Cost of living · Europe · Eurostat HICP 2023
🇩🇪 Cost of living in Germany
Germany tracks close to the EU-27 average across rent, groceries and transport - see the categories where it diverges and how far local income actually stretches.
- Cost index (EU-27=100)
- 105
- Rent index
- 97
- Median net income
- €26,100
- Cost-adjusted income
- €24,857
Germany sits at 105 on the 0-200 scale shown above.
Key takeaways
- Overall cost of living is 5% above the EU-27 average (index 105, EU-27 = 100).
- Most expensive category: groceries at index 117.
- Cheapest category: healthcare at index 92.
- A typical income of €26,100 is worth about €24,857 in EU-average purchasing power.
Cost by category in Germany
Germany - price level by category (EU-27 = 100)
In Germany, groceries is the most expensive category and healthcare the least.
What the Germany cost-of-living data shows
Germany's overall consumer price level is 5% above the EU-27 average. (How this index is built →)
Groceries stand out as the priciest category in Germany, at index 117, ahead of healthcare at index 92 - a food basket costs proportionally more here than rent, transport or healthcare do.
Prices in Germany sit close to the EU average, so the headline income of €26,100 and its EU-27-adjusted equivalent of €24,857 are within a similar range.
Cities in Germany
National averages hide the big-city premium. See real monthly rent, groceries and transit costs for Germany's cities.
Countries with a similar cost of living
Frequently asked questions
Is Germany expensive to live in?▼
Germany's overall cost of living is 5% above the EU-27 average (index 105). Groceries is the priciest category and healthcare the cheapest.
What does it cost to rent in Germany?▼
Germany's rent and housing price index is 97, below the EU norm.
How does income compare to costs in Germany?▼
Prices in Germany sit close to the EU average, so the headline income of €26,100 and its EU-27-adjusted equivalent of €24,857 are within a similar range.
Source: Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Price-level indices, EU-27 = 100, 2023. Income: Eurostat/OECD median equivalised net income.
Important: these figures are official Eurostat averages for general information and comparison, they are not personal financial advice. Your own cost of living depends on your city, housing and lifestyle, so treat this as a starting point and check current local prices before making any relocation or budget decision.
Read our methodology - how these indices are sourced and computed.