😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,707 in Frankfurt versus $2,015 in Soest.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,943 in Frankfurt versus $3,050 in Soest.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,179 in Frankfurt versus $4,084 in Soest.
😐Living in Frankfurt is roughly 34% more expensive than Soest, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Frankfurt102% above, Soest50% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frankfurt
Soest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.51€16.64
$13.98€11.92
39.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.5€78.9
$68.9€58.8
34.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.98€11.92
$12.23€10.43
14.31%
Cappuccino
$4.50€3.84
$3.44€2.94
30.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65€3.11
$2.40€2.04
52.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26€2.78
$2.44€2.09
33.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84€4.98
$3.82€3.26
52.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24€4.47
$2.28€1.95
129.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frankfurt
Soest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51€1.29
$1.30€1.11
16.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30€1.96
$1.85€1.58
24.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.44€2.94
$3.26€2.78
5.52%
Eggs
$4.08€3.48
$2.70€2.30
51.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.06€12.84
$15.01€12.81
0.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.51€11.53
$14.63€12.48
-7.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.20€18.94
$17.34€14.79
28.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49€2.98
$3.09€2.63
12.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.83
$1.45€1.23
47.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32€1.98
$2.31€1.97
0.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.98€4.25
$4.83€4.12
3.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68€1.43
$1.64€1.40
2.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66€1.42
$1.63€1.39
1.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.65
$1.93€1.65
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12€0.95
$1.17€1.00
-4.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.78€8.35
$9.62€8.21
1.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.15€6.10
$5.74€4.89
24.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07€0.92
$1.01€0.86
5.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.32
$1.66€1.42
-6.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Frankfurt
Soest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.24€3.62
$3.38€2.88
25.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.2€57.3
$61.8€52.7
8.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.64€4.82
$4.02€3.43
40.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62€2.24
$2.03€1.73
29.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.88€33.16
$41.75€35.62
-6.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.73
$2.05€1.75
-1.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K€27.4K
$32.0K€27.3K
0.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K€29.9K
$37.9K€32.4K
-7.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frankfurt
Soest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$376€321
$386€329
-2.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.53€20.92
$35.00€29.86
-29.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.91€37.46
$51.8€44.18
-15.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frankfurt
Soest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.0€55.4
$39.66€33.83
63.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.82€25.44
$22.77€19.43
30.96%
Cinema Ticket
$15.90€13.56
$17.22€14.69
-7.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frankfurt
Soest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€521
$458€390
33.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.0K
$9,696€8,271
68.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frankfurt
Soest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.3€78.8
$95.0€81.0
-2.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.93€33.21
$35.33€30.14
10.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.8€83.4
$81.4€69.4
20.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144€123
$138€117
4.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frankfurt
Soest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,538€1,312
$849€724
81.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,180€1,007
$658€561
79.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,773€2,365
$1,557€1,328
78.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,010€1,715
$1,221€1,041
64.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,531€7,277
$4,582€3,908
86.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,614€3,936
$3,841€3,277
20.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frankfurt
Soest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,623€3,944
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.99
3.97
0.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Frankfurt: April 20, 2026
Last update for Soest: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,538 in Frankfurt and $849 in Soest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $92 in Frankfurt vs $69 in Soest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $333 per month, with Soest 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 Soest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Soest cheaper than Frankfurt?
Soest is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,061 in Frankfurt and $3,023 in Soest to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Frankfurt and Soest?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,538 in Frankfurt versus $849 in Soest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Frankfurt or Soest?
Dining out is cheaper in Soest – a meal for two runs $69.0 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 vs Soest?
All in, you'll spend $2,707 per month in Frankfurt versus $2,015 in Soest – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Frankfurt or Soest?
At $2,015 in Soest versus $2,707 in Frankfurt, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Soest but tight or insufficient in Frankfurt. The gap between the two cities makes Soest the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Frankfurt or Soest more family-friendly?
For families, Soest 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 Soest?
Safety-wise, Frankfurt and Soest 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 Soest gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Frankfurt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.