Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Krefeld and Munich

For one person, living is cheaper in Krefeld: $1,899 a month against $2,658 in Munich, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Krefeld
🇩🇪 Germany
$1,899
/mo nomad
Munich
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,658
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Krefeld and in Munich

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Krefeld and in Munich actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,899 in Krefeld versus $2,658 in Munich.

  • Krefeld $1,899
  • Munich $2,658

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,932 in Krefeld versus $4,003 in Munich.

  • Krefeld $2,932
  • Munich $4,003

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,964 in Krefeld versus $5,347 in Munich.

  • Krefeld $3,964
  • Munich $5,347

Living in Krefeld costs roughly 29% less than in Munich, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Krefeld 41% above, Munich 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krefeld
Munich
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 €14.95
$17.97 €15.98
-6.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.6 €63.7
$88.9 €79.1
-19.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.93 €11.50
$13.60 €12.10
-4.93%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$4.29 €3.81
-6.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 €3.28
$3.83 €3.41
-3.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 €2.85
$3.21 €2.85
-0.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$5.06 €4.50
13.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 €4.85
$5.50 €4.89
-0.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krefeld
Munich
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 €1.12
$1.29 €1.14
-2.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 €1.87
$2.44 €2.17
-13.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.62 €3.22
$2.73 €2.43
32.60%
Eggs
$3.74 €3.33
$4.60 €4.09
-18.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.16 €11.70
$18.94 €16.85
-30.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.34 €10.98
$12.53 €11.14
-1.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.32 €20.75
$21.30 €18.94
9.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 €2.68
$3.07 €2.73
-1.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 €1.77
$2.04 €1.81
-2.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 €2.12
$2.75 €2.45
-13.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 €3.71
$4.20 €3.74
-0.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 €1.25
$1.97 €1.75
-28.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 €1.06
$1.84 €1.63
-35.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 €1.43
$1.45 €1.29
11.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 €0.92
$0.83 €0.74
25.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.98 €8.88
$10.95 €9.74
-8.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.58 €5.86
$6.58 €5.85
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.97
$1.25 €1.12
-12.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.38
$1.55 €1.38
-
🚌 Getting Around
Krefeld
Munich
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 €3.04
$4.70 €4.18
-27.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.6 €53.9
$71.1 €63.2
-14.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 €4.50
$6.67 €5.94
-24.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 €1.95
$3.00 €2.67
-26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.02 €30.26
$43.82 €38.98
-22.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.26 €2.01
$2.33 €2.08
-3.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K €28.8K
$33.1K €29.5K
-2.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$37.2K €33.1K
2.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krefeld
Munich
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$300 €267
$351 €312
-14.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.28 €22.49
$18.75 €16.68
34.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.06 €36.52
$40.33 €35.87
1.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krefeld
Munich
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.80 €35.41
$51.3 €45.65
-22.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.10 €20.55
$33.36 €29.68
-30.76%
Cinema Ticket
$13.54 €12.05
$15.34 €13.64
-11.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krefeld
Munich
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 €414
$840 €747
-44.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.8K €19.4K
$16.2K €14.4K
34.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krefeld
Munich
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8 €79.0
$89.2 €79.3
-0.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.10 €36.56
$41.55 €36.95
-1.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$102 €90.8
2.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 €116
$112 €99.7
15.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krefeld
Munich
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 €637
$1,684 €1,498
-57.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$584 €519
$1,242 €1,104
-53.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,425 €1,267
$2,988 €2,658
-52.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,128 €1,004
$2,248 €1,999
-49.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,248 €2,889
$12.6K €11.2K
-74.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,481 €3,985
$8,622 €7,669
-48.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krefeld
Munich
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,002 €1,781
$4,153 €3,694
-51.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.96
3.82
3.66%

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

Last update for Krefeld: October 13, 2026

Last update for Munich: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Krefeld
$583
Munich
$1.2K 113% $658
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krefeld
$366
Munich
$410 11.9% $44
Groceries & Markets
Krefeld
$339
Munich
$357 5.5% $18
Eating Out
Krefeld
$289
Munich
$300 4% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Krefeld
$164
Munich
$155 5.5% $8.9
Getting Around
Krefeld
$90
Munich
$112 23.5% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Krefeld
$67
Munich
$82 22.6% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Krefeld and $1,684 in Munich. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Munich pays 107% 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: $72.0 in Krefeld vs $89.0 in Munich for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $339 vs $357 per month, with Krefeld cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Krefeld
🇩🇪 Munich
🕒 Local time
16:04 4:04 PM
16:04 4:04 PM
Same time as Krefeld
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
222,058
1,484,226
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Krefeld Munich 510 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Krefeld
  • Munich

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Krefeld vs Munich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Munich cheaper than Krefeld?
Krefeld is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Krefeld or Munich?
On paper, salaries run 107% lower in Munich. 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 Krefeld and Munich?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Krefeld versus $1,684 in Munich. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Krefeld and in Munich?
All in, you'll spend $1,899 per month in Krefeld versus $2,658 in Munich – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Krefeld runs roughly 17% less than in Munich. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Krefeld or in Munich?
At $1,899 in Krefeld versus $2,658 in Munich, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Krefeld but tight or insufficient in Munich. The gap between the two cities makes Krefeld the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Krefeld or Munich more family-friendly?
For families, Krefeld is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Munich, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Krefeld or Munich?
Safety-wise, Krefeld and Munich 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 Krefeld gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Munich. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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