Where you can still live well and cheaply today

Living in the country is cheaper than in the city - that's clear. But where are rent, energy and food particularly cheap? A new study by the German Economic Institute (IW) and the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) has analysed the cost of living in Germany.

The researchers analysed the cost of living in all 400 districts and independent cities. The result is a new price index that compares housing and living costs such as rent, electricity, gas and food for all 400 districts and independent cities.

The result: Braunschweig and the district of Neumarkt in Bavaria are exactly at the national average (index value: 100). The most expensive places to live are Munich (index value: 125), the district of Munich (117), Frankfurt (116) and Stuttgart (115), while the cheapest are Vogtlandkreis in Saxony (index value: 90), Greiz in Thuringia (90.5) and Görlitz (90.6). The most favourable region in the west is Pirmasens in Rhineland-Palatinate (90.7).

Housing costs in particular make the difference: this is where there are the biggest differences between the regions. If these are factored out, the index values range from 98 (Leer district in Lower Saxony) to 104 (Stuttgart). This effect is particularly evident in the Vogtland district: here, housing is 32 per cent cheaper than the national average, while other costs are only 0.3 per cent lower - overall, no other German region is cheaper to live in.

Developments on the housing markets in Germany and Europe are similar: residential rents are rising significantly almost everywhere, while property prices are continuing to fall. ImmoScout24 has now analysed how much quality of life major German cities have to offer.

The latest city ranking shows Mainz as the most dynamic city in Germany. The city on the Rhine climbs to second place in the ranking, which continues to be led by Munich, the long-time leader. Heidelberg wins in terms of sustainability and displaces Wolfsburg from first place, while Hamburg is the climber of the year. Six out of seven metropolises are in the top 15, with only Stuttgart coming in much lower at 57th place. In the level ranking, three out of seven metropolises are in the top ten - Berlin remains at the bottom.

(Photo: © Hardy S., Pixabay)