Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wilhelmshaven and Frankfurt

For one person, living is cheaper in Wilhelmshaven: $1,835 a month against $2,536 in Frankfurt, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Wilhelmshaven
🇩🇪 Germany
$1,835
/mo nomad
Frankfurt
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,536
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wilhelmshaven and in Frankfurt

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,536 in Frankfurt.

  • Wilhelmshaven $1,835
  • Frankfurt $2,536

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,750 in Wilhelmshaven versus $3,763 in Frankfurt.

  • Wilhelmshaven $2,750
  • Frankfurt $3,763

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,664 in Wilhelmshaven versus $4,990 in Frankfurt.

  • Wilhelmshaven $3,664
  • Frankfurt $4,990

Living in Wilhelmshaven costs roughly 28% less than in Frankfurt, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wilhelmshaven 35% above, Frankfurt 87% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wilhelmshaven
Frankfurt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.51 €14.68
$16.72 €14.87
-1.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.2 €62.4
$88.2 €78.5
-20.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.58 €12.08
$13.43 €11.95
1.12%
Cappuccino
$4.73 €4.21
$4.45 €3.96
6.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 €3.75
$3.86 €3.43
9.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 €2.92
$3.70 €3.29
-11.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.57 €4.96
$5.64 €5.02
-1.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 €4.25
$5.75 €5.11
-16.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wilhelmshaven
Frankfurt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.42 €1.27
-23.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 €2.35
$2.24 €1.99
17.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.91 €2.59
$2.99 €2.66
-2.68%
Eggs
$4.24 €3.78
$3.63 €3.23
16.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.35 €10.99
$13.58 €12.08
-9.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.14 €10.79
$11.64 €10.35
4.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.70 €16.63
$22.44 €19.96
-16.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.50 €2.22
$3.16 €2.81
-20.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 €1.61
$2.13 €1.89
-15.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 €1.94
$1.99 €1.77
9.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 €3.71
$3.84 €3.42
8.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 €1.67
$1.74 €1.54
7.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.57 €1.40
$1.87 €1.66
-16.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 €1.52
$1.57 €1.40
8.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 €1.02
$1.00 €0.89
15.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.74 €8.66
$10.00 €8.90
-2.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.47 €4.87
$5.56 €4.95
-1.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.16 €1.03
-3.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.17
$1.40 €1.24
-5.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Wilhelmshaven
Frankfurt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.87 €2.56
$4.20 €3.73
-31.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.7 €49.55
$71.2 €63.3
-21.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.82 €6.06
$4.44 €3.95
53.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.01 €2.67
$2.27 €2.02
32.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.30 €38.52
$23.30 €20.73
85.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 €1.78
$2.30 €2.04
-13.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K €28.8K
$33.6K €29.9K
-3.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K €34.6K
$38.2K €34.0K
1.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wilhelmshaven
Frankfurt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$290 €258
$390 €347
-25.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.36 €10.11
$19.63 €17.46
-42.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.81 €35.41
$47.45 €42.21
-16.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wilhelmshaven
Frankfurt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.55 €24.50
$67.0 €59.6
-58.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 €25.89
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.79 €14.04
$16.96 €15.08
-6.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wilhelmshaven
Frankfurt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$499 €444
$1,096 €975
-54.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K €11.9K
$23.0K €20.5K
-41.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wilhelmshaven
Frankfurt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.8 €74.6
$85.5 €76.1
-1.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.59 €33.43
$33.20 €29.53
13.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.6 €49.46
$84.5 €75.1
-34.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 €105
$107 €94.9
10.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wilhelmshaven
Frankfurt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$785 €699
$1,316 €1,171
-40.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$595 €529
$1,105 €983
-46.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,049 €933
$2,677 €2,381
-60.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 €904
$1,935 €1,721
-47.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,901 €3,470
$7,920 €7,045
-50.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,207 €1,963
$4,273 €3,801
-48.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wilhelmshaven
Frankfurt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,125 €2,780
$4,027 €3,582
-22.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.69
3.61
2.22%

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

Last update for Wilhelmshaven: October 18, 2026

Last update for Frankfurt: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wilhelmshaven
$595
Frankfurt
$1.1K 85.7% $510
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wilhelmshaven
$341
Frankfurt
$457 34.2% $116
Groceries & Markets
Wilhelmshaven
$321
Frankfurt
$332 3.4% $11
Eating Out
Wilhelmshaven
$297
Frankfurt
$297 0.1% $0.3
Clothing & Footwear
Wilhelmshaven
$133
Frankfurt
$139 5% $6.6
Getting Around
Wilhelmshaven
$89
Frankfurt
$104 16.5% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Wilhelmshaven
$59
Frankfurt
$101 70.7% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $785 in Wilhelmshaven and $1,316 in Frankfurt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Frankfurt pays 29% 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: $70.0 in Wilhelmshaven vs $88.0 in Frankfurt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $332 per month, with Wilhelmshaven cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Wilhelmshaven
🇩🇪 Frankfurt
🕒 Local time
12:52 12:52 PM
12:52 12:52 PM
Same time as Wilhelmshaven
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
75,728
701,350
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Wilhelmshaven Frankfurt 380 km
From you
  • Wilhelmshaven
  • Frankfurt

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
Wilhelmshaven vs Frankfurt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frankfurt cheaper than Wilhelmshaven?
Wilhelmshaven is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Wilhelmshaven or Frankfurt?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Frankfurt. 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 Wilhelmshaven and Frankfurt?
Rent for a central apartment: $785 in Wilhelmshaven versus $1,316 in Frankfurt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Wilhelmshaven or in Frankfurt?
Dining out is cheaper in Wilhelmshaven – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $88.0 in Frankfurt. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Wilhelmshaven and in Frankfurt?
All in, you'll spend $1,835 per month in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,536 in Frankfurt – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Wilhelmshaven or in Frankfurt?
At $1,835 in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,536 in Frankfurt, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Wilhelmshaven but tight or insufficient in Frankfurt. The gap between the two cities makes Wilhelmshaven the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Wilhelmshaven or Frankfurt more family-friendly?
For families, Wilhelmshaven 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, Wilhelmshaven or Frankfurt?
Safety-wise, Wilhelmshaven 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 Wilhelmshaven gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Frankfurt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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