๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,189 in Dayton, OH versus $2,027 in Erfurt.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,200 in Dayton, OH versus $3,198 in Erfurt.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,212 in Dayton, OH versus $4,370 in Erfurt.
๐Living in Dayton, OH is roughly 8% more expensive than Erfurt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dayton, OH63% above, Erfurt51% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.33$16.33
$17.30โฌ14.76
-5.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0$59.0
$69.7โฌ59.5
-15.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.88$9.88
$11.38โฌ9.71
-13.18%
Cappuccino
$4.25$4.25
$3.53โฌ3.01
20.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39$2.39
$3.61โฌ3.08
-33.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$7.97โฌ6.80
-78.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.18$4.18
$4.67โฌ3.98
-10.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92$5.92
$3.53โฌ3.01
67.71%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75$0.75
$1.25โฌ1.07
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.50$2.50
$2.20โฌ1.88
13.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.60$3.60
$3.26โฌ2.78
10.43%
Eggs
$3.51$3.51
$3.75โฌ3.20
-6.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.52$11.52
$14.91โฌ12.72
-22.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.85$18.85
$13.13โฌ11.20
43.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.30$15.30
$18.71โฌ15.96
-18.23%
Apples(1kg)
$4.77$4.77
$3.41โฌ2.91
39.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55$1.55
$1.71โฌ1.46
-9.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.73$5.73
$2.62โฌ2.24
118.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.22$5.22
$4.88โฌ4.16
6.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.96$2.96
$1.69โฌ1.45
75.15%
Onion(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$1.52โฌ1.30
100.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11$2.11
$1.81โฌ1.54
16.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.65$2.65
$0.89โฌ0.76
197.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.37$9.37
$10.23โฌ8.72
-8.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.02$12.02
$6.88โฌ5.87
74.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$0.94โฌ0.81
80.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79$3.79
$1.64โฌ1.40
131.10%
๐ Getting Around
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.24$4.24
$3.10โฌ2.65
36.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.0$61.0
$62.7โฌ53.5
-2.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.87$4.87
$5.42โฌ4.62
-10.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44$1.44
$2.54โฌ2.17
-43.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.69$49.69
$40.69โฌ34.71
22.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88$0.88
$2.08โฌ1.77
-57.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$31.6Kโฌ27.0K
-6.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$35.0Kโฌ29.8K
-27.04%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205$205
$446โฌ380
-54.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.62$45.62
$29.64โฌ25.29
53.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8$63.8
$52.5โฌ44.77
21.60%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.53$33.53
$41.07โฌ35.03
-18.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.19$45.19
$33.43โฌ28.51
35.18%
Cinema Ticket
$13.14$13.14
$13.96โฌ11.91
-5.87%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$556$556
$455โฌ388
22.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,909$4,909
$11.5Kโฌ9,797
-57.26%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.61$45.61
$97.5โฌ83.2
-53.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.8$52.8
$32.49โฌ27.72
62.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.3$74.3
$126โฌ107
-41.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$149โฌ127
-29.62%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,200$1,200
$817โฌ697
47.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$912$912
$556โฌ474
63.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,681$1,681
$1,580โฌ1,348
6.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,396$1,396
$1,231โฌ1,050
13.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,955โฌ4,227
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,436$1,436
$2,530โฌ2,158
-43.26%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,328$3,328
$3,215โฌ2,743
3.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.54
3.87
68.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dayton, OH: April 20, 2026
Last update for Erfurt: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,200 in Dayton, OH and $817 in Erfurt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐDayton, OH pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $59 in Dayton, OH vs $70 in Erfurt. Groceries flip the comparison at $413 vs $339, 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 โ living expenses run 8% 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 3% 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: $1,200 in Dayton, OH versus $817 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 $2,189 per month in Dayton, OH versus $2,027 in Erfurt โ a 8% 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 3% 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 $2,027 in Erfurt versus $2,189 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 8% 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