Cost of Living Comparison Between Kassel and Frankfurt Cost of Living Comparison Between Kassel and Frankfurt

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,996 in Kassel versus $2,707 in Frankfurt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,849 in Kassel versus $3,943 in Frankfurt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,702 in Kassel versus $5,179 in Frankfurt.

Living in Kassel costs roughly 26% less than in Frankfurt, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kassel 49% above, Frankfurt 102% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Kassel
Frankfurt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.26 โ‚ฌ13.02
$19.51 โ‚ฌ16.64
-21.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8 โ‚ฌ50.1
$92.5 โ‚ฌ78.9
-36.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.34 โ‚ฌ8.82
$13.98 โ‚ฌ11.92
-26.04%
Cappuccino
$3.58 โ‚ฌ3.05
$4.50 โ‚ฌ3.84
-20.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29 โ‚ฌ3.66
$3.65 โ‚ฌ3.11
17.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 โ‚ฌ3.11
$3.26 โ‚ฌ2.78
11.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 โ‚ฌ4.15
$5.84 โ‚ฌ4.98
-16.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 โ‚ฌ4.06
$5.24 โ‚ฌ4.47
-9.16%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Kassel
Frankfurt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 โ‚ฌ1.11
$1.51 โ‚ฌ1.29
-13.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.34 โ‚ฌ2.00
$2.30 โ‚ฌ1.96
1.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.52 โ‚ฌ3.00
$3.44 โ‚ฌ2.94
2.33%
Eggs
$3.76 โ‚ฌ3.21
$4.08 โ‚ฌ3.48
-7.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.79 โ‚ฌ12.61
$15.06 โ‚ฌ12.84
-1.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.64 โ‚ฌ11.64
$13.51 โ‚ฌ11.53
0.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.63 โ‚ฌ19.31
$22.20 โ‚ฌ18.94
1.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.20 โ‚ฌ2.73
$3.49 โ‚ฌ2.98
-8.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 โ‚ฌ1.58
$2.14 โ‚ฌ1.83
-13.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 โ‚ฌ2.03
$2.32 โ‚ฌ1.98
2.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.70 โ‚ฌ4.87
$4.98 โ‚ฌ4.25
14.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 โ‚ฌ1.45
$1.68 โ‚ฌ1.43
1.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 โ‚ฌ1.51
$1.66 โ‚ฌ1.42
6.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 โ‚ฌ1.64
$1.93 โ‚ฌ1.65
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.00
$1.12 โ‚ฌ0.95
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.51 โ‚ฌ8.11
$9.78 โ‚ฌ8.35
-2.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.83 โ‚ฌ4.98
$7.15 โ‚ฌ6.10
-18.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 โ‚ฌ0.87
$1.07 โ‚ฌ0.92
-4.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 โ‚ฌ1.44
$1.55 โ‚ฌ1.32
8.39%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Kassel
Frankfurt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.51 โ‚ฌ2.99
$4.24 โ‚ฌ3.62
-17.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.0 โ‚ฌ57.1
$67.2 โ‚ฌ57.3
-0.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.03 โ‚ฌ3.44
$5.64 โ‚ฌ4.82
-28.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 โ‚ฌ1.64
$2.62 โ‚ฌ2.24
-26.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.11 โ‚ฌ35.07
$38.88 โ‚ฌ33.16
5.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 โ‚ฌ1.66
$2.02 โ‚ฌ1.73
-3.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K โ‚ฌ27.1K
$32.1K โ‚ฌ27.4K
-0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K โ‚ฌ28.2K
$35.1K โ‚ฌ29.9K
-5.83%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kassel
Frankfurt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$360 โ‚ฌ307
$376 โ‚ฌ321
-4.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.85 โ‚ฌ30.58
$24.53 โ‚ฌ20.92
46.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.0 โ‚ฌ46.04
$43.91 โ‚ฌ37.46
22.93%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Kassel
Frankfurt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.54 โ‚ฌ28.61
$65.0 โ‚ฌ55.4
-48.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.90 โ‚ฌ13.56
$29.82 โ‚ฌ25.44
-46.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.36 โ‚ฌ9.69
$15.90 โ‚ฌ13.56
-28.55%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Kassel
Frankfurt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$364 โ‚ฌ311
$610 โ‚ฌ521
-40.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K โ‚ฌ13.9K
$16.4K โ‚ฌ14.0K
-0.13%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Kassel
Frankfurt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.9 โ‚ฌ85.2
$92.3 โ‚ฌ78.8
8.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 โ‚ฌ44.53
$38.93 โ‚ฌ33.21
34.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 โ‚ฌ79.8
$97.8 โ‚ฌ83.4
-4.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 โ‚ฌ119
$144 โ‚ฌ123
-3.30%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Kassel
Frankfurt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$796 โ‚ฌ679
$1,538 โ‚ฌ1,312
-48.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$576 โ‚ฌ492
$1,180 โ‚ฌ1,007
-51.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 โ‚ฌ919
$2,773 โ‚ฌ2,365
-61.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$893 โ‚ฌ762
$2,010 โ‚ฌ1,715
-55.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,021 โ‚ฌ5,136
$8,531 โ‚ฌ7,277
-29.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,190 โ‚ฌ2,721
$4,614 โ‚ฌ3,936
-30.86%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Kassel
Frankfurt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,239 โ‚ฌ2,763
$4,623 โ‚ฌ3,944
-29.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.98
3.99
-0.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kassel: April 22, 2026

Last update for Frankfurt: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $796 in Kassel and $1,538 in Frankfurt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Frankfurt pays 43% 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: $59 in Kassel vs $92 in Frankfurt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 vs $364 per month, with Kassel 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
Kassel vs Frankfurt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frankfurt cheaper than Kassel?
Kassel is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kassel or Frankfurt?
On paper, Frankfurt earns 43% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kassel and Frankfurt?
Rent for a central apartment: $796 in Kassel versus $1,538 in Frankfurt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Kassel or Frankfurt?
Dining out is cheaper in Kassel โ€“ a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $92.0 in Frankfurt. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Kassel vs Frankfurt?
All in, you'll spend $1,996 per month in Kassel versus $2,707 in Frankfurt โ€“ a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Kassel or Frankfurt?
At $1,996 in Kassel versus $2,707 in Frankfurt, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kassel but tight or insufficient in Frankfurt. The gap between the two cities makes Kassel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kassel or Frankfurt more family-friendly?
For families, Kassel is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Frankfurt, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kassel or Frankfurt?
Safety-wise, Kassel and Frankfurt are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kassel gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 36% less than in Frankfurt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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