🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,061 in Erfurt versus $2,179 in Dayton, OH.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,159 in Erfurt versus $3,182 in Dayton, OH.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,257 in Erfurt versus $4,185 in Dayton, OH.
🙂Living in Erfurt costs roughly 5% less than in Dayton, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Erfurt54% above, Dayton, OH63% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.38€15.08
$16.83$16.83
3.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3€61.0
$60.8$60.8
15.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.63€10.09
$9.97$9.97
16.65%
Cappuccino
$3.45€2.99
$4.20$4.20
-17.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60€3.13
$2.37$2.37
51.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03€6.97
$1.75$1.75
358.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.65€4.03
$4.37$4.37
6.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37€2.93
$6.03$6.03
-44.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.08
$0.79$0.79
58.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27€1.97
$2.45$2.45
-7.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.15€2.73
$3.67$3.67
-14.17%
Eggs
$3.62€3.14
$3.52$3.52
2.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.75€12.80
$11.45$11.45
28.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.32€11.56
$18.48$18.48
-27.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.50€16.05
$15.58$15.58
18.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33€2.89
$4.96$4.96
-32.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78€1.55
$1.63$1.63
9.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62€2.27
$5.65$5.65
-53.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.94€4.29
$5.27$5.27
-6.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.63€1.42
$2.89$2.89
-43.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52€1.32
$3.17$3.17
-52.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.80€1.56
$2.08$2.08
-13.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.83
$2.78$2.78
-65.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.06€8.72
$9.35$9.35
7.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.93€6.01
$12.08$12.08
-42.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00€0.86
$1.75$1.75
-42.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.37
$3.84$3.84
-58.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.69
$4.20$4.20
-25.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.1€54.7
$59.1$59.1
6.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.31€4.60
$4.95$4.95
7.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.43€2.11
$1.42$1.42
71.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.61€35.23
$50.3$50.3
-19.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.75
$0.85$0.85
136.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K€26.8K
$29.2K$29.2K
5.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K€30.1K
$25.9K$25.9K
33.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$450€390
$201$201
123.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.33€26.31
$44.98$44.98
-32.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4€45.46
$63.1$63.1
-16.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.40€35.91
$33.96$33.96
21.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.38€29.83
$44.75$44.75
-23.17%
Cinema Ticket
$13.67€11.86
$12.87$12.87
6.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455€395
$544$544
-16.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7K€10.2K
$5,017$5,017
133.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.6€83.0
$46.32$46.32
106.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.38€28.09
$51.9$51.9
-37.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126€109
$72.8$72.8
73.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148€128
$106$106
39.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$815€707
$1,182$1,182
-31.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$554€480
$929$929
-40.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,598€1,387
$1,680$1,680
-4.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222€1,060
$1,364$1,364
-10.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,897€4,249
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,540€2,204
$1,447$1,447
75.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,138€2,722
$3,298$3,298
-4.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
6.54
-40.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Erfurt: May 31, 2026
Last update for Dayton, OH: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $815 in Erfurt and $1,182 in Dayton, OH. 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: $70.0 in Erfurt vs $61.0 in Dayton, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $340 vs $415, 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
Erfurt vs Dayton, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Erfurt or Dayton, OH?
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 Erfurt or Dayton, OH?
On paper, Dayton, OH earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Erfurt vs Dayton, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $815 in Erfurt versus $1,182 in Dayton, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Erfurt compared to Dayton, OH?
All in, you'll spend $2,061 per month in Erfurt versus $2,179 in Dayton, OH – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Erfurt vs Dayton, OH?
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 Erfurt or Dayton, OH?
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: Erfurt or Dayton, OH?
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 Erfurt compared to Dayton, OH?
Safety-wise, Erfurt and Dayton, OH 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.