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Cottbus

A mid-sized city in southern Brandenburg, Cottbus sits near the Polish border amid the scenic Spreewald forests. The BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is well-regarded for mechanical, civil, and environmental engineering, and draws a significant number of Indian and international students. The city is undergoing structural change from its coal-mining past to a green energy and research-focused future, with very low cost of living.

📍 Brandenburg👥 100K residents🇮🇳 Small Indian community
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1
Universities
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1
Indian stores
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1
Temple
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1
Hospitals
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Universities

1 institutions — public universities are tuition-free

B

BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg

TechnicalRegionalWebsite
Mechanical EngineeringCivil EngineeringEnvironmental & EnergyCSArchitecture
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Indian Life

Groceries, spices and places of worship to feel at home

Indian Grocery Stores
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Asia-Markt Cottbus

Area
Innenstadt
Specialty
Mixed Asian — limited Indian selection
Hours
Mon-Sat 10-19
Temples & Places of Worship
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Informal Indian student community gatherings

Hindu
Deity
Multi-deity
Area
BTU Campus / Innenstadt
Events
Diwali, Holi on campus, organised by Indian student associations
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Healthcare

Emergency numbers and the major hospitals in town

H1

Städtisches Klinikum Cottbus

GeneralInnenstadt

The city's main hospital — good general surgery, internal medicine, and emergency care

Tip: Always carry your Krankenkassenkarte (health insurance card) — doctors and hospitals require it at every visit. Without it you may be billed directly.

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Getting Around

Airports, rail connections and the passes worth getting

BER

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

~120 km north-west

RE18 train ~1.5h, the main option for all international/India flights

DRS

Dresden Airport (DRS)

~130 km south-west

~2h by regional train — alternative

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Main station
Cottbus Hauptbahnhof
Cottbus-Sandow

Regional trains: Berlin (~1.5h). Slow rail connections, Berlin BER is the nearest international airport. City has a bus-based local transport network.

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Cost of Living

Typical monthly expenses in Cottbus

Typical cost · single professional
€930/mo
Most affordableMost expensive
📊 Most affordable of 20 cities we track
Where the money goes
Rent (1-BR)59%
Groceries22%
Transport6%
Utilities13%
Monthly expense ranges
1-BR apartment€400-700/mo
2-BR apartment€600-1100/mo
Groceries€150-250/mo
Transport pass€55/mo
Utilities€100-150/mo
Monthly budget by profile
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Student
Shared room: €240–€320
Groceries: €120–€150
Transport: €55
Phone, leisure: ~€100
~€570/mo
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Professional
1-BR rent: €400-700
Groceries: €150-250
Transport: €55
Utilities: €100-150
~€1155/mo
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Family (2 adults)
2-BR rent: €600-1100
Groceries: €375
2× transport: €110
Utilities: €100-150
~€1235/mo

Not sure Cottbus is the one?

Put Cottbus head-to-head with another German city, rent, community size, universities, transport and more, side by side.

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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and may not reflect the latest rules, fees or requirements. Always check the latest information from the official sources (the relevant German authority, embassy or official website) before making any decisions.

Last updated: 19 July 2026