😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,246 in Erfurt versus $2,175 in Dayton, OH.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,237 in Erfurt versus $3,207 in Dayton, OH.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,229 in Erfurt versus $4,238 in Dayton, OH.
🌍Living in Erfurt is roughly 3% more expensive than in Dayton, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Erfurt63% above, Dayton, OH58% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.72€13.55
$14.71$14.71
6.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7€60.9
$70.2$70.2
0.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.40€9.83
$9.88$9.88
15.38%
Cappuccino
$3.46€2.98
$4.12$4.12
-16.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22€3.63
$2.22$2.22
90.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02€6.92
$1.85$1.85
333.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.70€4.05
$4.02$4.02
16.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38€4.64
$5.63$5.63
-4.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40€1.21
$0.74$0.74
89.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10€1.81
$2.75$2.75
-23.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.34€2.88
$3.79$3.79
-11.87%
Eggs
$3.30€2.85
$3.72$3.72
-11.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.48€12.48
$12.69$12.69
14.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.92€9.41
$21.94$21.94
-50.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.03€16.40
$15.90$15.90
19.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55€3.06
$4.83$4.83
-26.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.22€1.92
$1.72$1.72
29.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.67€3.16
$7.15$7.15
-48.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13€3.56
$5.44$5.44
-24.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.25€1.94
$2.93$2.93
-23.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48€1.28
$3.09$3.09
-52.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69€1.46
$2.30$2.30
-26.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.80
$2.79$2.79
-67.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.01€8.63
$8.90$8.90
12.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.15€6.16
$19.16$19.16
-62.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.02
$1.70$1.70
-30.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.38
$3.52$3.52
-54.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.27€2.82
$3.95$3.95
-17.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.8€62.8
$50.9$50.9
42.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.61€4.84
$5.13$5.13
9.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.31€3.72
$1.91$1.91
125.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.98€40.50
$49.27$49.27
-4.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.99$0.99
108.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.6K
$36.1K$36.1K
-4.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K€33.9K
$25.1K$25.1K
56.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$682€588
$201$201
239.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.80€24.83
$51.7$51.7
-44.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.19€30.34
$59.1$59.1
-40.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.57€36.70
$33.55$33.55
26.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.41€27.07
$44.47$44.47
-29.37%
Cinema Ticket
$15.76€13.59
$13.27$13.27
18.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$458€395
$541$541
-15.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,498$6,498
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.8€82.6
$39.97$39.97
139.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.11€28.54
$48.57$48.57
-31.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127€109
$70.5$70.5
79.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114€98.2
$119$119
-4.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$778€670
$1,201$1,201
-35.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$542€467
$899$899
-39.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$1,577$1,577
2.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,052€906
$1,365$1,365
-22.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,793€4,132
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,492€2,148
$1,469$1,469
69.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,139€2,705
$3,307$3,307
-5.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
6.15
-35.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Erfurt: September 6, 2026
Last update for Dayton, OH: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $778 in Erfurt and $1,201 in Dayton, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dayton, OH pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Erfurt vs $70.0 in Dayton, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $334 vs $462, 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?
Dayton, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 3% 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 Erfurt or in Dayton, OH?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Dayton, OH. 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 compared to Dayton, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $778 in Erfurt versus $1,201 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 $2,246 per month in Erfurt versus $2,175 in Dayton, OH – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Erfurt compared to Dayton, OH?
A monthly transit pass in Dayton, OH runs roughly 43% 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 Erfurt or in Dayton, OH?
At $2,175 in Dayton, OH versus $2,246 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: 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 Dayton, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Erfurt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.