Cost of Living Comparison Between Munich and Krefeld Cost of Living Comparison Between Munich and Krefeld

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,866 in Munich versus $2,039 in Krefeld.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,298 in Munich versus $3,165 in Krefeld.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,731 in Munich versus $4,290 in Krefeld.

Living in Munich is roughly 41% more expensive than in Krefeld, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Munich 114% above, Krefeld 53% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Munich
Krefeld
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61 €18.03
$17.20 €15.05
19.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.3 €80.7
$67.2 €58.8
37.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.00 €12.25
$12.85 €11.24
8.95%
Cappuccino
$4.42 €3.87
$3.57 €3.13
23.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 €3.63
$2.81 €2.46
47.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 €3.34
$2.72 €2.38
40.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 €5.19
$5.71 €4.99
4.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 €5.03
$4.07 €3.56
41.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Munich
Krefeld
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.29
$1.27 €1.11
16.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 €1.91
$2.20 €1.93
-0.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 €2.89
$3.53 €3.09
-6.23%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.51
$3.80 €3.32
5.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.73 €15.51
$14.89 €13.03
19.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.92 €9.55
$14.80 €12.95
-26.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.37 €16.95
$19.07 €16.68
1.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 €2.82
$3.31 €2.90
-2.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 €1.88
$1.89 €1.66
13.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 €2.30
$2.38 €2.09
10.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 €3.57
$4.77 €4.17
-14.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 €1.47
$1.49 €1.31
12.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 €1.38
$1.54 €1.34
2.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 €1.35
$1.87 €1.64
-17.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 €0.88
$1.12 €0.98
-9.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.98 €8.73
$9.55 €8.35
4.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.68 €5.84
$5.52 €4.83
21.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 €1.05
$1.05 €0.92
14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.46
$1.63 €1.42
2.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Munich
Krefeld
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.60 €4.03
$3.67 €3.22
25.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.7 €59.3
$61.0 €53.4
11.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.46 €5.65
$5.82 €5.10
11.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.57 €2.25
$2.16 €1.89
18.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.11 €37.71
$41.12 €35.97
4.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.04 €1.79
$2.06 €1.80
-0.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K €27.9K
$31.3K €27.4K
1.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K €32.3K
$35.8K €31.3K
3.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Munich
Krefeld
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$407 €356
$353 €309
15.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.84 €14.73
$37.16 €32.51
-54.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.64 €41.68
$56.2 €49.19
-15.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Munich
Krefeld
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.3 €46.60
$42.42 €37.12
25.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.67 €30.33
$23.09 €20.20
50.15%
Cinema Ticket
$15.97 €13.98
$14.09 €12.32
13.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Munich
Krefeld
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$984 €861
$416 €364
136.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K €13.4K
$23.2K €20.3K
-33.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Munich
Krefeld
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 €92.7
$94.0 €82.2
12.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 €39.36
$47.73 €41.75
-5.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 €87.4
$104 €91.4
-4.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 €118
$161 €141
-15.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Munich
Krefeld
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,743 €1,525
$741 €649
135.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,339 €1,172
$615 €538
117.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,439 €3,009
$1,429 €1,250
140.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,553 €2,234
$1,216 €1,064
109.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.0K €11.3K
$3,253 €2,846
298.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,621 €7,543
$4,470 €3,911
92.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Munich
Krefeld
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,146 €3,628
$2,038 €1,783
103.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.97
3.98
-0.25%

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

Last update for Munich: July 12, 2026

Last update for Krefeld: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,743 in Munich and $741 in Krefeld. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Munich pays 103% 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: $92.0 in Munich vs $67.0 in Krefeld. Groceries flip the comparison at $341 vs $349, with Munich cheaper for home cooking.

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
Munich vs Krefeld: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Krefeld cheaper than Munich?
Krefeld is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Munich or Krefeld?
Average pay runs 103% higher in Munich, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Munich and Krefeld?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,743 in Munich versus $741 in Krefeld. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Munich and in Krefeld?
All in, you'll spend $2,866 per month in Munich versus $2,039 in Krefeld – a 41% 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 11% 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 Munich or in Krefeld?
At $2,039 in Krefeld versus $2,866 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 Munich or Krefeld 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, Munich or Krefeld?
Safety-wise, Munich and Krefeld 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 41% less than in Munich. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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