Cost of living comparison
Germany is 6.4% cheaper than Illinois.
- Restaurants
-
pay 7.2% more in Germany
- Groceries
-
pay 8.2% less in Germany
- Transportation
-
pay 24.8% more in Germany
- Housing
-
pay 11.8% less in Germany
- Childcare
-
pay 58.3% less in Germany
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.3% less in Germany
- Clothing
-
pay 19.5% more in Germany
The cost of transportation, clothing, and restaurants in Germany are more expensive than in Illinois. Expenses including childcare, entertainment and sports, housing, and groceries are lower in Germany.
If you lived in Germany instead of Illinois, you would:
pay 7.2% more for restaurants
|
Illinois
|
Germany
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.03
|
$14.04
€12.35
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.33
|
$10.20
€8.97
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.49
|
$2.80
€2.46
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.85
|
$2.41
€2.12
|
|
pay 8.2% less for groceries
|
Illinois
|
Germany
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.19
|
$2.03
€1.79
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.63
|
$6.71
€5.90
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.30
|
$4.38
€3.85
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.92
|
$3.41
€3.00
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.08
|
$6.24
€5.49
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$1.28
€1.12
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.70
€0.62
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.05
|
$0.97
€0.85
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.82
|
$2.10
€1.85
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.98
|
$0.66
€0.58
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.20
|
$0.69
€0.61
|
|
pay 24.8% more for transportation
|
Illinois
|
Germany
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$7.07
€6.22
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$72.95
|
$52.96
€46.57
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,096.73
|
$28,807.86
€25,331.36
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.96
|
$23.02
€20.24
|
|
pay 11.8% less for housing
|
Illinois
|
Germany
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.96
|
$48.22
€42.40
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,375.37
|
$790.39
€695.01
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,146.99
|
$625.27
€549.82
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$137.37
|
$230.06
€202.30
|
|
pay 58.3% less for childcare
|
Illinois
|
Germany
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,394.11
|
$458.39
€403.07
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$24,405.00
|
$12,308.95
€10,823.51
|
|
pay 18.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
Illinois
|
Germany
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.17
|
$4.42
€3.88
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.81
|
$3.49
€3.07
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.79
|
$8.74
€7.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$60.87
|
$36.01
€31.66
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.50
|
$12.80
€11.25
|
|
pay 19.5% more for clothing
|
Illinois
|
Germany
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$51.50
|
$82.34
€72.40
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.59
|
$40.78
€35.86
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$80.60
|
$91.59
€80.54
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$115.89
|
$123.43
€108.53
|
|
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