Before your consultation
The Germany Planning Room
A practical preparation guide for salary and cost-of-living consultations, from job-offer documents to housing assumptions.
This is where a vague salary question becomes a useful brief. You do not need every answer before speaking with us, but four small groups of information make the consultation more specific.
1. Read the compensation page
Note the gross annual base salary, payment frequency, probable start date, fixed allowances, reliable bonuses, and any relocation payment. Keep variable bonuses separate. If a company car, pension contribution, transport pass, or temporary housing is offered, record its exact conditions rather than estimating a cash value.
2. Describe the household that will move
We need the number of adults and children, whether a partner expects income immediately, likely childcare needs, and any recurring commitments that continue after relocation. A broad monthly amount is enough. Do not send account numbers, tax IDs, passport scans, or medical details.
3. Choose a housing scenario
Collect three to five current rental listings that resemble homes you would genuinely consider. Check whether the advertised figure is Kaltmiete (cold rent) or Warmmiete (rent including some operating and heating costs). Note the commute, floor area, furnished status, and whether electricity is additional.
Listings are evidence of asking prices, not a guarantee that a tenancy will be offered. They still give us a better starting point than a city-wide average.
4. Mark the unknowns
Useful questions often include:
- Which tax class assumption is appropriate for the estimate?
- Is statutory or private health insurance likely?
- When should the first salary payment arrive?
- Which relocation expenses will the employer reimburse?
- Does the workplace require a car, regional train, or local transit pass?
- How much cash must remain available for a rental deposit?
Unknowns do not prevent planning. We build ranges around them and identify which answer could materially change the decision.
What to expect after sending your note
Within two working days, we confirm whether your question fits one of our consultations. If it does, we propose times and send a brief questionnaire. You can choose an online appointment or, where available, an in-person session in Frankfurt.