Cost of Living Comparison Between Germany and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Germany and United States

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Germany is 8.7% cheaper than United States without rent, and 24.9% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Germany is 5.2% cheaper than United States without rent, and 19.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Germany
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.11 €14.78
$20.33 $20.33
-15.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.9 €64.7
$74.4 $74.4
0.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.47 €9.91
$11.49 $11.49
-0.17%
Cappuccino
$4.01 €3.46
$5.09 $5.09
-21.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 €2.88
$2.54 $2.54
31.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 €2.5
$2.11 $2.11
36.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.24 €4.52
$6.09 $6.09
-13.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 €3.95
$7.1 $7.1
-35.49%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Germany
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 €1.08
$1.08 $1.08
16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 €1.89
$3.7 $3.7
-40.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.46 €2.99
$4.65 $4.65
-25.59%
Eggs
$3.79 €3.28
$4.21 $4.21
-9.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.73 €12.72
$12.75 $12.75
15.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.83 €11.94
$12.24 $12.24
12.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.93 €17.21
$16.08 $16.08
23.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 €2.75
$5.41 $5.41
-41.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$1.73 $1.73
3.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 €2
$4.37 $4.37
-46.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 €4.09
$4.94 $4.94
-4.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 €1.37
$2.88 $2.88
-45.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 €1.4
$3.07 $3.07
-47.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 €1.6
$2.25 $2.25
-17.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 €0.92
$2.21 $2.21
-51.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.84 €8.5
$10.09 $10.09
-2.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.85 €5.92
$14.73 $14.73
-53.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.1 €0.95
$1.91 $1.91
-42.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.7 €1.46
$3.54 $3.54
-51.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Germany
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.68 €3.18
$2.56 $2.56
43.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68 €58.7
$63.9 $63.9
6.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.87 €5.07
$3.81 $3.81
54.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.23 €1.92
$1.77 $1.77
25.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.69 €32.54
$30.4 $30.4
23.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 €1.7
$0.94 $0.94
109.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K €27.4K
$30K $30K
5.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K €32.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
44.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$350 €302
$209 $209
67.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.07 €23.37
$57.9 $57.9
-53.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.9 €44.83
$71.1 $71.1
-26.97%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Germany
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.64 €35.09
$45.88 $45.88
-11.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.54 €21.19
$22.25 $22.25
10.29%
Cinema Ticket
$14.15 €12.22
$14.14 $14.14
0.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Germany
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 €400
$1,373 $1,373
-66.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K €13K
$22.4K $22.4K
-32.46%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Germany
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.4 €81.5
$51.5 $51.5
83.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.6 €37.65
$41.96 $41.96
3.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 €86.7
$88.3 $88.3
13.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 €115
$112 $112
19.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Germany
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 €900
$1,731 $1,731
-39.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$765 €660
$1,446 $1,446
-47.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,909 €1,648
$2,846 $2,846
-32.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,445 €1,247
$2,366 $2,366
-38.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,341 €5,475
$3,245 $3,245
95.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,896 €4,227
$2,667 $2,667
83.60%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Germany
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,362 €2,903
$4,312 $4,312
-22.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.98
6.51
-38.86%

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

Last update for Germany: October 29, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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