Cost of Living in Paderborn - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,118 (excluding rent), and $1,875 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,313 (excluding rent), and $3,583 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.16 €14.79

$5.72 €4.93

$17.16 €14.79

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.8 €50.7

$106 €91.2

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.80 €9.31

$10.12 €8.72

$13.65 €11.76

Cappuccino

$3.79 €3.27

$2.06 €1.78

$5.16 €4.45

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 €2.73

$2.36 €2.03

$4.14 €3.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 €2.66

$2.30 €1.98

$4.03 €3.47

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.73 €4.08

$3.60 €3.11

$6.21 €5.35

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 €3.95

$3.44 €2.96

$6.87 €5.92

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 €1.11

$1.18 €1.02

$1.73 €1.49

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 €1.91

$1.17 €1.01

$2.34 €2.02

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.49 €3.01

$2.30 €1.98

$5.27 €4.54

Eggs

$3.86 €3.33

$3.34 €2.88

$3.98 €3.43

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.46 €12.46

$14.34 €12.36

$15.11 €13.02

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.34 €13.22

$4.56 €3.93

$19.41 €16.73

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.35 €16.68

$11.71 €10.10

$35.05 €30.22

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 €3.12

$2.50 €2.15

$4.57 €3.94

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 €1.58

$1.51 €1.30

$4.70 €4.05

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 €1.94

$1.89 €1.63

$5.73 €4.94

Tomato (1kg)

$5.25 €4.53

$2.35 €2.03

$5.89 €5.07

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 €1.29

$0.88 €0.76

$1.63 €1.41

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 €1.33

$1.18 €1.01

$2.10 €1.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 €1.63

$1.37 €1.18

$2.28 €1.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 €1.06

$0.53 €0.46

$1.41 €1.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.64 €8.31

$10.23 €8.82

Wine (Bottle)

$5.98 €5.16

$5.97 €5.15

$7.17 €6.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 €0.95

$0.74 €0.64

$1.15 €0.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 €1.75

$1.30 €1.12

$3.40 €2.93

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.44 €2.96

$2.53 €2.18

$3.67 €3.16

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.5 €57.4

$55.7 €48.05

$114 €98.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.02 €7.78

$3.95 €3.40

$11.28 €9.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.06 €2.64

$2.45 €2.11

$3.06 €2.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.64 €32.45

$35.29 €30.42

$38.82 €33.46

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 €1.77

$1.98 €1.70

$2.15 €1.85

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K €27.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.7K €30.8K

$38.1K €32.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$301 €260

$273 €235

$452 €389

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.50 €23.70

$11.46 €9.88

$45.82 €39.49

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 €47.03

$46.65 €40.21

$55.9 €48.20

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.53 €34.08

$23.25 €20.04

$58.1 €50.1

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.10 €14.74

$11.40 €9.83

$22.81 €19.66

Cinema Ticket

$11.92 €10.27

$10.22 €8.81

$20.43 €17.61

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$330 €284

$261 €225

$398 €343

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,253 €7,114

$12.6K €10.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.5 €61.6

$40.19 €34.64

$218 €188

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.74 €32.53

$23.40 €20.17

$117 €101

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 €75.5

$70.3 €60.6

$117 €101

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 €68.0

$44.74 €38.56

$229 €198

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 €657

$693 €598

$1,074 €926

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 €519

$470 €405

$940 €811

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 €1,084

$871 €751

$1,509 €1,301

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$839 €723

$761 €656

$937 €807

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,414 €4,667

$3,597 €3,100

$6,961 €6,001

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,875 €3,341

$3,123 €2,692

$4,627 €3,989

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,167 €2,730

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

3.2

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

Last update: January 12, 2026

Paderborn Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

144

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Paderborn - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with major German hubs, Paderborn generally feels friendlier to a budget-conscious traveler or remote worker. You’ll likely find housing options that are comfortable without the premium of Berlin or Munich, and daily groceries tend to be mid-range. Services such as dining out, entertainment, and utilities follow a similar pattern: you can enjoy a balanced lifestyle without steep costs, especially if you favor local shops and shorter commutes. Cost of Living in Paderborn, Germany tends to be lower than in larger cities, leaving room to save or upgrade your setup. Tip: plan a short visit to neighborhoods you like to compare vibe and value before committing.

Start your housing search near the university district or the historic center to balance walkability with price options. Look for sunny apartments in older town houses or modern flats in newer developments; sharing a place can cut costs and boost social options. For groceries, frequent local markets and regional shops offer fresh produce with reasonable prices. Transport is friendly to walkers and cyclists; the compact size makes cycling a reliable option, while buses and regional trains connect to nearby towns. Co-working spaces and cafes with solid Wi‑Fi are common around the city center. Tip: map out a weekly errands route to minimize trips and save time.

Set up a simple monthly budget with housing as your anchor, then plan utilities, groceries, transport, and a small leisure cushion. Paderborn, Germany living cost remains relatively steady across seasons, with heating nudging expenses in winter while summer costs ease when you walk or bike. Choose a neighborhood that matches your daily routine – near the university for activity and affordability, or near the historic center for convenience and services. Cooking at home, shopping at local markets, and leveraging libraries and free events helps stretch your budget without sacrificing comfort. Tip: pilot a couple of neighborhoods for a few weeks to gauge fit.