff. They are located on the Headford rd, which is about 10-15 minutes walk from the city centre & you can find it on google maps. They are all together in the same area beside a tesco and the omniplex cinema.
Eating out & buying drinks out is expensive. A pint costs slightly less than Dublin, but is in and around 4.50, a glass of wine ranges from 4.50 to 5.50-possibly more in a restaurant.A shot and mixer is dearer again, 7 or 8 bucks. A botttle of wine in aldi/lidl is 5.99 up to about 12 for a really nice bottle.
Some restaurants which offer good food & good value are:

BKs, a french place across from Thai gardens restaurant at Spanish arch, has a 3 course menu for 15 quid, great food, great wine list. Opens at 6pm i think. Also the Indian located right beside this is very good, main dishes are around 12-13 euro and rice is extra. very nice food.
The Cottage, Lr salthill rd, salthill, nice tapas, dishes around 8 quid each-2 would fill you up & get a basket of bread with all orders
Master Lees, this is in the centre of town, just after supermacs, before the bridge-cheap chinese food where you can eat in or takeaway-very decent grub & serve real chips. http://www.masterlees.com/
Vina Mara-gorgeous food, they do an early bird, 2 courses for 24 plus a glass of wine I think, details here:
http://www.vinamara.com/
Check out www.menupages.ie for reviews of places.

Some good pubs are: The Crane bar, Sea rd, this is actually just down from Massimos, and often has free music, but good free music. If you join you get tickets at a reduced rate & an email with weekly updates, http://www.thecranebar.com/
Theres no fee to become a member.
Massimos, good crowd here, often plays funk.
The Roisin Dubh-youll hear a lot about this place so I wont say much!

As regards utilities, they are expensive, Id say I pay about 40-50 a month for broadband & electricity. You may also have to pay for waste disposal.

Anyway, hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info. Céad míle fáilte to Ireland!

p.s. Public transport in galway is a joke so if you live far from work you will need to get a car or a bike.

Steyr

Pete4779 wrote: »

The suburbs have useless public transport.

Id disagree with you there with regards to the Rahoon and Salthill routes, IMO they are alway on time everytime i use them.

kraggy

I wouldn't plan on living in the city centre and cycling out to parkmore. It's too long and would be especially horrible on a cold wet morning in winter.

The no. 9 is great. Very reliable in my experience.

Or else you could live in Doughiska. Then you could walk to work. But living in city centre would be more fun, especially during summer when there is a lot of fun stuff going on.

new123

sarahspud wrote: »

Hi,
I moved to Galway recently from Dublin. Its easy enough to find a room at the moment & rents have gone down slightly. 300-400 is what you would pay for a nice place close to the city centre, you could get a place for less if you have lower standards & /or live further out. .......

thanks a lot for the detailed information. Think a lower standard is totally satisfying for me. Next to city center is the more important criterion.
looking forward to check out all your recommendations for eating and stuff...

Greaney

kraggy wrote: »

I wouldn't plan on living in the city centre and cycling out to parkmore. It's too long and would be especially horrible on a cold wet morning in winter.

The no. 9 is great. Very reliable in my experience.

Or else you could live in Doughiska. Then you could walk to work. But living in city centre would be more fun, especially during summer when there is a lot of fun stuff going on.

I second that, we are getting the buses every 15 minutes from Doughiska and on a sunny day only takes aroud 45 minutes to walk into the city - keeps ye fit as well

FergusF

kraggy wrote: »

I wouldn't plan on living in the city centre and cycling out to parkmore. It's too long and would be especially horrible on a cold wet morning in winter.

I lived in the Westside area and worked in Parkmore for ~5 years and cycled to / from work nearly every day, I'd say at least 9 out of 10 days.

I guess one's definition of 'long' depends on your fitness level, etc. For me cycling was the fastest way to get there - about 30 minutes at average speed (not working up a sweat . By car - anything from 15 minutes (early AM) to 60 minutes + (Parkmore > home on a busy Friday). Cycling is also much handier if you need to pop into a few shops on the way home, no hassle with parking, traffic, etc. so can save you a lot of wasted time.

It was also great for keeping fit, an hour of exercise every day means you can save time / money you'd otherwise spend on gyms or other sports.

I agree it can be pretty nasty on a wet November evening with the wind & rain in your face! But I soon got used to it, just carry your raingear at all times

Mrs OBumble

new123 wrote: »

- How much days will I have to calculate living in a hostel before I might find a room in Galway city? (Unfortunately cannot fly to Ireland much early before my first day at work...)
Have been on www.daft.ie, is it by any chance likely to get a room from Germany?

Budget for a fortnight, and you might save a lot. But budget for that just in case. Some of the hostels do (at least did) weekly rates - see www.hostelworld.com for details - Kinlay House at least used to be very good.

I'd strongly recommend not agreeing to any room in a house until you've seen it.

new123 wrote: »

- Possible rent for my purposes (Shared house in single room in the centre) differs between 300-400/month. How much will I have to calculate for utilities? (Electricity, Gas/Oil, Telephone, Internet, other...)

Electricity, budget E50/month. You don't need a telephone, just get a pre-pay mobile (unless the house already has one). Broadband wireless is about E-30/month, maybe a little more or less for a package with cable TV.

new123 wrote: »

- Living cost for food etc are supposed to be higher than I might be used to in Germany? Are 150/month a realistic amount?

Food is at least E-30 week, and that's if you're using the German supermarkets and doing things very budget. I'd plan on at least E-40 to E-50, maybe a little less if you do shared shopping with house-mates.

Beer is about E4/pint. Movies are around E12. A trip to the swimming pool is E7.5 (12 months ago, maybe more now). Gym membership is around E400 for 6 months. Night-classes about E120 for six-eight weeks. That gives you some sort of idea of your recreation costs.