😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,868 in Turnhout versus $1,811 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,626 in Turnhout versus $2,690 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Turnhout versus $3,570 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
😐Living in Turnhout is roughly 3% more expensive than Villingen-Schwenningen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Turnhout39% above, Villingen-Schwenningen35% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turnhout
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.20
$15.02€12.93
17.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$58.5€50.4
10.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.44€9.85
$10.90€9.38
4.95%
Cappuccino
$3.68€3.17
$3.26€2.80
12.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93€2.52
$3.39€2.91
-13.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61€2.25
$2.77€2.38
-5.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$4.39€3.78
-20.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64€3.13
$4.88€4.20
-25.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turnhout
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96€0.83
$1.23€1.06
-21.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$2.23€1.92
-5.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01€2.59
$3.66€3.15
-17.76%
Eggs
$3.59€3.09
$2.58€2.22
39.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.78€10.14
$10.00€8.61
17.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.34€8.90
$12.89€11.10
-19.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.27€14.87
$20.23€17.42
-14.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69€2.32
$3.19€2.74
-15.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26€1.95
$1.69€1.45
33.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.75
$2.21€1.91
-8.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.19
$4.23€3.64
-39.72%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.60€1.37
35.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.64€1.42
4.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12€0.97
$1.86€1.60
-39.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24€1.07
$1.17€1.01
5.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.37€6.35
$9.33€8.04
-21.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.16€4.44
$4.10€3.53
25.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.13
$1.12€0.96
16.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20€1.89
$1.78€1.54
23.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Turnhout
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.50
$2.84€2.45
2.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.1€49.17
$67.1€57.8
-14.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.44€5.54
$5.49€4.73
17.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.63€2.26
$2.37€2.04
10.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.32€30.41
$38.02€32.73
-7.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.60
$2.00€1.72
-7.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K€26.0K
$30.9K€26.6K
-2.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K€25.0K
$36.8K€31.7K
-21.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turnhout
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182€157
$397€341
-54.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.76€18.73
$15.97€13.75
36.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.71€41.08
$52.1€44.85
-8.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turnhout
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.2€64.7
$34.17€29.42
120.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.17€14.78
$23.14€19.92
-25.80%
Cinema Ticket
$13.66€11.76
$12.06€10.38
13.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turnhout
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$657€566
$267€230
146.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K€11.6K
$13.4K€11.5K
1.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turnhout
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7€79.8
$106€91.3
-12.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.72€28.17
$57.8€49.74
-43.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.0€59.4
$93.6€80.6
-26.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113€97.7
$137€118
-17.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turnhout
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$820€706
$494€426
65.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$687€592
$483€416
42.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€909
$935€805
12.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892€768
$818€704
9.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,802€4,995
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,638€3,132
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turnhout
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,777€2,390
$4,227€3,639
-34.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
3.99
-49.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Turnhout: June 1, 2026
Last update for Villingen-Schwenningen: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $820 in Turnhout and $494 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Villingen-Schwenningen pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Turnhout vs $59.0 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $318, with Turnhout 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
Turnhout vs Villingen-Schwenningen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Turnhout and Villingen-Schwenningen?
Turnhout and Villingen-Schwenningen differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,868 vs $1,811 including rent). Villingen-Schwenningen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Villingen-Schwenningen earns 52% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Turnhout and Villingen-Schwenningen?
Rent for a central apartment: $820 in Turnhout versus $494 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Turnhout and Villingen-Schwenningen?
A monthly transit pass in Villingen-Schwenningen runs roughly 17% less than in Turnhout. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Turnhout and Villingen-Schwenningen?
Childcare runs $657 in Turnhout versus $267 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,811 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $1,868 in Turnhout, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Villingen-Schwenningen but tight or insufficient in Turnhout. The gap between the two cities makes Villingen-Schwenningen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Turnhout and Villingen-Schwenningen?
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.
Is Turnhout or Villingen-Schwenningen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Turnhout and Villingen-Schwenningen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Turnhout or Villingen-Schwenningen?
Expats usually find Villingen-Schwenningen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Turnhout. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.