Dortmund
-673 €- Cold rent
- 988 €
- Total available
- 2.430 €
- Modelled monthly income needed
- 3.403 €
Practical guide
Cost of living in Germany
A simple and clear explanation for people planning life and work in Germany. This information is for orientation. Confirm final requirements with the responsible German authorities.
Household costs
How much do we need per month?
Connect household, city, housing and income in one transparent monthly picture.
Advanced options
How was this calculated?
Sources and data quality
Gross income: Your input · User-entered gross income · 2026 · your input
Taxes and contributions: Derived from official data · Bundesministerium der Finanzen · PAP 2026 · 2026 · Germany
Cold rent: Documented model · BBSR / INKAR - Angebotsmieten · 2024 · Germany
Other housing costs: Documented model · AuslaenderKompass local cost estimate · 2026 · Germany
Food: Documented model · Destatis - household spending and consumer price baseline · 2024 · Germany
Other basic costs: Documented model · AusländerKompass versioned cost-of-living model · 2026 · Germany
Transport: Official data · Deutschlandticket - official monthly public transport ticket · 2026 · Germany
Child benefit: Official data · Familienkasse / Bundesagentur für Arbeit · 2026 · Germany
- • Each income is calculated separately with the existing BMF PAP 2026 engine.
- • Cold rent and additional housing costs are shown separately.
- • Food uses existing national models for singles, couples and families; a one-person value is not simply multiplied.
- • Child benefit remains separate from salary and does not confirm eligibility.
Compare cities
Income and assumptions stay the same in every city. Choose up to five.
Leipzig
-754 €- Cold rent
- 1.069 €
- Total available
- 2.409 €
- Modelled monthly income needed
- 3.463 €
Stuttgart
-1.465 €- Cold rent
- 1.540 €
- Total available
- 2.430 €
- Modelled monthly income needed
- 4.195 €
Dortmund leaves about 792 € more per month than Stuttgart in this model, mainly because housing differs by 622 €.
What you should know
Cost of living in Germany: Check requirements, documents, real costs and deadlines before making an important decision. Your situation depends on the city, family, job and contract.
- Cost of living in Germany: Check requirements, documents, real costs and deadlines before making an important decision. Your situation depends on the city, family, job and contract.
- Cost of living in Germany: Check requirements, documents, real costs and deadlines before making an important decision. Your situation depends on the city, family, job and contract.
- Cost of living in Germany: Check requirements, documents, real costs and deadlines before making an important decision. Your situation depends on the city, family, job and contract.
How to make a realistic plan
Compare several scenarios, use conservative figures and keep an emergency reserve. Gross salary alone is not enough for a good decision.
- Compare several scenarios, use conservative figures and keep an emergency reserve. Gross salary alone is not enough for a good decision.
- Compare several scenarios, use conservative figures and keep an emergency reserve. Gross salary alone is not enough for a good decision.
- Compare several scenarios, use conservative figures and keep an emergency reserve. Gross salary alone is not enough for a good decision.
Related topics
Frequently asked questions
Is this official advice?
No. The portal provides informational estimates and simple explanations.
How can I check my case?
Use official sources, your contract and information from the responsible authority.