Cost of living in Hamburg: An overview

Cost of living in Hamburg romp among the upper range of most expensive cities in Germany. Those are the costs of living you can expect in Hamburg.

Marle

5 minute read

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Updated on 31 Oct 2024

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Living

With its lucrative job market and high salaries, Hamburg is a fast-growing city attracting younger expats and international companies. With a average cost of living of €2,150 monthly, Hamburg ranks as the 22nd most-expensive city in Europe. But what drives up the living expenses in the city?

Read our guide to learn all about the cost of living in Hamburg. We breakdown everything you need to know from renting and groceries, to public transport and healthcare. By the end of the article we're sure you'll have a budget ready and start looking for homes for rent in Hamburg.

Whether it's a ticket for public transport, a visit to the theatre or shopping: The cost of living in Hamburg goes hand in hand with the city's price level. So what living costs should you expect in Hamburg? To live comfortably you should expect a cost of living of €2,150 monthly as a single person. If you move to Hamburg with your family, you should dig a little deeper into your pockets and expect around €3,642.

The average rental price in Hamburg is €1,362 monthly, which places it as one of the German cities with higher rent. Depending on which neighborhood in Hamburg you live in your costs will vary, but you can expect to spend at least 1/3 of your income on rent. Generally, this is how much different types of accommodation cost in Hamburg:

If you want to find affordable options, don't forget to start your search homes for rent in Hamburg early! Make sure to check out our guide to renting in Germany to learn more about the process and how you can secure your dream home.

Having broken down the price of renting, what else drives up the cost of living in Hamburg?Higher costs stretch to other categories such as groceries and going out so let's take a closer look.

Cost of groceries in Hamburg

Generally, you'll need between €400 and €500 monthly for groceries in Hamburg. These costs will vary, depending on your diet and which German supermarkets you buy your groceries from. Overall this is what you can expect:

Cost of public transport in Hamburg

A day ticket for public transport in Hamburg from 9 am onwards for the AB area costs €7.50, full-day tickets cost €8.80. You can also get a 24/7 monthly card for €69 or buy the Deutschlandticket for €49 monthly whenever available. As a student, you're eligible for the Semesterticket from your university and travel for free.

Cost of health insurance in Hamburg

In Germany, having health insurance is essential if you plan to live there. If you’re employed, you’ll contribute 7.3% of your gross salary to health insurance, and your employer will match this amount. There’s a cap on these contributions, so you won’t pay more than €378 each month. Plus, you can include your spouse and children on your plan at no additional cost.

For international students, public health insurance comes at a discounted rate, typically around €120 per month.

Cost of leisure activities in Hamburg

Despite the high cost of living in Hamburg, a few tricks can be used to reduce the costs down to a student-friendly budget. All you have to do is to live a little more deliberately and perhaps reconsider your approaches.

By searching for budget-friendly student rooms in Hamburg you can save on rent and utilities. You'll also be able to meet people easier and make friends. Check out our guide to student accommodation in Germany to learn how to swiftly find your new home.

There's also plenty of money to spare on groceries, too! Discounters such as Aldi, Lidl or Penny will help you save some money. By comparing prices and choosing a discounter over a supermarket, you can save a lot of money as a student in Hamburg!

The cost of living should always coincide with the income from your job or internship in Hamburg. And while the living expenses might be high, so are the average salaries. People in Hamburg earn €4,145 monthly on average, right behind employees in Stuttgart and Frankfurt.

This means for you: despite the high cost of living, with this average salary you can happily swap the rustic pub for the chic cocktail bar or try out the Michelin-starred restaurants.

To give you a better feeling for the cost of living in Hamburg, it's often easier to compare it with other cities like Berlin. Overall, Hamburg is more expensive than Berlin. A deep dive into the different living expenses shows in Hamburg the public transport costs are 9.8% higher. But compared to the cost of rental homes in Berlin, the prices in Hamburg are 19.9% lower.

When it comes to the cost of living, Hamburg certainly ranks high. However, as an expat you'll be well compensated for this. If you're going to start a new job in Hamburg, the high cost of living won't hurt you - and you'll be fully immersed in the city's chic bars as well as its alternative districts. So, let's give this stunningly Hanseatic city a chance and find affordable student housing in Hamburg now!

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