Cost of Living Comparison Between Wilhelmshaven and Rochester Cost of Living Comparison Between Wilhelmshaven and Rochester

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,694 in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,164 in Rochester.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,832 in Wilhelmshaven versus $3,282 in Rochester.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,969 in Wilhelmshaven versus $4,401 in Rochester.

Living in Wilhelmshaven costs roughly 22% less than in Rochester, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wilhelmshaven 26% above, Rochester 61% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wilhelmshaven
Rochester
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.97 €12.02
$24.10 £17.91
-42.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1 €68.0
$96.6 £71.8
-18.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.67 €10.90
$10.17 £7.56
24.58%
Cappuccino
$3.93 €3.38
$4.53 £3.37
-13.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 €2.45
$2.30 £1.71
23.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.76 £2.05
-18.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.11 €4.39
$6.07 £4.51
-15.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12 €4.40
$5.33 £3.96
-3.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wilhelmshaven
Rochester
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.01
$1.38 £1.03
-15.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.37 £1.02
63.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.39 €2.91
$1.65 £1.22
105.45%
Eggs
$3.82 €3.29
$3.00 £2.23
27.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.64 €12.60
$4.61 £3.43
217.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.26 €13.12
$7.37 £5.48
107.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.75 €16.99
$11.68 £8.68
69.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.48 €2.13
$2.75 £2.04
-9.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.50
$1.55 £1.16
12.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 €1.86
$2.44 £1.81
-11.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.32 €4.58
$2.39 £1.77
122.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 €1.34
$1.48 £1.10
5.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 €1.33
$1.29 £0.96
20.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 €1.77
$0.99 £0.73
108.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 €0.89
$1.58 £1.17
-34.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91 €8.52
$20.32 £15.10
-51.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.66 €4.87
$10.75 £7.99
-47.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 €0.96
$2.25 £1.67
-50.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.45
$3.39 £2.52
-50.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Wilhelmshaven
Rochester
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 €2.50
$3.44 £2.56
-15.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.4 €49.36
$88.5 £65.8
-35.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.49 €6.45
$4.16 £3.09
80.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 €1.67
$1.68 £1.25
15.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.8 €43.71
$14.74 £10.96
244.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.90 £1.41
7.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K €27.0K
$33.8K £25.1K
-7.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K €32.1K
$32.1K £23.8K
16.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wilhelmshaven
Rochester
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$303 €261
$189 £141
60.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.37 €9.78
$19.22 £14.29
-40.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.3 €43.28
$30.60 £22.74
64.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wilhelmshaven
Rochester
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.73 €24.72
$51.5 £38.26
-44.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.96 €19.75
$20.46 £15.21
12.22%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 €13.02
$13.62 £10.12
11.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wilhelmshaven
Rochester
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$690 €593
$493 £367
39.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.3K €8,892
$25.9K £19.3K
-60.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wilhelmshaven
Rochester
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.1 €70.6
$68.8 £51.2
19.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.87 €30.00
$40.98 £30.46
-14.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.0 €49.92
$60.8 £45.18
-4.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 €127
$97.0 £72.1
52.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wilhelmshaven
Rochester
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$579 €498
$1,203 £894
-51.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 €352
$1,008 £749
-59.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$764 €657
$1,825 £1,357
-58.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,245 €1,071
$1,696 £1,260
-26.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,082 €4,371
$5,040 £3,746
0.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 €1,972
$4,721 £3,509
-51.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wilhelmshaven
Rochester
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,680 €3,166
$3,299 £2,452
11.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.96
5.53
-28.39%

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

Last update for Wilhelmshaven: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rochester: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $579 in Wilhelmshaven and $1,203 in Rochester. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wilhelmshaven pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Wilhelmshaven vs $97.0 in Rochester. Groceries flip the comparison at $349 vs $246, with Rochester 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
Wilhelmshaven vs Rochester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wilhelmshaven or Rochester?
Wilhelmshaven wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Rochester. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Wilhelmshaven the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Wilhelmshaven or Rochester?
Wilhelmshaven pays 12% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Wilhelmshaven vs Rochester?
Rent for a central apartment: $579 in Wilhelmshaven versus $1,203 in Rochester. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Wilhelmshaven compared to Rochester?
All in, you'll spend $1,694 per month in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,164 in Rochester – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Wilhelmshaven vs Rochester?
A monthly transit pass in Wilhelmshaven runs roughly 54% less than in Rochester. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Wilhelmshaven or Rochester?
At $1,694 in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,164 in Rochester, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Wilhelmshaven but tight or insufficient in Rochester. The gap between the two cities makes Wilhelmshaven the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Wilhelmshaven or Rochester?
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.
How safe is Wilhelmshaven compared to Rochester?
Safety-wise, Wilhelmshaven and Rochester 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Wilhelmshaven gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Rochester. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Wilhelmshaven vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities