๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,846 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $2,667 in Frankfurt.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,705 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $3,960 in Frankfurt.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,565 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $5,253 in Frankfurt.
๐Living in Villingen-Schwenningen costs roughly 31% less than in Frankfurt, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Villingen-Schwenningen37% above, Frankfurt98% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Villingen-Schwenningen
Frankfurt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.35โฌ13.06
$19.95โฌ16.97
-23.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.3โฌ49.59
$93.2โฌ79.3
-37.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.16โฌ9.50
$13.73โฌ11.68
-18.72%
Cappuccino
$3.13โฌ2.66
$4.55โฌ3.87
-31.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21โฌ2.73
$3.59โฌ3.06
-10.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63โฌ2.24
$3.30โฌ2.81
-20.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.37โฌ3.72
$5.69โฌ4.84
-23.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78โฌ4.07
$5.35โฌ4.55
-10.65%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Villingen-Schwenningen
Frankfurt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23โฌ1.04
$1.52โฌ1.30
-19.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17โฌ1.85
$2.26โฌ1.92
-3.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54โฌ3.01
$3.38โฌ2.88
4.73%
Eggs
$2.61โฌ2.22
$4.03โฌ3.43
-35.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.05โฌ8.55
$15.08โฌ12.84
-33.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.76โฌ10.86
$13.57โฌ11.55
-5.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.41โฌ17.37
$21.55โฌ18.34
-5.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12โฌ2.66
$3.36โฌ2.86
-7.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69โฌ1.44
$2.14โฌ1.82
-21.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21โฌ1.88
$2.34โฌ1.99
-5.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18โฌ3.56
$4.87โฌ4.14
-14.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53โฌ1.30
$1.68โฌ1.43
-8.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62โฌ1.37
$1.73โฌ1.48
-6.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93โฌ1.65
$1.93โฌ1.64
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22โฌ1.04
$1.11โฌ0.94
9.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.57โฌ8.14
$9.66โฌ8.22
-0.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.02โฌ3.43
$7.25โฌ6.17
-44.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07โฌ0.91
$1.09โฌ0.92
-1.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73โฌ1.47
$1.57โฌ1.33
10.19%
๐ Getting Around
Villingen-Schwenningen
Frankfurt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.85โฌ2.43
$4.13โฌ3.51
-30.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.0โฌ56.1
$65.8โฌ56.0
0.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.48โฌ4.67
$5.94โฌ5.06
-7.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.35โฌ2.00
$2.61โฌ2.23
-9.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.07โฌ32.40
$38.26โฌ32.56
-0.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.99โฌ1.69
5.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0Kโฌ27.3K
$31.8Kโฌ27.1K
0.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8Kโฌ31.3K
$34.6Kโฌ29.4K
6.34%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villingen-Schwenningen
Frankfurt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$394โฌ335
$376โฌ320
4.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.08โฌ13.69
$24.54โฌ20.89
-34.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.8โฌ44.97
$43.65โฌ37.15
21.05%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Villingen-Schwenningen
Frankfurt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.15โฌ29.07
$66.7โฌ56.8
-48.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.25โฌ19.79
$30.09โฌ25.61
-22.73%
Cinema Ticket
$12.12โฌ10.32
$16.39โฌ13.95
-26.05%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Villingen-Schwenningen
Frankfurt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275โฌ234
$607โฌ516
-54.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3Kโฌ11.3K
$16.2Kโฌ13.8K
-18.08%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Villingen-Schwenningen
Frankfurt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103โฌ87.4
$91.8โฌ78.2
11.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.6โฌ49.05
$38.63โฌ32.87
49.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0โฌ77.5
$98.4โฌ83.8
-7.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141โฌ120
$149โฌ127
-5.13%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Villingen-Schwenningen
Frankfurt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$478โฌ407
$1,555โฌ1,323
-69.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$476โฌ405
$1,205โฌ1,025
-60.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$924โฌ786
$2,760โฌ2,349
-66.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807โฌ686
$2,056โฌ1,750
-60.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,555โฌ3,876
$8,482โฌ7,218
-46.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,920โฌ3,336
$4,750โฌ4,042
-17.47%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Villingen-Schwenningen
Frankfurt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,222โฌ3,593
$4,607โฌ3,921
-8.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.99
3.99
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Villingen-Schwenningen: April 13, 2026
Last update for Frankfurt: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $478 in Villingen-Schwenningen and $1,555 in Frankfurt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐFrankfurt pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $58 in Villingen-Schwenningen vs $93 in Frankfurt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $361 per month, with Villingen-Schwenningen cheaper across the board.
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
Villingen-Schwenningen vs Frankfurt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frankfurt cheaper than Villingen-Schwenningen?
Villingen-Schwenningen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Villingen-Schwenningen or Frankfurt?
On paper, Frankfurt earns 9% less. 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 Villingen-Schwenningen and Frankfurt?
Rent for a central apartment: $478 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $1,555 in Frankfurt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Villingen-Schwenningen or Frankfurt?
Dining out is cheaper in Villingen-Schwenningen โ a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $93.0 in Frankfurt. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Villingen-Schwenningen vs Frankfurt?
All in, you'll spend $1,846 per month in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $2,667 in Frankfurt โ a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Villingen-Schwenningen or Frankfurt?
At $1,846 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $2,667 in Frankfurt, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Villingen-Schwenningen but tight or insufficient in Frankfurt. The gap between the two cities makes Villingen-Schwenningen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Villingen-Schwenningen or Frankfurt more family-friendly?
For families, Villingen-Schwenningen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Frankfurt, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Villingen-Schwenningen or Frankfurt?
Safety-wise, Villingen-Schwenningen and Frankfurt 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 Villingen-Schwenningen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 44% less than in Frankfurt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Villingen-Schwenningen vs other spots: cost of living compared