Cost of Living Comparison Between Kempten and Munich Cost of Living Comparison Between Kempten and Munich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,146 per month in Kempten vs $2,865 in Munich, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,162 per month in Kempten vs $4,348 in Munich, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,178 per month in Kempten vs $5,831 in Munich, rent included.

Kempten is about 25% cheaper than Munich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kempten and Munich sit above the global median – Kempten by 60%, Munich by 114%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kempten
Munich
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.48 €15.90
$20.50 €17.64
-9.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.7 €48.80
$92.7 €79.8
-38.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.91 €8.52
$13.75 €11.83
-27.93%
Cappuccino
$3.80 €3.27
$4.27 €3.67
-11.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.55
$4.01 €3.45
-25.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 €2.05
$3.77 €3.25
-36.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.72 €4.06
$5.80 €4.99
-18.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 €3.00
$5.69 €4.89
-38.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kempten
Munich
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.42 €1.22
-16.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 €1.94
$2.18 €1.88
3.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.15 €2.71
$3.28 €2.82
-3.96%
Eggs
$3.68 €3.16
$3.85 €3.31
-4.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.18 €13.05
$17.84 €15.34
-14.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.64 €12.60
$10.61 €9.13
37.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.65 €15.18
$19.51 €16.78
-9.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.54 €2.19
$3.23 €2.78
-21.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 €1.25
$2.26 €1.95
-35.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$2.61 €2.25
-37.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 €4.27
$3.87 €3.32
28.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.74 €1.50
1.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.55 €1.33
10.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 €1.67
$1.60 €1.38
21.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.47
$0.96 €0.83
-42.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.66 €8.31
$9.89 €8.51
-2.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.74 €4.93
$7.41 €6.37
-22.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.20 €1.04
-10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 €0.99
$1.68 €1.44
-31.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Kempten
Munich
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.28 €2.82
$4.59 €3.95
-28.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.8 €48.02
$65.9 €56.7
-15.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 €2.74
$6.43 €5.53
-50.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.66 €2.29
$2.63 €2.27
1.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.28 €30.35
$44.71 €38.46
-21.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.75
$1.98 €1.71
2.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.3K
$31.4K €27.0K
8.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K €30.1K
$37.1K €31.9K
-5.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kempten
Munich
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$354 €304
$403 €347
-12.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.97 €24.92
$17.06 €14.67
69.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.7 €45.35
$46.40 €39.91
13.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kempten
Munich
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 €50.7
$51.7 €44.47
13.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.24 €30.32
$34.14 €29.36
3.22%
Cinema Ticket
$12.63 €10.86
$16.02 €13.78
-21.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kempten
Munich
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 €282
$994 €855
-67.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.1K €15.5K
$15.3K €13.2K
18.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kempten
Munich
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.0 €75.7
$107 €91.7
-17.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.31 €22.63
$44.96 €38.67
-41.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 €101
$98.6 €84.8
18.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 €148
$135 €116
27.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kempten
Munich
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$926 €797
$1,793 €1,542
-48.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$728 €626
$1,304 €1,122
-44.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 €1,374
$3,426 €2,947
-53.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,213 €1,044
$2,582 €2,221
-53.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,439 €5,539
$13.1K €11.3K
-50.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,018 €4,317
$8,953 €7,702
-43.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kempten
Munich
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,083 €3,512
$4,319 €3,715
-5.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.6
3.97
-34.51%

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

Last update for Kempten: May 31, 2026

Last update for Munich: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $926 in Kempten versus $1,793 in Munich. 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 6% higher in Munich, 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 $57.0 in Kempten versus $93.0 in Munich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $340 – 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
Kempten vs Munich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kempten and Munich compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,146 in Kempten, $2,865 in Munich – roughly 34% apart. Munich costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kempten compared to Munich?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,218 per month in Kempten and $4,297 in Munich. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kempten and Munich?
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 do commuting costs compare in Kempten and Munich?
Public transport costs about 18% less in Kempten. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kempten and Munich?
Kindergarten costs $328 per month in Kempten and $994 in Munich. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Kempten, where all-in costs run around $2,146, than in Munich at $2,865. In Kempten it covers expenses comfortably, while in Munich it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kempten and Munich?
It depends on your priorities. Munich has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,146 in Kempten to $2,865 in Munich. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kempten or Munich safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kempten and Munich?
If budget matters most, go with Kempten. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Munich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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