Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamburg and Kempten Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamburg and Kempten

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,453 per month in Hamburg vs $2,067 in Kempten, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,776 per month in Hamburg vs $3,129 in Kempten, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,099 per month in Hamburg vs $4,192 in Kempten, rent included.

Hamburg costs about 19% more than Kempten, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hamburg and Kempten sit above the global median – Hamburg by 84%, Kempten by 55%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamburg
Kempten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.89 €17.23
$18.61 €16.12
6.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.0 €80.5
$57.1 €49.41
63.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.12 €12.22
$10.10 €8.75
39.80%
Cappuccino
$4.64 €4.02
$3.86 €3.34
20.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.10
$2.85 €2.47
25.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 €2.69
$2.50 €2.16
24.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 €5.13
$4.74 €4.10
24.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 €4.80
$3.61 €3.12
53.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamburg
Kempten
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 €1.23
$1.21 €1.05
17.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 €1.88
$2.28 €1.97
-4.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.42 €2.96
$3.17 €2.75
7.89%
Eggs
$3.72 €3.22
$3.90 €3.38
-4.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.25 €12.34
$15.13 €13.11
-5.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.26 €11.49
$14.70 €12.73
-9.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.35 €18.49
$17.47 €15.13
22.21%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 €2.92
$2.54 €2.20
32.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 €1.86
$1.45 €1.25
48.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 €2.01
$1.67 €1.44
38.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.63 €4.01
$5.22 €4.52
-11.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.63 €1.41
$1.78 €1.54
-8.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$1.69 €1.46
-7.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 €1.79
$1.95 €1.69
5.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 €0.91
$0.60 €0.52
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.59 €8.30
$9.43 €8.16
1.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.36 €5.51
$5.72 €4.96
11.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.04 €0.90
4.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 €1.38
$1.19 €1.03
33.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamburg
Kempten
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.02 €3.49
$3.23 €2.79
24.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.4 €57.5
$57.7 €49.96
15.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.98 €6.04
$3.14 €2.72
122.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.78 €2.41
$2.61 €2.26
6.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.41 €37.59
$34.62 €29.98
25.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.04 €1.77
$1.95 €1.69
4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K €27.4K
$33.5K €29.0K
-5.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K €34.1K
$34.3K €29.7K
15.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamburg
Kempten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$374 €323
$357 €309
4.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.63 €18.73
$29.01 €25.12
-25.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.40 €33.26
$52.0 €45.01
-26.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamburg
Kempten
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.20 €40.88
$56.7 €49.14
-16.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.12 €20.89
$34.63 €29.99
-30.35%
Cinema Ticket
$15.99 €13.85
$12.48 €10.81
28.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamburg
Kempten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$260 €225
$334 €289
-22.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.9K €23.3K
$17.8K €15.4K
51.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamburg
Kempten
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7 €80.3
$88.4 €76.6
4.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.7 €50.8
$25.92 €22.45
126.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 €106
$117 €101
5.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$185 €160
$171 €148
8.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamburg
Kempten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 €1,210
$909 €788
53.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$957 €829
$701 €607
36.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,392 €2,072
$1,598 €1,384
49.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,806 €1,564
$1,243 €1,076
45.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,932 €8,601
$6,219 €5,386
59.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,263 €4,558
$4,860 €4,209
8.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamburg
Kempten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,514 €3,043
$3,920 €3,395
-10.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
2.6
50.00%

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

Last update for Hamburg: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kempten: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,397 in Hamburg versus $909 in Kempten. 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 12% higher in Kempten, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in Hamburg versus $57.0 in Kempten. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $331 – making Kempten 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
Hamburg vs Kempten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hamburg or Kempten?
Hamburg costs about 19% more than Kempten, 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 and in Kempten?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,679 per month in Hamburg and $3,100 in Kempten. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hamburg or Kempten?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kempten, 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 Kempten?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,453 in Hamburg and $2,067 in Kempten. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Hamburg compared to Kempten?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Kempten. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Hamburg or in Kempten?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Kempten, where all-in costs run around $2,067, than in Hamburg at $2,453. In Kempten 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 Kempten?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kempten costs $2,067 versus $2,453 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 Kempten?
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 Kempten?
If budget matters most, go with Kempten. 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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