😐A single person spends $2,379 per month in Hamburg vs $2,040 in Kaufbeuren, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,568 per month in Hamburg vs $3,101 in Kaufbeuren, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,757 per month in Hamburg vs $4,162 in Kaufbeuren, rent included.
😐Hamburg costs about 17% more than Kaufbeuren, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Hamburg and Kaufbeuren sit above the global median – Hamburg by 74%, Kaufbeuren by 49%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamburg
Kaufbeuren
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.00€14.82
$17.11€14.91
-0.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5€61.4
$69.0€60.2
2.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.90€12.12
$11.46€9.99
21.29%
Cappuccino
$4.80€4.18
$4.07€3.55
17.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16€3.63
$2.85€2.49
45.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43€2.99
$2.54€2.22
35.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.88€5.13
$4.74€4.13
24.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92€4.29
$4.70€4.09
4.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamburg
Kaufbeuren
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.08
$1.37€1.19
-9.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43€2.12
$2.04€1.78
19.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.13€2.73
$4.26€3.71
-26.53%
Eggs
$4.37€3.81
$4.15€3.62
5.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.80€11.15
$14.85€12.95
-13.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.49€10.89
$10.95€9.55
14.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.81€17.27
$25.54€22.26
-22.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33€2.90
$3.26€2.84
2.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41€2.10
$2.11€1.84
14.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.14€2.73
$2.13€1.86
47.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13€3.60
$4.34€3.78
-4.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.68
$1.24€1.08
54.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90€1.66
$1.32€1.15
43.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.78€1.55
$1.57€1.37
13.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22€1.06
$1.08€0.94
12.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.31€8.99
$9.05€7.89
13.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.98
$6.46€5.64
-11.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21€1.05
$1.16€1.01
4.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.23
$1.71€1.49
-17.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamburg
Kaufbeuren
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.45€3.88
$3.50€3.05
27.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.6€64.2
$59.8€52.2
22.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.10€6.19
$3.95€3.44
79.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.09€2.70
$2.35€2.05
31.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.30€37.74
$28.80€25.10
50.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33€2.03
$2.03€1.77
14.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$33.9K€29.5K
0.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K€35.3K
$39.9K€34.8K
1.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamburg
Kaufbeuren
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$386€337
$276€240
40.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.66€18.01
$34.70€30.25
-40.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.09€34.95
$51.3€44.68
-21.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamburg
Kaufbeuren
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.73€38.99
$39.95€34.83
11.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.18€25.44
$26.95€23.49
8.27%
Cinema Ticket
$16.13€14.06
$17.63€15.37
-8.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamburg
Kaufbeuren
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517€450
$353€307
46.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2K€12.4K
$9,797€8,540
44.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamburg
Kaufbeuren
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.8€73.0
$92.6€80.7
-9.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.32€37.76
$61.5€53.6
-29.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0€85.4
$83.1€72.4
17.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€102
$181€158
-35.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamburg
Kaufbeuren
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,364€1,189
$837€729
62.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$982€856
$655€571
49.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,381€2,076
$1,532€1,336
55.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,705€1,486
$1,175€1,025
45.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,783€8,528
$5,255€4,580
86.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,278€4,601
$3,463€3,019
52.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamburg
Kaufbeuren
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,765€3,282
$2,863€2,496
31.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.63
3.95
-8.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamburg: September 12, 2026
Last update for Kaufbeuren: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,364 in Hamburg versus $837 in Kaufbeuren. 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 32% 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 $70.0 in Hamburg versus $69.0 in Kaufbeuren. Groceries tell a different story – $343 in Hamburg vs $351 in Kaufbeuren – 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 Kaufbeuren: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hamburg or Kaufbeuren?
Hamburg costs about 17% more than Kaufbeuren, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 and in Kaufbeuren?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,568 per month in Hamburg and $3,060 in Kaufbeuren. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hamburg or Kaufbeuren?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kaufbeuren, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Hamburg compared to Kaufbeuren?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,379 in Hamburg and $2,040 in Kaufbeuren. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Hamburg compared to Kaufbeuren?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Kaufbeuren. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Hamburg or in Kaufbeuren?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Kaufbeuren, where all-in costs run around $2,040, than in Hamburg at $2,379. In Kaufbeuren 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 Kaufbeuren?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kaufbeuren costs $2,040 versus $2,379 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 Kaufbeuren?
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 to Kaufbeuren?
If budget matters most, go with Kaufbeuren. 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.