Indians in Frankfurt: complete guide to life, community, and jobs

Frankfurt is the financial capital of Germany and the main hub for Indian IT services in Europe. With 15,000-22,000 Indians, heavily concentrated in banking, IT consulting, and tech, Frankfurt has a distinctive Indian community character: more professional, more corporate, and more connected to home thanks to direct Lufthansa and Air India flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

Frankfurt at a glance for Indians

• Indian population: ~15,000-22,000
• Dominant profile: IT services (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Cognizant), banking, consulting, pharmaceutical
• Cost of living: moderate (between Munich and Berlin)
• English-friendliness: very high due to international banking environment
• Weather: mild by German standards, Rhine valley microclimate
• Direct flights to India: Lufthansa, Air India, Emirates (via Dubai). Frankfurt is a top choice for Indians who travel home regularly

Where Indians live in Frankfurt

Sachsenhausen

Traditional Indian hub in Frankfurt. Home to several Indian grocery stores, restaurants, and community gathering points. South of the Main river, residential yet central.

Rent (1-bedroom): €1,000-€1,500

Bornheim / Nordend

Young professional neighborhoods. Lively, with good restaurants and bars. Popular with Indian professionals in their 20s-30s.

Rent: €1,000-€1,500

Westend

Upscale, banking district. Popular with bankers, consultants, and senior corporate professionals (Indian or otherwise).

Rent: €1,200-€1,800

Bockenheim

University area, home to Goethe University Frankfurt. Good for students and researchers.

Rent: €900-€1,400

Eschborn

Not technically Frankfurt, but the largest IT services hub in the region. Home to offices of TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Cognizant, Tech Mahindra. Many Indians live here for short commutes to work.

Rent: €900-€1,400

Kelkheim / Bad Soden / Kronberg

Frankfurt suburbs with high Indian professional family presence. Better schools, larger apartments, more affordable than Westend.

Rent: €1,000-€1,600

Offenbach am Main

Adjacent to Frankfurt, much cheaper. Large Indian community. About 20 minutes to Frankfurt by S-Bahn.

Rent: €700-€1,200

Indian groceries in Frankfurt

Frankfurt has a solid Indian grocery scene, particularly around Sachsenhausen and Bornheim:

• Indian shops in Sachsenhausen: multiple stores on Schweizer Straße and nearby
• India Bazaar Frankfurt
• South Indian stores: catering to the Tamil and Telugu professional community
• Turkish grocery stores in Bornheim and Bahnhof, great for fresh produce
• Online delivery (Desigros, Jamoona): well-used in Frankfurt

Check grocery directory for the full list.

Indian restaurants in Frankfurt

Frankfurt has some of the best Indian dining in Germany thanks to the large professional community:

• Indian Avenue (multiple locations): popular chain
• Ashoka Indian Restaurant
• Dosa Palace: South Indian specialties
• Taj Mahal: classic North Indian
• Curry House
• Masala Authentic Indian
• Kabab Lounge

High concentration of Indian restaurants in Sachsenhausen and Bornheim. Check restaurants directory.

Temples and religious sites

• Shri Ganesh Hindu Temple Frankfurt: the main Hindu temple, active community events
• ISKCON Frankfurt: Hare Krishna
• Sikh Gurdwara Frankfurt: active Sikh community
• Jain Sangh Frankfurt: small but active

The Shri Ganesh Temple hosts major festivals including Diwali, Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Holi celebrations attended by thousands.

Indian community groups

• Indians in Frankfurt (Facebook, 20,000+ members): one of the largest Indian community groups in Germany
• Indian Professionals Frankfurt: banking and consulting
• Frankfurt Tamil Sangam, Telugu Association, Bengali Association, Malayali Association, Marathi Mandal, all active
• IT Services Indian Network: TCS, Infosys, Wipro employee networks
• Indian Students Frankfurt: Goethe University, Frankfurt School of Finance

Check community directory for verified groups.

