- Note the monthly amount and currency (gross or net if stated).
- Open the matching country page in PhD Living Costs.
- Ask whether housing, health insurance, and tuition are included.
- If the call is city-specific, prefer city affordability pages when available.
A simple check
Where our data helps
Institute scholarship cards often show indicative monthly grants. Affordability pages relate those bands to estimated student living costs — useful for filtering countries, not for a personal budget spreadsheet.
Frequently asked questions
Why compare stipend to living costs?
A high-sounding monthly figure can be tight in expensive cities. Use affordability country and city pages alongside the advertised band before you relocate.
Are living-cost figures exact take-home pay?
No. They are indicative price-level context. Tax, insurance, and family situation change net income — confirm with the host and local rules.
What if the stipend looks too low?
Ask the institute about top-ups, teaching duties, or housing support, or prioritise calls with employment contracts in that country.
Next step