🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,610 in Caen versus $2,024 in Strasbourg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,575 in Caen versus $3,027 in Strasbourg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,539 in Caen versus $4,031 in Strasbourg.
🙂Living in Caen costs roughly 20% less than in Strasbourg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Caen20% above, Strasbourg51% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caen
Strasbourg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.07€12.96
$17.41€14.98
-13.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.8€49.75
$73.6€63.3
-21.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.37€9.78
$12.98€11.16
-12.40%
Cappuccino
$2.68€2.30
$3.48€2.99
-22.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65€3.14
$2.78€2.39
31.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$2.43€2.09
-41.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.15€7.01
$6.54€5.63
24.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55€5.63
$5.36€4.61
22.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caen
Strasbourg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.06
$1.65€1.42
-25.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35€1.16
$2.50€2.15
-46.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28€1.96
$2.79€2.40
-18.28%
Eggs
$3.40€2.92
$4.56€3.93
-25.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.43€8.97
$28.86€24.82
-63.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.33€9.75
$17.96€15.45
-36.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.01€17.21
$24.37€20.96
-17.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.96
$3.12€2.69
-26.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$2.52€2.17
-18.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$3.44€2.96
-31.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42€2.08
$3.83€3.30
-36.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.40€2.06
-22.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26€1.94
$2.66€2.29
-15.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.16
$1.36€1.17
-0.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.48
$0.85€0.73
-35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.75€10.96
$13.97€12.02
-8.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.58€5.66
$9.05€7.78
-27.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.07
$2.07€1.78
15.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.34
$3.93€3.38
-60.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Caen
Strasbourg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.83€1.57
$2.26€1.94
-19.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.1€43.10
$63.9€55.0
-21.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.96€2.54
$3.49€3.01
-15.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81€1.55
$1.04€0.89
74.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.44€31.34
$38.66€33.26
-5.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$2.01€1.73
2.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K€22.7K
$37.4K€32.2K
-29.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K€29.8K
$38.0K€32.7K
-8.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caen
Strasbourg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172€148
$256€220
-32.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41€20.14
$23.55€20.26
-0.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.48€23.63
$33.40€28.73
-17.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caen
Strasbourg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.20€26.84
$39.97€34.39
-21.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.43€17.58
$26.82€23.07
-23.83%
Cinema Ticket
$15.57€13.39
$14.04€12.08
10.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caen
Strasbourg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171€147
$1,377€1,184
-87.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,661€7,450
$7,076€6,087
22.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caen
Strasbourg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111€95.3
$108€92.5
2.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.42€31.33
$38.74€33.32
-5.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.1€77.5
$91.0€78.3
-1.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145€125
$125€107
16.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caen
Strasbourg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$651€560
$787€677
-17.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$556€478
$687€591
-19.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,375€1,183
$1,713€1,473
-19.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€908
$953€820
10.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,640€3,991
$5,492€4,725
-15.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,601€2,237
$3,194€2,747
-18.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caen
Strasbourg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,582€2,221
$2,948€2,536
-12.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.62
3.65
-0.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Caen: June 1, 2026
Last update for Strasbourg: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $651 in Caen and $787 in Strasbourg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Strasbourg pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Caen vs $74.0 in Strasbourg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $449 per month, with Caen 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
Caen vs Strasbourg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Caen and Strasbourg?
Caen and Strasbourg differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,610 vs $2,024 including rent). Caen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Strasbourg earns 14% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Caen and Strasbourg?
Rent for a central apartment: $651 in Caen versus $787 in Strasbourg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Caen and Strasbourg?
A monthly transit pass in Caen runs roughly 28% less than in Strasbourg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Caen and Strasbourg?
Childcare runs $171 in Caen versus $1,377 in Strasbourg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,610 in Caen versus $2,024 in Strasbourg, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Caen but tight or insufficient in Strasbourg. The gap between the two cities makes Caen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Caen and Strasbourg?
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 Caen or Strasbourg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Caen and Strasbourg 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: Caen or Strasbourg?
Expats usually find Caen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Strasbourg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.