😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Frankfurt versus $2,067 in Kempten.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,960 in Frankfurt versus $3,129 in Kempten.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,260 in Frankfurt versus $4,192 in Kempten.
🌍Living in Frankfurt is roughly 29% more expensive than in Kempten, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Frankfurt100% above, Kempten55% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frankfurt
Kempten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.56€16.94
$18.61€16.12
5.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.1€79.8
$57.1€49.41
61.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.72€11.88
$10.10€8.75
35.84%
Cappuccino
$4.40€3.81
$3.86€3.34
13.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79€3.28
$2.85€2.47
32.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.80
$2.50€2.16
29.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.72€4.95
$4.74€4.10
20.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12€4.44
$3.61€3.12
41.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frankfurt
Kempten
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52€1.32
$1.21€1.05
25.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31€2.00
$2.28€1.97
1.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.41€2.95
$3.17€2.75
7.57%
Eggs
$3.94€3.41
$3.90€3.38
1.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.00€12.99
$15.13€13.11
-0.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.75€11.90
$14.70€12.73
-6.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.15€19.18
$17.47€15.13
26.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40€2.94
$2.54€2.20
33.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17€1.88
$1.45€1.25
49.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$1.67€1.44
39.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04€4.37
$5.22€4.52
-3.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73€1.50
$1.78€1.54
-2.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.69€1.46
-2.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94€1.68
$1.95€1.69
-0.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16€1.00
$0.60€0.52
93.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97€8.64
$9.43€8.16
5.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.39€5.54
$5.72€4.96
11.71%
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
$1.19€1.03
26.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Frankfurt
Kempten
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.11€3.56
$3.23€2.79
27.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.0€58.0
$57.7€49.96
16.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.75€4.98
$3.14€2.72
83.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69€2.33
$2.61€2.26
3.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.63€33.45
$34.62€29.98
11.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.79
$1.95€1.69
6.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K€27.1K
$33.5K€29.0K
-6.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K€30.5K
$34.3K€29.7K
2.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frankfurt
Kempten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$378€328
$357€309
6.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.02€21.67
$29.01€25.12
-13.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.02€37.25
$52.0€45.01
-17.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frankfurt
Kempten
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.5€57.6
$56.7€49.14
17.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.34€25.41
$34.63€29.99
-15.28%
Cinema Ticket
$16.04€13.89
$12.48€10.81
28.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frankfurt
Kempten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$619€536
$334€289
85.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$17.8K€15.4K
-10.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frankfurt
Kempten
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8€79.5
$88.4€76.6
3.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.05€33.82
$25.92€22.45
50.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2€85.9
$117€101
-15.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143€124
$171€148
-16.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frankfurt
Kempten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551€1,343
$909€788
70.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,202€1,041
$701€607
71.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,820€2,442
$1,598€1,384
76.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,014€1,744
$1,243€1,076
62.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,255€7,149
$6,219€5,386
32.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,311€3,733
$4,860€4,209
-11.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frankfurt
Kempten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,094€3,546
$3,920€3,395
4.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.99
2.6
53.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Frankfurt: July 26, 2026
Last update for Kempten: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Frankfurt and $909 in Kempten. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Frankfurt pays 4% 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: $92.0 in Frankfurt vs $57.0 in Kempten for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $331 per month, with Kempten 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
Frankfurt vs Kempten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kempten cheaper than Frankfurt?
Kempten is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Frankfurt or Kempten?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Frankfurt, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Frankfurt and Kempten?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Frankfurt versus $909 in Kempten. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Frankfurt or in Kempten?
Dining out is cheaper in Kempten – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $92.0 in Frankfurt. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Frankfurt and in Kempten?
All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Frankfurt versus $2,067 in Kempten – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Frankfurt or in Kempten?
At $2,067 in Kempten versus $2,659 in Frankfurt, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Kempten but tight or insufficient in Frankfurt. The gap between the two cities makes Kempten the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Frankfurt or Kempten more family-friendly?
For families, Kempten is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Frankfurt, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Frankfurt or Kempten?
Safety-wise, Frankfurt and Kempten 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kempten gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Frankfurt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.