Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamburg and Greifswald Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamburg and Greifswald

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,448 per month in Hamburg vs $1,852 in Greifswald, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,772 per month in Hamburg vs $2,747 in Greifswald, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,097 per month in Hamburg vs $3,641 in Greifswald, rent included.

Hamburg costs about 32% more than Greifswald, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hamburg and Greifswald sit above the global median – Hamburg by 83%, Greifswald by 38%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamburg
Greifswald
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.60 €16.78
$11.44 €9.80
71.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.1 €79.7
$82.0 €70.2
13.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.11 €12.08
$11.62 €9.95
21.43%
Cappuccino
$4.74 €4.05
$3.96 €3.39
19.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 €3.09
$3.49 €2.99
3.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 €2.67
$2.33 €1.99
33.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.73 €4.91
$5.00 €4.28
14.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.66 €4.84
$3.43 €2.94
65.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamburg
Greifswald
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 €1.20
$1.96 €1.68
-28.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 €1.90
$2.91 €2.49
-23.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.34 €2.86
$2.81 €2.40
18.86%
Eggs
$3.85 €3.30
$4.81 €4.12
-19.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.26 €12.21
$12.49 €10.69
14.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.82 €10.97
$14.60 €12.49
-12.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.71 €18.59
$19.76 €16.92
9.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 €2.93
$3.56 €3.05
-3.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 €1.86
$2.38 €2.03
-8.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 €1.98
$3.04 €2.60
-23.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.55 €3.89
$6.32 €5.41
-28.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 €1.39
$1.73 €1.48
-6.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 €1.33
$2.19 €1.87
-28.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 €1.78
$1.62 €1.38
27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.93
$1.18 €1.01
-7.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.71 €8.31
$11.50 €9.84
-15.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.23 €6.19
$5.71 €4.89
26.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.52 €1.30
-25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 €1.37
$2.47 €2.11
-35.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamburg
Greifswald
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.18 €3.58
$2.99 €2.56
39.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.6 €57.8
$66.8 €57.2
1.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.82 €5.84
$9.23 €7.90
-26.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.73 €2.34
$1.90 €1.63
43.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.25 €37.88
$37.63 €32.21
17.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.04 €1.75
$2.12 €1.82
-3.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K €26.8K
$31.9K €27.3K
-1.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9K €35.0K
$37.4K €32.0K
9.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamburg
Greifswald
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$366 €313
$287 €245
27.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.33 €18.26
$11.72 €10.04
82.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.43 €32.90
$48.78 €41.76
-21.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamburg
Greifswald
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.14 €40.35
$54.3 €46.48
-13.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.38 €20.87
$23.16 €19.83
5.27%
Cinema Ticket
$15.93 €13.63
$17.34 €14.85
-8.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamburg
Greifswald
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 €226
$1,011 €866
-73.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.9K €23.0K
$11.6K €9,902
132.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamburg
Greifswald
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.4 €80.8
$94.3 €80.8
0.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.9 €50.5
$11.72 €10.03
402.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 €103
$100 €85.6
20.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$180 €154
$136 €116
32.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamburg
Greifswald
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,411 €1,208
$638 €546
121.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$949 €813
$560 €479
69.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,381 €2,038
$1,270 €1,087
87.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,765 €1,511
$819 €701
115.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,726 €8,326
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,757 €4,928
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamburg
Greifswald
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,924 €3,359
$2,944 €2,520
33.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
4
-2.50%

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

Last update for Hamburg: April 28, 2026

Last update for Greifswald: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,411 in Hamburg versus $638 in Greifswald. 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 33% higher in Hamburg, 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 $93.0 in Hamburg versus $82.0 in Greifswald. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Hamburg vs $379 in Greifswald – so Hamburg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Hamburg vs Greifswald: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hamburg or Greifswald?
Hamburg costs about 32% more than Greifswald, 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 Hamburg vs Greifswald?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,672 per month in Hamburg and $2,779 in Greifswald. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hamburg or Greifswald?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Greifswald, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Hamburg vs Greifswald?
Public transport costs about 1% less in Greifswald. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hamburg and Greifswald?
Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Hamburg and $1,011 in Greifswald. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Hamburg or Greifswald?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Greifswald, where all-in costs run around $1,852, than in Hamburg at $2,448. In Greifswald it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hamburg or Greifswald?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Greifswald costs $1,852 versus $2,448 in Hamburg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hamburg compared to Greifswald?
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 Hamburg or Greifswald?
If budget matters most, go with Greifswald. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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