Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilmenau and Boras Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilmenau and Boras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,100 in Ilmenau versus $1,996 in Boras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,590 in Ilmenau versus $2,349 in Boras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,081 in Ilmenau versus $2,702 in Boras.

Living in Ilmenau is roughly 5% more expensive than in Boras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ilmenau 53% above, Boras 45% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.78 €10.13

$13.66 SEK 130

-13.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.1 €59.4

$92.7 SEK 883

-25.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.69 €10.05

$10.35 SEK 98.7

12.95%

Cappuccino

$3.42 €2.94

$4.56 SEK 43.50

-25.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 €3.70

$2.14 SEK 20.39

101.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 €6.91

$2.14 SEK 20.41

275.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.52 €3.88

$7.48 SEK 71.4

-39.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 €4.45

$7.10 SEK 67.7

-27.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 €1.00

$1.77 SEK 16.90

-33.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 €1.82

$2.73 SEK 26.02

-22.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.47 €2.98

$3.06 SEK 29.14

13.40%

Eggs

$3.42 €2.94

$4.84 SEK 46.11

-29.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.90 €12.81

$13.06 SEK 125

14.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 €9.10

$12.15 SEK 116

-12.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.51 €15.92

$17.12 SEK 163

8.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 €2.63

$3.28 SEK 31.25

-6.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 €1.27

$2.88 SEK 27.48

-48.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.69 €3.17

$2.86 SEK 27.29

29.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 €3.40

$3.69 SEK 35.22

7.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 €1.89

$1.60 SEK 15.29

36.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 €1.23

$1.50 SEK 14.31

-4.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 €1.46

$2.37 SEK 22.59

-28.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 €0.76

$1.43 SEK 13.66

-37.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.71 €8.35

$6.79 SEK 64.8

43.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.36 €5.47

$8.44 SEK 80.5

-24.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 €0.98

$1.80 SEK 17.18

-36.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 €1.34

$1.72 SEK 16.39

-9.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.84 SEK 36.59

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.5 €58.0

$80.9 SEK 772

-16.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 €4.66

$5.34 SEK 50.9

1.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.29 €3.69

$1.11 SEK 10.62

286.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$47.16 €40.54

$43.24 SEK 412

9.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.79

$1.80 SEK 17.12

15.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.2K €29.4K

$25.6K SEK 243.8K

33.65%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.1K €34.4K

$15.6K SEK 149.2K

155.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$683 €587

$62.1 SEK 592

999.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.86 €24.81

$30.62 SEK 292

-5.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 €30.77

$41.10 SEK 392

-12.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 €44.56

$35.93 SEK 343

44.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.44 SEK 252

Cinema Ticket

$13.87 €11.92

$15.93 SEK 152

-12.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$470 €404

$163 SEK 1,550

188.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.5 €82.1

$51.4 SEK 490

85.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.13 €28.48

$52.5 SEK 501

-36.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 €106

$83.1 SEK 792

48.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 €98.0

$104 SEK 993

9.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 €427

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 €400

$914 SEK 8,712

-49.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$869 €747

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,332 €2,864

$2,477 SEK 23.6K

34.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.95

4.8

-17.71%

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

Last update for Ilmenau: September 1, 2026

Last update for Boras: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ilmenau pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $69.0 in Ilmenau vs $93.0 in Boras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $355 per month, with Ilmenau cheaper across the board.

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

Ilmenau vs Boras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boras is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Ilmenau, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $2,100 per month in Ilmenau versus $1,996 in Boras – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Boras runs roughly 20% less than in Ilmenau. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,996 in Boras versus $2,100 in Ilmenau, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Boras but tight or insufficient in Ilmenau. The gap between the two cities makes Boras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ilmenau and Boras are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Boras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Ilmenau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.