😐A single person spends $2,659 per month in Frankfurt vs $1,872 in Bottrop, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,960 per month in Frankfurt vs $2,804 in Bottrop, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,260 per month in Frankfurt vs $3,736 in Bottrop, rent included.
😐Frankfurt costs about 42% more than Bottrop, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Frankfurt and Bottrop sit above the global median – Frankfurt by 100%, Bottrop by 41%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frankfurt
Bottrop
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.56€16.94
$18.47€15.99
5.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.1€79.8
$78.5€68.0
17.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.72€11.88
$12.38€10.72
10.82%
Cappuccino
$4.40€3.81
$4.00€3.47
10.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79€3.28
$2.81€2.43
34.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.80
$2.34€2.03
38.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.72€4.95
$4.62€4.00
23.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12€4.44
$4.65€4.03
10.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frankfurt
Bottrop
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52€1.32
$1.31€1.13
16.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31€2.00
$2.15€1.86
7.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.41€2.95
$3.15€2.73
8.25%
Eggs
$3.94€3.41
$3.79€3.28
3.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.00€12.99
$14.95€12.95
0.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.75€11.90
$14.57€12.62
-5.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.15€19.18
$19.26€16.68
15.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40€2.94
$3.10€2.69
9.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17€1.88
$1.71€1.48
26.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$2.30€1.99
1.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04€4.37
$4.93€4.27
2.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73€1.50
$1.51€1.31
14.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.57€1.36
4.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94€1.68
$1.97€1.70
-1.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16€1.00
$1.12€0.97
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97€8.64
$9.37€8.11
6.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.39€5.54
$5.76€4.98
10.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05€0.91
$1.04€0.90
0.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.30
$1.73€1.49
-12.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Frankfurt
Bottrop
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.11€3.56
$3.46€3.00
18.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.0€58.0
$62.6€54.3
6.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.75€4.98
$4.97€4.31
15.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69€2.33
$2.58€2.23
4.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.63€33.45
$40.89€35.41
-5.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.79
$2.01€1.74
2.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K€27.1K
$31.3K€27.1K
-0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K€30.5K
$36.2K€31.3K
-2.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frankfurt
Bottrop
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$378€328
$312€270
21.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.02€21.67
$34.64€30.00
-27.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.02€37.25
$52.6€45.52
-18.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frankfurt
Bottrop
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.5€57.6
$39.15€33.90
69.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.34€25.41
$23.55€20.40
24.59%
Cinema Ticket
$16.04€13.89
$14.93€12.93
7.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frankfurt
Bottrop
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$619€536
$454€393
36.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$9,726€8,422
64.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frankfurt
Bottrop
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8€79.5
$84.0€72.8
9.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.05€33.82
$35.04€30.34
11.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2€85.9
$102€88.6
-3.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143€124
$141€122
1.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frankfurt
Bottrop
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551€1,343
$580€502
167.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,202€1,041
$490€424
145.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,820€2,442
$1,010€875
179.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,014€1,744
$818€708
146.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,255€7,149
$5,320€4,607
55.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,311€3,733
$3,386€2,932
27.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frankfurt
Bottrop
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,094€3,546
$2,699€2,337
51.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.99
3.96
0.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Frankfurt: July 26, 2026
Last update for Bottrop: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,551 in Frankfurt versus $580 in Bottrop. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 52% higher in Frankfurt, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Frankfurt versus $79.0 in Bottrop. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $347 – making Bottrop the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Frankfurt vs Bottrop: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bottrop cheaper than Frankfurt?
Yes – Frankfurt is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,989 per month in Frankfurt and $2,808 in Bottrop. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bottrop, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Bottrop. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $619 per month in Frankfurt and $454 in Bottrop. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Frankfurt or in Bottrop?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bottrop, where all-in costs run around $1,872, than in Frankfurt at $2,659. In Bottrop it covers expenses comfortably, while in Frankfurt it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Frankfurt or Bottrop more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bottrop – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Frankfurt or Bottrop?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bottrop. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Frankfurt makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.