Cost of Living Comparison Between Dayton, OH and Erfurt Cost of Living Comparison Between Dayton, OH and Erfurt

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,143 in Dayton, OH versus $2,301 in Erfurt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,226 in Dayton, OH versus $3,293 in Erfurt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,308 in Dayton, OH versus $4,284 in Erfurt.

Living in Dayton, OH costs roughly 7% less than in Erfurt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dayton, OH 56% above, Erfurt 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.66 $14.66
$15.86 €13.65
-7.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 $69.5
$68.6 €59.0
1.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 $10.19
$11.41 €9.82
-10.69%
Cappuccino
$4.19 $4.19
$3.58 €3.08
17.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$4.24 €3.65
-47.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 $1.90
$8.20 €7.06
-76.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.91 $3.91
$4.62 €3.97
-15.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 $5.44
$5.24 €4.51
3.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.39 €1.20
-46.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.14 €1.84
34.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$3.31 €2.85
16.92%
Eggs
$3.75 $3.75
$3.27 €2.81
14.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 $12.74
$14.81 €12.75
-13.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$21.75 $21.75
$10.82 €9.31
101.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.90 $15.90
$18.56 €15.97
-14.33%
Apples (1kg)
$4.62 $4.62
$3.46 €2.98
33.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.12 €1.82
-18.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.93 $6.93
$3.65 €3.14
89.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$4.06 €3.49
27.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$2.16 €1.86
31.48%
Onion (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$1.42 €1.22
121.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.69 €1.45
36.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$0.94 €0.81
187.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.79 $8.79
$9.96 €8.57
-11.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.83 $18.83
$6.78 €5.83
177.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.17 €1.01
50.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$1.59 €1.37
119.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.05 $4.05
$3.42 €2.95
18.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.7 $50.7
$71.9 €61.9
-29.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.04 $5.04
$5.50 €4.73
-8.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 $1.91
$4.26 €3.67
-55.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.1 $50.1
$46.20 €39.75
8.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.14 €1.84
-53.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K $36.4K
$33.9K €29.2K
7.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$40.1K €34.5K
-36.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$706 €608
-70.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1 $51.1
$29.31 €25.22
74.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4 $57.4
$35.03 €30.14
63.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.93 $33.93
$41.05 €35.32
-17.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.20 $44.20
$30.61 €26.34
44.40%
Cinema Ticket
$13.34 $13.34
$15.42 €13.27
-13.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$537 $537
$469 €404
14.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,582 $6,582
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.45 $39.45
$95.1 €81.8
-58.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.34 $48.34
$32.58 €28.03
48.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.3 $69.3
$126 €109
-45.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 $123
$115 €99.1
7.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,182 $1,182
$763 €657
54.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$894 $894
$537 €462
66.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 $1,569
$1,617 €1,391
-2.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,399 $1,399
$1,047 €901
33.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,903 €4,219
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,466 $1,466
$2,460 €2,117
-40.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dayton, OH
Erfurt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,318 $3,318
$3,125 €2,689
6.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.15
3.95
55.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dayton, OH: August 30, 2026

Last update for Erfurt: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,182 in Dayton, OH and $763 in Erfurt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dayton, OH pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Dayton, OH vs $69.0 in Erfurt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $458 vs $331 per month, with Erfurt 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
Dayton, OH vs Erfurt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dayton, OH or Erfurt?
Dayton, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Erfurt. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dayton, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Dayton, OH or in Erfurt?
Average pay runs 6% higher in Dayton, OH, 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 compared to Erfurt?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,182 in Dayton, OH versus $763 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 $2,143 per month in Dayton, OH versus $2,301 in Erfurt – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Dayton, OH compared to Erfurt?
A monthly transit pass in Dayton, OH runs roughly 42% less than in Erfurt. 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 in Erfurt?
At $2,143 in Dayton, OH versus $2,301 in Erfurt, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dayton, OH but tight or insufficient in Erfurt. The gap between the two cities makes Dayton, OH 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 Dayton, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Erfurt. 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

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