Cost of Living Comparison Between Gelsenkirchen and Nottingham Cost of Living Comparison Between Gelsenkirchen and Nottingham

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,933 per month in Gelsenkirchen vs $2,264 in Nottingham, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,962 per month in Gelsenkirchen vs $3,188 in Nottingham, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,990 per month in Gelsenkirchen vs $4,112 in Nottingham, rent included.

Gelsenkirchen is about 15% cheaper than Nottingham, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gelsenkirchen and Nottingham sit above the global median – Gelsenkirchen by 45%, Nottingham by 69%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gelsenkirchen
Nottingham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.21 €9.79
$20.65 £15.35
-45.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117 €102
$68.0 £50.5
71.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.56 €9.23
$10.79 £8.02
-2.13%
Cappuccino
$3.73 €3.26
$4.55 £3.38
-18.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 €2.87
$2.50 £1.86
31.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 €2.65
$1.34 £1.00
126.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.20 €4.54
$5.95 £4.42
-12.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 €2.04
$6.37 £4.73
-63.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gelsenkirchen
Nottingham
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.08
$1.75 £1.30
-29.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.34 €2.04
$1.55 £1.15
50.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.40 €2.97
$1.45 £1.08
134.48%
Eggs
$3.99 €3.49
$4.32 £3.21
-7.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.98 €13.09
$7.21 £5.36
107.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.67 €12.82
$8.89 £6.61
65.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.21 €21.15
$16.05 £11.93
50.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 €2.85
$3.23 £2.40
0.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.18 £1.62
-19.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 €1.96
$4.15 £3.08
-45.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 €4.18
$2.99 £2.22
59.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 €1.28
$1.81 £1.35
-18.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 €1.35
$1.47 £1.10
4.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 €1.80
$1.25 £0.93
64.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 €0.81
$1.61 £1.20
-42.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 €8.64
$20.65 £15.35
-52.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.83 €5.09
$13.25 £9.85
-56.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 €0.98
$3.66 £2.72
-69.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 €1.39
$4.78 £3.56
-66.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Gelsenkirchen
Nottingham
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.24 €3.70
$4.15 £3.08
2.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.3 €49.22
$95.5 £71.0
-40.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.08 €4.44
$5.52 £4.10
-7.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 €1.58
$1.50 £1.12
20.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.85 €30.45
$22.93 £17.05
51.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 €1.69
$1.98 £1.47
-2.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K €27.8K
$37.8K £28.1K
-15.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K €33.9K
$42.2K £31.4K
-7.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gelsenkirchen
Nottingham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$328 €287
$253 £188
29.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.16 €29.85
$16.25 £12.08
110.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5 €47.62
$41.41 £30.78
31.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gelsenkirchen
Nottingham
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.74 €28.60
$41.25 £30.66
-20.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.51 €24.91
$7.84 £5.83
263.65%
Cinema Ticket
$10.29 €8.99
$15.96 £11.87
-35.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gelsenkirchen
Nottingham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$235 €205
$1,766 £1,313
-86.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K €10.3K
$23.0K £17.1K
-48.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gelsenkirchen
Nottingham
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.1 €82.2
$76.8 £57.1
22.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 €44.05
$68.0 £50.6
-25.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$156 €136
$100 £74.5
55.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$192 €168
$95.5 £71.0
101.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gelsenkirchen
Nottingham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 €545
$1,234 £917
-49.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$567 €495
$929 £691
-38.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 €807
$1,773 £1,318
-47.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$854 €746
$1,390 £1,033
-38.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,723 €1,505
$4,102 £3,049
-57.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,349 €1,178
$4,864 £3,616
-72.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gelsenkirchen
Nottingham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,321 €2,028
$3,458 £2,571
-32.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.98
5.9
-32.54%

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

Last update for Gelsenkirchen: July 11, 2026

Last update for Nottingham: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $624 in Gelsenkirchen versus $1,234 in Nottingham. 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 49% higher in Nottingham, 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 $117 in Gelsenkirchen versus $68.0 in Nottingham. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $318 – making Nottingham 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
Gelsenkirchen vs Nottingham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gelsenkirchen or Nottingham?
Nottingham costs about 17% more than Gelsenkirchen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gelsenkirchen and in Nottingham?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,899 per month in Gelsenkirchen and $3,396 in Nottingham. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gelsenkirchen or Nottingham?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gelsenkirchen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Gelsenkirchen and in Nottingham?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $117 in Gelsenkirchen and $68.0 in Nottingham. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Gelsenkirchen compared to Nottingham?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,933 in Gelsenkirchen and $2,264 in Nottingham. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Gelsenkirchen or in Nottingham?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gelsenkirchen, where all-in costs run around $1,933, than in Nottingham at $2,264. In Gelsenkirchen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nottingham it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Gelsenkirchen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Gelsenkirchen compared to Nottingham?
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.
Should I move to Gelsenkirchen or to Nottingham?
If budget matters most, go with Gelsenkirchen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nottingham makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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