😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,179 in Dayton, OH versus $2,061 in Erfurt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,182 in Dayton, OH versus $3,159 in Erfurt.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,185 in Dayton, OH versus $4,257 in Erfurt.
😐Living in Dayton, OH is roughly 6% more expensive than Erfurt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dayton, OH63% above, Erfurt54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.83$16.83
$17.38€15.08
-3.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8$60.8
$70.3€61.0
-13.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.97$9.97
$11.63€10.09
-14.27%
Cappuccino
$4.20$4.20
$3.45€2.99
21.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37$2.37
$3.60€3.13
-34.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$8.03€6.97
-78.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.37$4.37
$4.65€4.03
-6.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03$6.03
$3.37€2.93
78.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$1.25€1.08
-36.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45$2.45
$2.27€1.97
7.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.67$3.67
$3.15€2.73
16.51%
Eggs
$3.52$3.52
$3.62€3.14
-2.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.45$11.45
$14.75€12.80
-22.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.48$18.48
$13.32€11.56
38.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.58$15.58
$18.50€16.05
-15.78%
Apples(1kg)
$4.96$4.96
$3.33€2.89
48.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$1.78€1.55
-8.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.65$5.65
$2.62€2.27
115.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.27$5.27
$4.94€4.29
6.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$1.63€1.42
77.30%
Onion(1kg)
$3.17$3.17
$1.52€1.32
108.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08$2.08
$1.80€1.56
15.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$0.96€0.83
189.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.35$9.35
$10.06€8.72
-7.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.08$12.08
$6.93€6.01
74.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.00€0.86
75.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84$3.84
$1.58€1.37
143.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.20$4.20
$3.11€2.69
35.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.1$59.1
$63.1€54.7
-6.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.95$4.95
$5.31€4.60
-6.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.42$1.42
$2.43€2.11
-41.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.3$50.3
$40.61€35.23
23.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$2.01€1.75
-57.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K$29.2K
$30.9K€26.8K
-5.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$34.7K€30.1K
-25.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$201$201
$450€390
-55.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.98$44.98
$30.33€26.31
48.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.1$63.1
$52.4€45.46
20.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.96$33.96
$41.40€35.91
-17.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.75$44.75
$34.38€29.83
30.16%
Cinema Ticket
$12.87$12.87
$13.67€11.86
-5.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544$544
$455€395
19.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,017$5,017
$11.7K€10.2K
-57.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.32$46.32
$95.6€83.0
-51.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9$51.9
$32.38€28.09
60.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.8$72.8
$126€109
-42.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$148€128
-28.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,182$1,182
$815€707
44.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$929$929
$554€480
67.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,680$1,680
$1,598€1,387
5.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,364$1,364
$1,222€1,060
11.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,897€4,249
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,447$1,447
$2,540€2,204
-43.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,298$3,298
$3,138€2,722
5.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.54
3.87
68.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dayton, OH: June 1, 2026
Last update for Erfurt: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,182 in Dayton, OH and $815 in Erfurt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dayton, OH pays 5% 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: $61.0 in Dayton, OH vs $70.0 in Erfurt. Groceries flip the comparison at $415 vs $340, with Erfurt cheaper for home cooking.
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
Dayton, OH vs Erfurt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dayton, OH or Erfurt?
Erfurt wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Dayton, OH. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Erfurt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Dayton, OH or Erfurt?
Dayton, OH pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Dayton, OH vs Erfurt?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,182 in Dayton, OH versus $815 in Erfurt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Dayton, OH compared to Erfurt?
All in, you'll spend $2,179 per month in Dayton, OH versus $2,061 in Erfurt – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Dayton, OH vs Erfurt?
A monthly transit pass in Erfurt runs roughly 7% less than in Dayton, OH. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Dayton, OH or Erfurt?
At $2,061 in Erfurt versus $2,179 in Dayton, OH, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Erfurt but tight or insufficient in Dayton, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Erfurt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Dayton, OH or Erfurt?
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.
How safe is Dayton, OH compared to Erfurt?
Safety-wise, Dayton, OH and Erfurt are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Erfurt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Dayton, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Dayton, OH vs other spots: cost of living compared