🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,017 in Bensheim versus $2,659 in Frankfurt.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,082 in Bensheim versus $3,960 in Frankfurt.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,147 in Bensheim versus $5,260 in Frankfurt.
🌍Living in Bensheim costs roughly 24% less than in Frankfurt, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bensheim52% above, Frankfurt100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bensheim
Frankfurt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.07€12.27
$19.56€17.05
-28.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.8€73.9
$92.1€80.3
-7.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.03€10.49
$13.72€11.96
-12.32%
Cappuccino
$3.91€3.41
$4.40€3.84
-11.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08€2.68
$3.79€3.30
-18.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.46
$3.23€2.82
-12.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.29€4.61
$5.72€4.99
-7.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54€3.95
$5.12€4.47
-11.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bensheim
Frankfurt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.07
$1.52€1.32
-19.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.35€2.05
$2.31€2.01
1.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.28€2.86
$3.41€2.97
-3.81%
Eggs
$3.83€3.34
$3.94€3.43
-2.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.90€12.99
$15.00€13.08
-0.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.66€11.91
$13.75€11.98
-0.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.82€17.28
$22.15€19.31
-10.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20€2.79
$3.40€2.96
-5.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81€1.58
$2.17€1.89
-16.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.24€1.95
$2.33€2.03
-3.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.19€4.52
$5.04€4.40
2.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47€1.28
$1.73€1.51
-15.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51€1.32
$1.64€1.43
-7.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89€1.65
$1.94€1.69
-2.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12€0.98
$1.16€1.01
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.26€8.07
$9.97€8.70
-7.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.82€5.08
$6.39€5.57
-8.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00€0.87
$1.05€0.91
-4.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63€1.42
$1.51€1.31
7.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Bensheim
Frankfurt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.48€3.03
$4.11€3.58
-15.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.9€53.1
$67.0€58.4
-9.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.83€5.08
$5.75€5.02
1.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.26€1.97
$2.69€2.34
-15.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.12€29.74
$38.63€33.67
-11.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98€1.72
$2.07€1.80
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K€27.6K
$31.3K€27.2K
1.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K€33.0K
$35.2K€30.7K
7.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bensheim
Frankfurt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$343€299
$378€330
-9.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.34€22.09
$25.02€21.81
1.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1€44.54
$43.02€37.50
18.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bensheim
Frankfurt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.30€34.27
$66.5€58.0
-40.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.18€20.21
$29.34€25.58
-21.00%
Cinema Ticket
$14.69€12.81
$16.04€13.99
-8.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bensheim
Frankfurt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$530€462
$619€540
-14.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,428€5,604
$16.0K€13.9K
-59.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bensheim
Frankfurt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0€65.4
$91.8€80.0
-18.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.48€31.81
$39.05€34.05
-6.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€90.5
$99.2€86.5
4.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$143€125
-13.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bensheim
Frankfurt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839€731
$1,551€1,352
-45.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$669€583
$1,202€1,048
-44.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,547€1,348
$2,820€2,459
-45.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,248€1,088
$2,014€1,756
-38.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,853€4,231
$8,255€7,197
-41.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,718€3,241
$4,311€3,758
-13.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bensheim
Frankfurt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,491€3,915
$4,094€3,569
9.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.47
3.99
-13.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bensheim: July 26, 2026
Last update for Frankfurt: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $839 in Bensheim and $1,551 in Frankfurt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bensheim pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $85.0 in Bensheim vs $92.0 in Frankfurt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $347 vs $364 per month, with Bensheim cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bensheim vs Frankfurt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bensheim and in Frankfurt?
Bensheim and Frankfurt differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($2,017 vs $2,659 including rent). Bensheim is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bensheim or Frankfurt?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Bensheim, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bensheim and in Frankfurt?
Rent for a central apartment: $839 in Bensheim versus $1,551 in Frankfurt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bensheim and Frankfurt?
Childcare runs $530 in Bensheim versus $619 in Frankfurt. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Frankfurt. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,017 in Bensheim versus $2,659 in Frankfurt, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Bensheim but tight or insufficient in Frankfurt. The gap between the two cities makes Bensheim the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bensheim and Frankfurt?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bensheim or Frankfurt safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bensheim and Frankfurt are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bensheim or Frankfurt?
Expats usually find Bensheim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Frankfurt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.