The Amount Parents in Mainz Have to Pay for Schooling.
Parents in Germany Face Varying School-Related Costs
Parents in Germany are faced with a range of additional costs related to schooling, with expenses for after-school care, school meals, school trips, school books, and transportation varying significantly across cities and federal states.
After-school care (Ganztagsbetreuung)
Fees for after-school care can range from as little as €100 to €250 per month in larger cities like Hamburg or Munich, but many states subsidize or offer income-based sliding scale pricing. Some federal states include free or low-cost care as part of public education, while others charge fees.
School meals
Lunch costs in schools typically range from about €2 to €4 per meal depending on the city and school's catering arrangements. In some states, low-income families may receive subsidies or free meals.
School trips (Klassenfahrten)
The cost of school trips depends on destination and duration but often ranges from €50 to several hundred euros per trip per year. This is variable by city and school but is a significant occasional expense for parents.
School books and materials
While many German schools supply books for free or charge minimal fees (especially in public schools), parents usually spend between €50 and €150 per school year on additional materials, workbooks, notebooks, stationery, and sometimes rental or purchase of textbooks. Some states provide book rental libraries reducing cost.
School travel (Schulwegkosten)
Public transport costs for students vary by city and region. Many states offer discounted or free student transit passes for children who live far from school. Monthly transport passes for students usually cost between €20 and €50 depending on the city’s public transport system and subsidies.
Variation by city/federal state
Large cities like Hamburg and Munich tend to have higher fees for after-school care and meals due to higher living costs and demand. Hamburg, as a city-state, handles its own educational funding and services, often with reasonable subsidies for families but relatively higher nominal fees. Smaller or less expensive regions (e.g., Leipzig, Dresden) generally have lower overall costs for after-school care and meals, reflecting regional cost of living differences.
Some federal states (like Berlin and Bremen) provide extensive public support and near-free after-school care and school meals, whereas others expect parents to pay more out-of-pocket. In Munich, school meals cost an average of 6,300 euros, making it one of the most expensive cities in Germany for school meals. Mainz, on the other hand, is the most expensive city in Germany for afternoon care, with parents expected to pay almost 31,000 euros for afternoon care.
In Wiesbaden, parents pay an average of 10,600 euros for afternoon care, but school meals cost an average of 2,400 euros. Parents in Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, and Bremen travel for free on public transportation for their children, while in Munich and Erfurt, tickets for children are covered up to the 10th grade.
On average, German parents can expect to pay around 20,000 euros in total by the time their children graduate. For precise data, it is recommended to consult the education authorities of individual German federal states or city schools, as they administer and fund these services differently.
| Category | Typical Cost Range (EUR) | Notes | |--------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | After-school care | €100–250 / month | Varies by city & income; subsidies common | | School meals | €2–4 / meal | Subsidies available for low-income families | | School trips | €50–few hundred / year | Event-based; depends on destination and duration| | School books/materials | €50–150 / school year | Often subsidized or loaned in public schools | | School travel | €20–50 / month | Discounted/free student transit passes common |
- The cost of after-school care varies significantly across cities, with fees in larger cities like Hamburg or Munich ranging from €100 to €250 per month, while some federal states offer free or low-cost care as part of public education.
- Parents often spend between €50 and €150 per school year on additional materials such as workbooks, notebooks, stationery, and textbooks, but some states provide book rental libraries to reduce costs.
- The expense of school trips depends on the destination and duration but often ranges from €50 to several hundred euros per trip per year, making it a significant occasional expense for parents.
