Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Germany Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Germany

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 9.5% more expensive than Germany without rent, and 33.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 5.5% more expensive than Germany without rent, and 24.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Germany
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$17.11 €14.78
18.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 $74.4
$74.9 €64.7
-0.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.49 $11.49
$11.47 €9.91
0.17%
Cappuccino
$5.09 $5.09
$4.01 €3.46
26.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.33 €2.88
-23.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.89 €2.5
-26.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$5.24 €4.52
16.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.1 $7.1
$4.58 €3.95
55.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Germany
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.26 €1.08
-14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.19 €1.89
68.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$3.46 €2.99
34.39%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$3.79 €3.28
11.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.75 $12.75
$14.73 €12.72
-13.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.24 $12.24
$13.83 €11.94
-11.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.08 $16.08
$19.93 €17.21
-19.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$3.18 €2.75
70.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.79 €1.55
-3.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.32 €2
88.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$4.73 €4.09
4.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.58 €1.37
82.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.62 €1.4
89.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.86 €1.6
20.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.07 €0.92
106.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.09 $10.09
$9.84 €8.5
2.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$6.85 €5.92
115.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.1 €0.95
73.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$1.7 €1.46
108.24%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Germany
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.68 €3.18
-30.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 $63.9
$68 €58.7
-6.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 $3.81
$5.87 €5.07
-35.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.23 €1.92
-20.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.4 $30.4
$37.69 €32.54
-19.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.97 €1.7
-52.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$31.7K €27.4K
-5.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$37.3K €32.2K
-30.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Germany
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 $209
$350 €302
-40.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.9 $57.9
$27.07 €23.37
113.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$51.9 €44.83
36.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Germany
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.88 $45.88
$40.64 €35.09
12.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 $22.25
$24.54 €21.19
-9.33%
Cinema Ticket
$14.14 $14.14
$14.15 €12.22
-0.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Germany
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$463 €400
196.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$15.1K €13K
48.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Germany
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$94.4 €81.5
-45.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.96 $41.96
$43.6 €37.65
-3.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$100 €86.7
-12.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$133 €115
-16.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Germany
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,731 $1,731
$1,042 €900
66.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 $1,446
$765 €660
89.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,846 $2,846
$1,909 €1,648
49.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,366 $2,366
$1,445 €1,247
63.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,245 $3,245
$6,341 €5,475
-48.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,667 $2,667
$4,896 €4,227
-45.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Germany
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,312 $4,312
$3,362 €2,903
28.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
3.98
63.57%

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

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

Last update for Germany: October 29, 2025

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