Cost of living in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Relocating to Frankfurt? Come find out how much exactly you'll be spending here with our cost of living in Frankfurt overview!

Bas

5 minute read

·

Updated on 1 Nov 2024

·

Living

So you’re scoping out Frankfurt as one of your options as a new home in Germany? One of the most important questions you need to answer is: what is the cost of living in Frankfurt? You can cook your own meals, ingredients only from the local market, or go out to dinner every day: it all depends on your lifestyle. But there’s a number of things we can slap a price tag on, to give you a pretty good idea of what your cost of living in Frankfurt is going to be!

Depending on your lifestyle, Frankfurt can be expensive to live in. A single person renting a studio should budget around €2,184 monthly for living expenses in Frankfurt. Families will have a higher cost of living in Frankfurt of €3,478 on average as they need to rent an apartment and consider expenses like daycare. Students at Frankfurt universities need to budget around €1,648 monthly.

Let’s be honest, it doesn’t matter where you live: housing costs are probably going to make up the largest chunk of cost of living bills. So what does it cost to live in Frankfurt? Like every city, there are highs and lows, depending on where you want to live. Let’s take a look at the average rental prices for rooms, studios, and apartments in this metropolitan.

The cost of renting in Frankfurt depends on 2 main factors: location and type of accommodation.

Rooms

What is the living cost for students in Frankfurt?

• According to HousingAnywhere data, the monthly price of a private room in Frankfurt is €680 on average.

As a student, you’re probably going to spend most of your time away from home, so a room or a room in a shared apartment is one of the most likely candidates for your stay in Frankfurt. The price of your room will of course be dependent on where you live and what kind of amenities you can enjoy while you stay. Find your room in Frankfurt here!

Studios

What is the average rent for a studio in Frankfurt?

• According to HousingAnywhere data, the average price of a studio in Frankfurt is €1,245 per month.

If you prefer not to share your facilities, a studio is your thing! Though, having your own kitchen and bathroom ramps up the price, costing you quite a bit more than a room. Then again, if you’re working a full-time job, getting to come home to your own space is completely worth it! Find studios for rent in in Frankfurt here.

Apartments

How much is the rent for an apartment in Frankfurt?

• According to HousingAnywhere data, the average price of a 1-bedroom apartment in Frankfurt is €1,500 monthly.

Apartments are where prices can go almost anywhere, from highrise apartments to a nice flat in the suburbs. So you choose, do you pay a premium to live in the city center or do you save yourself some money on rent and make use of the excellent public transport to get to work on time. Find apartments for rent in Frankfurt here.

Food is another one of those living costs that is going to be high on your list of living expenses. After your rent, groceries, snacks on the go, and going out to eat probably follow as one of your bigger expenses. So let's take a look at what your lunch and cooking habits will cost you!

Groceries

If you’re on your own, you should be able to comfortably purchase groceries for between €300 and €400 per month, if you’re cooking for yourself. If you’re in an international company, it’s likely that your colleagues will be eager to go out for lunch at least once a week, so that’s probably next on your budget!

Also, for many Germans going out to eat for dinner is more of an exception than the norm. So, if you follow suit, you could keep your budget under control here. Luckily, Frankfurt is home to various supermarkets, catering to the budget-minded expats, Lidl and Aldi are your friends.

Going out to eat & drink

Going out for lunch could cost you around €18, whereas a three-course meal for 2 is around €70. If you’re going out to dinner, it all depends on what kind of restaurant to pick; that said, though, a ‘normal’ restaurant should run you around €45-€50 for a main course and a drink.

The German health system is one of the best in the world! This isn’t just because of its world-class specialists and hospitals, but also due to the fact that pretty much everyone with a job contributes to the public health insurance fund. This means that if you’re working in Germany, you get to make use of the healthcare system as well! There’s not a set number I can give you as far as the cost of your healthcare contribution, as this depends on your income. You contribute around 7.3% of your gross salary, starting once you earn over €850, up until you earn over €5,175. So let’s break it down with some numbers. And don’t worry, this will automatically be deducted from your gross income!

• 7.3% of €1,000: €73 a month
• 7.3% of €2,500: €182.5 a month
• 7.3% of €3,500: €255.5 a month
• 7.3% of €5,175: €378 a month. (This is the salary cap, so if you earn more than this, your contribution will stay the same.)

It seems like a lot, but since it’s deducted from your gross salary, you pay less in income tax! Find out more in our in-depth article about the German health insurance system.

Many landlords have internet included in the rental price, but there’s quite a chance your home internet won't be included. So let’s look at the pricing for internet in Frankfurt. Depending on the connectivity of your address, you pay between €30 (100Mbit) to €50+ (500Mbit or more) a month.

For a phone plan with 100 calling minutes combined with 10 GB data, you’ll be paying between €20 and €40 per month. Do you want unlimited data, then you’ll be spending between €50 and €80 per month.

You can save up on these costs by getting a subscription which includes both.

So, if you’re looking for a budget gym, then at €30 a month, McFit is for you! There are pricier gyms which offer a premium experience at a cost of €75-100 a month. For that kind of money, at least you know you’ll have a hard time skipping your gym visits .

We hope you now have a pretty good understanding of what your new life in Frankfurt is going to cost you. Happy budgeting!

Want to know more about Moving to Germany? Download the free e-book by filling out the form below.