Cost #19/31 · Cost of living · Europe · Eurostat PLI 2024
🇩🇪 Cost of living in Germany
Germany runs pricier than most of the EU-27 across rent, groceries and transport - see where the gap is widest and how far local income actually stretches.
- Cost rank · cheapest = #1 of 31
- #19
- Affordability rank · highest purchasing power = #1 of 29
- #6
Germany's livability score
Livability score
51/100
Germany, weighted across 8 of 8 tracked dimensions
A cost-and-income composite (price-level indices plus purchasing power), not an overall quality-of-life judgment, it does not weigh climate, safety, culture, or healthcare outcomes.
- Purchasing power B+ €28,891
Median net income adjusted for local cost level
- Overall cost F 109
Eurostat overall price level (EU27=100)
- Rent F 113
Housing / rent price level (EU27=100)
- Groceries C 103
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (EU27=100)
- Healthcare D 112
Healthcare price level (EU27=100)
- Transport F 110
Transport price level (EU27=100)
- Utilities F 122
Electricity / gas / water (EU27=100)
- Restaurants F 112
Restaurants and hotels (EU27=100)
Germany: quiet 2024 Eurostat pass
Overall cost index barely moved (+0.1) vs 2023 - a near-flat European release print.
- Restaurants index 111 112 2023 → 2024
Restaurants index rose from 111 to 112 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Housing & utilities index 114 113 2023 → 2024
Housing & utilities index fell from 114 to 113 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Groceries index 103 103 2023 → 2024
Groceries index fell from 103 to 103 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Healthcare index 112 112 2023 → 2024
Healthcare index fell from 112 to 112 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
Germany in the 100-119 cost band
On the EU-27 = 100 scale, Germany's overall index (109) sits in the 100-119 band with 3 other published countries. The Europe-wide band mix lives on the rankings hub, not repeated here.
Category mix inside Germany's mid EU band
Bars + gauge around the EU-27 = 100 mid band (109): where Germany diverges inside an average-looking total.
Germany - price level by category (EU-27 = 100)
🇩🇪 Germany vs EU-27 = 100
Gauge reads the same overall cost_index (109); the tick marks the EU average.
In Germany, utilities is the most expensive category and groceries the least.
What the mid-band Germany print actually shows
Germany's overall consumer price level is 9% above the EU-27 average. (How this index is built →)
Utilities lead the cost table in Germany at index 122, ahead of groceries at index 103 - heating, power and water outpace every other category here.
That price gap trims real purchasing power here: because prices run above the EU average, the headline income of €28,891 is worth closer to €26,481 once translated into EU-27-average terms.
Cities in Germany
National averages hide the big-city premium. See real monthly rent, groceries and transit costs for Germany's cities.
Eurostat PLI Basket · similar price levels and purchasing power
Two peer sets for Germany: nearest overall price-level indices (EU-27 = 100) and nearest cost-adjusted incomes (median net income ÷ cost index). The cost band block above stays cohort-based; these neighborhoods vary by entity.
Similar overall cost index
Nearest countries by Eurostat price level (109 here, EU-27 = 100).
PLI neighbourhood · Germany
Similar purchasing power
Nearest countries by cost-adjusted income (€26,481 here).
What to do with this Germany data
Germany ranks #6 of 29 for cost-adjusted purchasing power. A raw price index alone does not tell you whether income stretches further here than elsewhere.
- Run the numbers for Germany in the calculator
- Compare Germany vs France side by side
- See the full best-value ranking
- Browse every country we track
These are Eurostat comparative price-level averages for the whole country, not a personal budget. Regional and city-level costs can differ substantially from the national figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Germany expensive to live in?
Germany's overall cost of living is 9% above the EU-27 average (index 109). Utilities is the priciest category and groceries the cheapest.
What are housing & utilities costs in Germany?
Germany's housing & utilities price index is 113, above the EU norm.
How does income compare to costs in Germany?
That price gap trims real purchasing power here: because prices run above the EU average, the headline income of €28,891 is worth closer to €26,481 once translated into EU-27-average terms.
PlainCostOfLiving is rendered directly from Eurostat comparative price levels and median equivalised net income, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-20. Primary sources: Eurostat comparative price levels (prc_ppp_ind) and Eurostat median equivalised net income (ilc_di03).