City Comparison: Personalized Calculation
The same salary leaves radically different amounts in different cities. Pick your situation, income, and cities — the tool estimates what remains each month after core costs. All figures are estimates for orientation, not financial advice.
1 · Who are you?
2 · Your income
3 · Cities to compare
median gross€5,0941BR rent€1,200MietstufeVIIMountains nearby · Lakes · Green city
median gross€3,5501BR rent€580MietstufeIICycling-friendly · Green city · Nightlife scene
| Munich | Leipzig | |
|---|---|---|
| Net per month | €2,716 | €2,701 |
| Rent 1BR (cold) | −€1,200 | −€580 |
| Utilities (estimate) | −€165 | −€165 |
| Transport | −€63 | −€63 |
| Groceries (estimate) | −€320 | −€320 |
| Left per month | €968 | €1,573 |
| Per year | €11,610 | €18,877 |
| vs first city | — | +€606 |
| Share of income | 36% | 58% |
- Rent 1BR (cold)
- Utilities (estimate)
- Transport
- Groceries (estimate)
- Rent 1BR (cold)
- Utilities (estimate)
- Transport
- Groceries (estimate)
Bottom line: At your inputs, the difference between Leipzig and Munich is €7,267 per year in disposable income.
Life beyond the numbers
Munich
Mountains nearbyLakesGreen cityWorld-class cultureFood sceneInternational airportICE rail hubEnglish-friendlyEnglish-language careersInternational communityIndian communityStartup ecosystemSports cityHousing crisisGrey winters
Germany's most expensive city, but also its best-paying. Alpine access, world-class culture, strong tech and engineering job market. International but conservative by Berlin standards.
Augsburg — 35 min by train · Airport Munich (MUC) — 40 min
Leipzig
Cycling-friendlyGreen cityNightlife sceneStartup ecosystemRussian-speaking communityEasy housingUniversity-town vibeLimited EnglishGerman required for work
The affordable creative hub of East Germany. Growing international community, great cycling infrastructure, genuine nightlife scene. Salary lower than West, but rent-to-income ratio is favorable.
Dresden — 60 min by train · Chemnitz — 45 min by train · Airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) — 25 min
You're not just choosing a city — you're choosing a region.
Methodology & assumptions. Net pay uses a simplified 2026 model (§32a EStG tariff, social contributions, 2.9% average Zusatzbeitrag; in Saxony employees pay 0.5pp more for long-term-care insurance). Rents are median asking prices (cold rent; WG rooms warm). Groceries use one national baseline: the regional price spread excluding housing is only a few percent (BBSR). Utilities are estimated at €3/m². Net figures are accurate to roughly ±1–2%; real spending depends on lifestyle. Per-city data sources are listed in the data file and the pillar article. This is an educational tool, not a recommendation to move. Career, community, and personal circumstances can outweigh any rent difference.