๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,027 in Erfurt versus $2,189 in Dayton, OH.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,198 in Erfurt versus $3,200 in Dayton, OH.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,370 in Erfurt versus $4,212 in Dayton, OH.
๐Living in Erfurt costs roughly 7% less than in Dayton, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Erfurt51% above, Dayton, OH63% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30โฌ14.76
$16.33$16.33
5.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7โฌ59.5
$59.0$59.0
18.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.38โฌ9.71
$9.88$9.88
15.18%
Cappuccino
$3.53โฌ3.01
$4.25$4.25
-16.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61โฌ3.08
$2.39$2.39
51.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97โฌ6.80
$1.71$1.71
366.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.67โฌ3.98
$4.18$4.18
11.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53โฌ3.01
$5.92$5.92
-40.37%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25โฌ1.07
$0.75$0.75
66.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20โฌ1.88
$2.50$2.50
-12.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26โฌ2.78
$3.60$3.60
-9.44%
Eggs
$3.75โฌ3.20
$3.51$3.51
6.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.91โฌ12.72
$11.52$11.52
29.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.13โฌ11.20
$18.85$18.85
-30.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.71โฌ15.96
$15.30$15.30
22.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.41โฌ2.91
$4.77$4.77
-28.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.55$1.55
10.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62โฌ2.24
$5.73$5.73
-54.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.88โฌ4.16
$5.22$5.22
-6.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69โฌ1.45
$2.96$2.96
-42.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52โฌ1.30
$3.05$3.05
-50.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.81โฌ1.54
$2.11$2.11
-14.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89โฌ0.76
$2.65$2.65
-66.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.23โฌ8.72
$9.37$9.37
9.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.88โฌ5.87
$12.02$12.02
-42.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94โฌ0.81
$1.70$1.70
-44.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64โฌ1.40
$3.79$3.79
-56.73%
๐ Getting Around
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.10โฌ2.65
$4.24$4.24
-26.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.7โฌ53.5
$61.0$61.0
2.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.42โฌ4.62
$4.87$4.87
11.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54โฌ2.17
$1.44$1.44
76.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.69โฌ34.71
$49.69$49.69
-18.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08โฌ1.77
$0.88$0.88
136.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6Kโฌ27.0K
$29.7K$29.7K
6.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0Kโฌ29.8K
$25.5K$25.5K
37.07%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$446โฌ380
$205$205
117.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.64โฌ25.29
$45.62$45.62
-35.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5โฌ44.77
$63.8$63.8
-17.77%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.07โฌ35.03
$33.53$33.53
22.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.43โฌ28.51
$45.19$45.19
-26.02%
Cinema Ticket
$13.96โฌ11.91
$13.14$13.14
6.24%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455โฌ388
$556$556
-18.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5Kโฌ9,797
$4,909$4,909
133.97%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.5โฌ83.2
$45.61$45.61
113.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.49โฌ27.72
$52.8$52.8
-38.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126โฌ107
$74.3$74.3
69.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149โฌ127
$105$105
42.09%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817โฌ697
$1,200$1,200
-31.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$556โฌ474
$912$912
-38.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,580โฌ1,348
$1,681$1,681
-6.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,231โฌ1,050
$1,396$1,396
-11.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,955โฌ4,227
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,530โฌ2,158
$1,436$1,436
76.24%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Erfurt
Dayton, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,215โฌ2,743
$3,328$3,328
-3.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
6.54
-40.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Erfurt: April 22, 2026
Last update for Dayton, OH: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $817 in Erfurt and $1,200 in Dayton, OH. 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: $70 in Erfurt vs $59 in Dayton, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $339 vs $413, 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 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 Erfurt or Dayton, OH?
On paper, Dayton, OH earns 3% 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: $817 in Erfurt versus $1,200 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 $2,027 per month in Erfurt versus $2,189 in Dayton, OH โ a 8% 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 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 Erfurt or Dayton, OH?
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: Erfurt or Dayton, OH?
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 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 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.