A Complete Guide to Aachen: Education, Living Costs, and Sights to See

Aachen is a city located in Germany, which has been claimed as the number one study-abroad country in the world by many online sources. It is not behind any other German city in hosting and providing world-class education to international students. Aachen is not only good for providing education to students but it also makes the lives of students memorable. Students can enjoy life to the fullest by visiting significant destinations in Aachen.

Here, you will get a complete guide to Aachen in which you will read about education, living costs, and important sights to see.

Education in Aachen

Universities in Aachen have excellent research and study facilities and its universities provide education in different areas. RWTH Aachen University is one of the Universities of Excellence in Germany, and it places a strong emphasis on technological research. The major subject in which technological research takes place here are computer sciences, electrical and mechanical engineering, chemistry, and physics. The university was established in 1870 and today also, it is providing quality education. The popular botanical garden is also maintained by RWTH Aachen University. It is one of the 100 universities in the world as QS has given it 99th rank for 2025 among 1503 ranked universities.

Another university in Aachen is FH Aachen, which is comparatively newer and was founded in the year 1971. It is an excellent university for mechanical engineering, construction engineering, electronic engineering, and mechatronics. There are twenty international or foreign-oriented programs in which education is taken by students here. There are more than 21% foreign students in the student body.

Living Costs in Aachen

The cost of living in Aachen is another significant aspect of the city that you need to know about. Here are some of the major costs in Aachen.

Eating Out & Groceries

Meals are the most necessary items so it will be good to first know about their cost of living. Here, you will read about the cost of eating out in restaurants and groceries for meals in your residence.

Meal in an inexpensive restaurant: €12

Meal for 2 people in a midrange restaurant: €65

McMeal at McDonalds: €10

Regular milk (1 liter): €1.08

Loaf of fresh white bread (500 grams): €1.87

White rice (1 kg): €3.03

Local cheese (1 kg): €12.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle): €0.74

Tomatoes (1 kg): €3.93

Potatoes (1 kg): €1.39

Onions (1 kg): €1.57

Lettuce (1 head): €1.71

Apples (1 kg): €2.72

Bananas (1 kg): €1.47

Oranges (1 kg): €1.98

Accommodation for Students

Accommodation is the first thing you will need after enrolling in Aachen so knowing about the costs of accommodations is also significant for you. The cost of accommodation very much depends on the housing option in Aachen you choose.

Student Dormitories: Around €280-€400 per month

Shared Flats: Around €479-€700 per month

Off-Campus Student Housing: Around €640- €1,426 per month

Private Apartment Accommodations: Around €415-€2,500 per month

Sights to See

You would like to visit some significant sights in Aachen during your stay in this city. Here are some of the popular sights to see in the city.

Aachen Cathedral

Aachen Cathedral, also called Imperial Cathedral, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition, it has a central octagon, which was built in 796 AD, and a Gothic Choir, completed in 1414 AD. As a Roman cathedral, it houses a variety of historical artifacts.

Aachen Marketplace

Aachen Marketplace is one of the ideal sights, featuring numerous wonderful tourist attractions. In particular, one of the popular attractions you can find in Aachen Marketplace is the old Town Hall.

Ludwig Forum for International Art

In Ludwig Forum for International Art, you can find several magnificent modern art pieces from across the globe. Moreover, it was built in 1928 in the Bauhaus style.

Couven-Museum

Couven-Museum comprises displays of 18th-century silverware as well as kitchenware and the first chocolate bar-making equipment. It is housed in an old burgher’s home and here you can find domestic interiors dating from 1740 to 1840.

Elisenbrunnen & Ancient Hot Springs

In city, we can see a long tradition of baths and spas. According to records, they were Romans who first recognized the health benefits of its water. In 1827, the town honored its history by constructing the magnificent Elisenbrunnen in Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz. This grand Neoclassical landmark features a colonnade and two drinking fountains.

Centre Charlemagne

Centre Charlemagne is a museum and is commonly known as the New City Museum Aachen. Here, you can find a fascinating look of the rich history of the city, and the statute of Charlemagne is a major attraction here.