Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Frankfurt and Villingen-Schwenningen

For one person, living is cheaper in Villingen-Schwenningen: $1,846 a month against $2,539 in Frankfurt, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Frankfurt
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,539
/mo nomad
Villingen-Schwenningen
🇩🇪 Germany
$1,846
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Frankfurt and in Villingen-Schwenningen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Frankfurt and in Villingen-Schwenningen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,539 in Frankfurt versus $1,846 in Villingen-Schwenningen.

  • Frankfurt $2,539
  • Villingen-Schwenningen $1,846

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,762 in Frankfurt versus $2,844 in Villingen-Schwenningen.

  • Frankfurt $3,762
  • Villingen-Schwenningen $2,844

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,984 in Frankfurt versus $3,842 in Villingen-Schwenningen.

  • Frankfurt $4,984
  • Villingen-Schwenningen $3,842

Living in Frankfurt is roughly 38% more expensive than in Villingen-Schwenningen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Frankfurt 88% above, Villingen-Schwenningen 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frankfurt
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.72 €14.87
$15.34 €13.65
9.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.4 €78.7
$55.9 €49.72
58.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.36 €11.88
$10.24 €9.10
30.47%
Cappuccino
$4.54 €4.04
$3.39 €3.02
33.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 €3.28
$3.40 €3.02
8.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 €3.21
$2.30 €2.04
56.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.55 €4.94
$5.09 €4.53
9.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73 €5.09
$4.37 €3.89
31.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frankfurt
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 €1.20
$1.22 €1.09
9.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 €1.96
$2.07 €1.84
6.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.98 €2.65
$2.95 €2.63
1.02%
Eggs
$3.85 €3.42
$2.50 €2.22
54.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.65 €12.14
$9.86 €8.77
38.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 €10.48
$11.30 €10.05
4.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.85 €19.43
$15.31 €13.62
42.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 €2.74
$2.97 €2.64
3.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 €1.86
$1.63 €1.45
28.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 €1.70
$2.10 €1.87
-9.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 €3.47
$3.96 €3.53
-1.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 €1.60
$1.28 €1.14
40.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 €1.71
$1.28 €1.14
50.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 €1.39
$1.36 €1.21
15.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 €0.88
$1.09 €0.97
-9.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.54 €8.48
$9.69 €8.62
-1.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.47 €4.87
$3.86 €3.44
41.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 €1.03
$1.22 €1.08
-4.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 €1.25
$1.54 €1.37
-9.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Frankfurt
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.15 €3.69
$3.36 €2.99
23.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.2 €61.6
$66.4 €59.0
4.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.48 €3.99
$4.92 €4.38
-8.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.18 €1.94
$2.72 €2.42
-19.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.71 €21.09
$42.34 €37.66
-44.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.30 €2.05
$2.04 €1.81
12.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K €29.1K
$32.6K €29.0K
0.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2K €33.9K
$37.8K €33.7K
0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frankfurt
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$394 €351
$481 €428
-18.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.53 €17.38
$15.63 €13.91
24.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.62 €42.36
$46.05 €40.96
3.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frankfurt
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.9 €60.4
$38.88 €34.58
74.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.82 €25.64
$24.16 €21.49
19.29%
Cinema Ticket
$16.62 €14.78
$9.97 €8.87
66.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frankfurt
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,068 €950
$261 €232
308.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.9K €20.4K
$17.3K €15.4K
32.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frankfurt
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.8 €75.4
$85.2 €75.8
-0.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.61 €29.90
$59.4 €52.9
-43.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.7 €74.5
$113 €101
-25.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 €93.0
$108 €96.0
-3.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frankfurt
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,345 €1,196
$767 €683
75.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,111 €988
$449 €399
147.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,720 €2,420
$1,473 €1,310
84.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,936 €1,722
$1,128 €1,004
71.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,856 €6,988
$4,673 €4,157
68.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,296 €3,822
$3,581 €3,185
19.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frankfurt
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,979 €3,539
$3,993 €3,552
-0.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.61
3.81
-5.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Frankfurt: October 12, 2026

Last update for Villingen-Schwenningen: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Frankfurt
$1.1K
Villingen-Schwenningen
$449 59.6% $662
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frankfurt
$461
Villingen-Schwenningen
$543 17.6% $81
Groceries & Markets
Frankfurt
$330
Villingen-Schwenningen
$281 14.8% $49
Eating Out
Frankfurt
$297
Villingen-Schwenningen
$251 15.4% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Frankfurt
$138
Villingen-Schwenningen
$165 19.2% $27
Getting Around
Frankfurt
$101
Villingen-Schwenningen
$98 2.9% $2.9
Sport & Entertainment
Frankfurt
$101
Villingen-Schwenningen
$59 41.8% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,345 in Frankfurt and $767 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Villingen-Schwenningen pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $88.0 in Frankfurt vs $56.0 in Villingen-Schwenningen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $330 vs $281 per month, with Villingen-Schwenningen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Frankfurt
🇩🇪 Villingen-Schwenningen
🕒 Local time
09:40 9:40 AM
09:40 9:40 AM
Same time as Frankfurt
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
701,350
81,128
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Frankfurt Villingen-Schwenningen 230 km
From you
  • Frankfurt
  • Villingen-Schwenningen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Frankfurt vs Villingen-Schwenningen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villingen-Schwenningen cheaper than Frankfurt?
Villingen-Schwenningen is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Frankfurt or Villingen-Schwenningen?
On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Villingen-Schwenningen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Frankfurt and Villingen-Schwenningen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,345 in Frankfurt versus $767 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Frankfurt or in Villingen-Schwenningen?
Dining out is cheaper in Villingen-Schwenningen – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $88.0 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 Villingen-Schwenningen?
All in, you'll spend $2,539 per month in Frankfurt versus $1,846 in Villingen-Schwenningen – a 38% 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 Villingen-Schwenningen?
At $1,846 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $2,539 in Frankfurt, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Villingen-Schwenningen but tight or insufficient in Frankfurt. The gap between the two cities makes Villingen-Schwenningen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Frankfurt or Villingen-Schwenningen more family-friendly?
For families, Villingen-Schwenningen 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 Villingen-Schwenningen?
Safety-wise, Frankfurt and Villingen-Schwenningen 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 Villingen-Schwenningen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Frankfurt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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