Shopping as a Military Family in Germany
As a SOFA-status family, you have access to an incredible variety of shopping options — from American-style commissaries and exchanges to charming German markets, world-class bakeries, and discount supermarkets. This guide helps you make the most of all of them.
On-Base Shopping
The Commissary (DECA)
The Ramstein Commissary is a full-size American grocery store stocked with familiar brands and products. Located on Ramstein Air Base, it is the primary grocery store for many military families.
- Prices — At-cost pricing plus 5% surcharge (still significantly cheaper than US retail for most items). Prices are in USD.
- Products — American brands, USDA meats, familiar cereals, peanut butter, ranch dressing, and all the comfort food you miss from home.
- Hours — Generally Mon-Sat 0900-2000, Sun 0900-1800. Check for holiday hours.
- Pro Tip — Avoid Saturday mornings during PCS season. The Commissary gets extremely crowded. Early weekday mornings are the calmest times.
BX/PX (AAFES Exchange)
The Kaiserslautern Military Community Center (KMCC) on Ramstein houses a large AAFES exchange plus a food court, specialty shops, and a USO center. Additional exchanges are located at Vogelweh.
- Tax-free shopping on electronics, clothing, household goods
- Military Star Card accepted (AAFES credit card)
- Concessions include Starbucks, Subway, Burger King, and more
VAT Forms: Save 19% on German Purchases
As a SOFA-status individual, you are entitled to purchase goods and certain services from German businesses VAT-free (Mehrwertsteuer-frei). The VAT rate in Germany is 19% (7% for food and books), so this represents significant savings.
How VAT Forms Work
- Get VAT Forms — Obtain forms from the VAT Office on Ramstein (Building 2113). You must present your military ID and ration card.
- Present to German Store — Before making a purchase, present your VAT form to the German retailer. Not all stores accept them, so ask first ("Nehmen Sie Vatforms an?").
- Store Completes the Form — The retailer fills in the purchase details and deducts the VAT from your price.
- Limitations — VAT forms cannot be used for food at restaurants, gasoline at German gas stations, or consumable services. They are primarily for durable goods (furniture, electronics, appliances, cars, etc.).
Common VAT Form Purchases: Kitchens, furniture, electronics, appliances, tires, car repairs, custom-made items, and large household goods.
German Grocery Stores
German grocery stores offer incredible quality at prices that often beat the Commissary, especially for fresh produce, meats, dairy, and bread. Here are the main chains:
Discount Supermarkets
- Aldi — The original discount supermarket. Excellent quality private-label products at rock-bottom prices. Limited selection but everything is good. Weekly specials on household items and clothing.
- Lidl — Similar to Aldi but with a slightly wider selection. Great bakery section. Weekly themed specials (Italian week, Greek week, etc.) offer diverse products.
- Netto / Penny — Other discount chains with good basics.
Full-Service Supermarkets
- REWE — Higher-end supermarket with wide selection, organic options, and an excellent deli/bakery. Locations in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Landstuhl, and throughout Kaiserslautern.
- Edeka — Premium supermarket chain. Best for specialty items, fine meats, and gourmet products.
- Globus — Hypermarket (like a German Costco) in Kaiserslautern-Einsiedlerhof. Massive selection, in-house bakery, butcher, and restaurant. Great prices on bulk items.
- Real / Kaufland — Large supermarkets with household goods alongside groceries.
Specialty Stores
- Bakeries (Baeckerei) — Germany has the best bread in the world, and that is not an exaggeration. Visit your local Baeckerei for Broetchen (rolls), Vollkornbrot (whole grain bread), Brezeln (pretzels), and pastries. Most open at 6 AM.
- Butcher (Metzgerei) — Local butchers offer superior meat quality and can prepare cuts to your specifications. Great for fresh Bratwurst, Schnitzel cutlets, and cold cuts.
- Weekly Markets (Wochenmarkt) — Open-air markets with fresh produce, flowers, cheese, meats, and local specialties. Kaiserslautern's Stiftsplatz market runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
- Drogerie (Drugstore) — DM and Rossmann for toiletries, cosmetics, baby products, and household cleaning supplies. Excellent quality and prices.
Furniture and Home Goods
- IKEA — The closest IKEA is in Saarlouis (about 50 minutes from Ramstein) or Walldorf (near Heidelberg, about 1 hour). Great for furnishing your German apartment, especially kitchens.
- Moebel Martin — Large furniture stores in Kaiserslautern and surrounding area. German-quality furniture. Accepts VAT forms.
- Poco — Budget-friendly furniture and home goods store in Kaiserslautern.
- Amazon.de — Amazon Germany delivers to your German address. Create a separate Amazon.de account. Prime membership is available.
Shopping Tips
- Bring Reusable Bags — Always. To every store.
- Coin for the Cart — Most German stores require a 1 EUR coin (or 50 cent) to unlock a shopping cart. You get it back when you return the cart.
- Sunday Planning — Stock up before Sunday. Only gas station shops and some bakeries are open.
- Store Hours — Most German stores close between 8 PM and 10 PM on weekdays, and by 8 PM on Saturdays. Very few are 24-hour.
- Seasonal Products — German stores rotate seasonal products heavily. Stock up when you see items you like because they may not be back for months.
Between the Commissary for American staples and German stores for incredible fresh bread, produce, and local products, you will eat better in Germany than anywhere else in your military career. Embrace the local options — your taste buds (and your wallet) will thank you.