😐A single person spends $2,453 per month in Hamburg vs $1,754 in Osnabruck, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,776 per month in Hamburg vs $2,828 in Osnabruck, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,099 per month in Hamburg vs $3,902 in Osnabruck, rent included.
😐Hamburg costs about 40% more than Osnabruck, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Hamburg and Osnabruck sit above the global median – Hamburg by 84%, Osnabruck by 32%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamburg
Osnabruck
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.89€17.23
$12.03€10.42
65.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.0€80.5
$69.3€60.0
34.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.12€12.22
$9.37€8.12
50.69%
Cappuccino
$4.64€4.02
$3.62€3.14
28.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.10
$3.37€2.92
6.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10€2.69
$2.76€2.39
12.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.13
$5.31€4.60
11.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55€4.80
$4.45€3.85
24.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamburg
Osnabruck
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42€1.23
$1.16€1.00
22.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17€1.88
$2.35€2.03
-7.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.42€2.96
$3.81€3.30
-10.24%
Eggs
$3.72€3.22
$3.91€3.39
-4.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.25€12.34
$15.18€13.15
-6.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.26€11.49
$14.81€12.83
-10.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.35€18.49
$19.09€16.53
11.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37€2.92
$3.31€2.87
1.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15€1.86
$1.67€1.45
28.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32€2.01
$2.33€2.01
-0.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.63€4.01
$4.92€4.26
-5.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.63€1.41
$1.57€1.36
3.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.65€1.43
-5.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.06€1.79
$1.95€1.69
5.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05€0.91
$1.24€1.08
-15.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.59€8.30
$10.25€8.87
-6.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.36€5.51
$5.59€4.84
13.77%
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
$1.59€1.38
-
🚌 Getting Around
Hamburg
Osnabruck
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.02€3.49
$3.35€2.90
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.4€57.5
$54.9€47.51
21.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.98€6.04
$4.99€4.32
39.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.78€2.41
$2.12€1.83
31.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.41€37.59
$27.49€23.81
57.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04€1.77
$1.97€1.71
3.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K€27.4K
$31.2K€27.0K
1.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K€34.1K
$40.7K€35.3K
-3.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamburg
Osnabruck
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$374€323
$235€203
59.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.63€18.73
$46.35€40.14
-53.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.40€33.26
$55.9€48.42
-31.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamburg
Osnabruck
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.20€40.88
$34.91€30.23
35.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.12€20.89
$26.50€22.95
-8.98%
Cinema Ticket
$15.99€13.85
$13.91€12.05
14.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamburg
Osnabruck
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$260€225
$252€218
2.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$26.9K€23.3K
$11.5K€9,956
134.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamburg
Osnabruck
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7€80.3
$99.8€86.4
-7.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.7€50.8
$76.9€66.6
-23.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123€106
$99.9€86.5
23.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$185€160
$135€117
37.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamburg
Osnabruck
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,397€1,210
$716€620
95.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$957€829
$514€445
86.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,392€2,072
$1,511€1,308
58.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,806€1,564
$1,199€1,038
50.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,932€8,601
$3,995€3,459
148.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,263€4,558
$3,347€2,898
57.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamburg
Osnabruck
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,514€3,043
$1,742€1,509
101.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.9
3.98
-2.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamburg: July 26, 2026
Last update for Osnabruck: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,397 in Hamburg versus $716 in Osnabruck. 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 102% 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 $69.0 in Osnabruck. Groceries tell a different story – $350 in Hamburg vs $354 in Osnabruck – 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 Osnabruck: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hamburg or Osnabruck?
Hamburg costs about 40% more than Osnabruck, 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 Osnabruck?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,679 per month in Hamburg and $2,631 in Osnabruck. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hamburg or Osnabruck?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Osnabruck, 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 Osnabruck?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,453 in Hamburg and $1,754 in Osnabruck. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Hamburg compared to Osnabruck?
Public transport costs about 21% less in Osnabruck. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Hamburg or in Osnabruck?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Osnabruck, where all-in costs run around $1,754, than in Hamburg at $2,453. In Osnabruck 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 Osnabruck?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Osnabruck costs $1,754 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 Osnabruck?
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 Osnabruck?
If budget matters most, go with Osnabruck. 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.