Cultural events

Frankfurt's Indian calendar is rich:

• Diwali: celebrations at Shri Ganesh Temple, Indian Consulate General, and various community venues
• Holi: large outdoor celebrations
• Ganesh Chaturthi: 10-day temple celebration
• Navratri: garba nights, Gujarati community
• Durga Puja: Bengali community
• Onam: Kerala community (Frankfurt has a strong Keralite presence)
• Pongal and Tamil New Year: Tamil community
• Republic Day and Independence Day: Indian Consulate General events
• Frankfurt Book Fair: not Indian-specific but a major cultural event featuring Indian authors and publishers

The Indian Consulate General in Frankfurt (Eschenheimer Anlage) provides full consular services and hosts cultural events.

Work and jobs in Frankfurt

Frankfurt is Germany's banking and financial capital, with a massive secondary presence in IT and consulting:

Banking and finance

• Deutsche Bank (headquarters)
• Commerzbank
• DZ Bank
• KfW
• Deutsche Börse
• European Central Bank (ECB)
• DekaBank

Indian IT services (the biggest Indian employer hub)

• TCS Frankfurt / Eschborn (largest Indian employer in Germany)
• Infosys Frankfurt / Eschborn
• Wipro Frankfurt
• HCL Frankfurt / Eschborn
• Cognizant
• Tech Mahindra
• Mindtree
• LTIMindtree
• Mphasis

These companies hire hundreds of Indians annually, often transferring experienced engineers from India on Blue Card or ICT Card permits.

Corporate and consulting

• Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC
• McKinsey, BCG (Frankfurt offices)
• Bain

Pharmaceutical and chemicals

• Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, near Frankfurt)
• Sanofi
• Bayer (nearby in Leverkusen, NRW)

Consumer and other

• Lufthansa
• Fraport (airport operator)
• Frankfurt Airport (logistics and aviation)

Typical salaries (mid-level SWE): €65,000-€90,000. Indian IT services roles tend to pay lower (€45,000-€65,000) than direct German company hires.

Education

Universities

• Goethe University Frankfurt
• Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (private, top MBA)
• Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
• Provadis School of International Management (corporate business school)

International schools (for families)

• Frankfurt International School (FIS): one of the largest international schools in Germany
• European School Frankfurt
• Metropolitan School Frankfurt
• Strothoff International School

Cost: €15,000-€25,000/year per child. Very popular with Indian banking and consulting families.

German public schools

Free, quality varies by district. International families often prefer international schools due to English continuity and the transient nature of corporate assignments.

Transport

• VGF and RMV operate buses, trams, U-Bahn, S-Bahn
• Deutschlandticket covers everything in the region
• Frankfurt Airport: one of Europe's busiest, excellent for flights to India (direct on Lufthansa, Air India, Emirates)
• Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof: major rail hub, ICE connections to other German cities and Europe

The direct flights to India are a major quality of life factor that distinguishes Frankfurt from other German cities.

Weather and lifestyle

Frankfurt has one of Germany's milder climates due to its position in the Rhine valley:

• Winter: mild by German standards, 0-8°C
• Summer: 18-28°C, occasionally hot (sometimes hitting 35°C)
• Spring and autumn: pleasant

Less snow and grey days than Munich, Hamburg, or Berlin.

Practical costs (single professional)

Indians in Frankfurt: pros and cons

Pros

• Largest Indian IT services hub in Germany
• Direct flights to India (Lufthansa, Air India): huge quality of life for those who travel home regularly
• Strong English environment
• Well-organized Indian community
• Good Indian food scene
• Moderate cost of living
• Central location, easy train access to other German cities

Cons

• Can feel corporate and transient
• Smaller city than Berlin or Munich, fewer cultural events
• Reputation for being "boring" (though this is overstated)
• International school costs are high
• Summer can be hot and muggy

Getting started in Frankfurt

1. If joining TCS/Infosys/Wipro etc, HR usually handles initial setup
2. For direct German hires, find temporary housing first
3. Search for apartments aggressively on ImmoScout24, WG-Gesucht
4. Complete Anmeldung
5. Book Frankfurt Ausländerbehörde appointment
6. Open a bank account
7. Set up direct flights to India schedule (convenient for visits home)

Related guides on this site

• Ausländerbehörde Frankfurt
• Best city in Germany for Indians
• Anmeldung by city: Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Düsseldorf
• Finding Indian groceries in Germany