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Berlin or Leipzig? Munich or Dortmund? Compare two cities’ real monthly costs side by side and see what you’d save per year.
2026 estimates for a single person (mid-range rents). Your numbers will vary by neighborhood and habits.
The same life costs wildly different amounts across Germany: a shared room runs 650 € in Munich and 380 € in Leipzig, and a full single-person budget can differ by 500–700 € per month. This city comparator puts two of fifteen major German cities side by side — rent by housing type, food, transport, health insurance and leisure — and shows the winner per category plus your total yearly savings.
Choosing the right city is the biggest single lever in your German budget — often worth more than any scholarship. Students on the 992 € blocked-account rate live comfortably in Leipzig, Dresden or Bochum, while the same budget is tight in Munich or Frankfurt. Compare first, then match the result against your net salary with the Brutto-Netto calculator.