Until recently we paid 500€ in Bavaria per semester additionally to the around 50€ we still have to pay and abolishing it made quite the difference, especially to people whose parents don't earn that much.
To clarify: the 400-600 Euro is per month, not per semester. Bavaria is one of the more expensive ('cause rich) states. If you are willing to live in the East (hey, Berlin!), you can get by on less.