Cost of Living in Dresden, Germany

Updated On May 10, 2022

How Much Does It Cost to Live In Dresden?

We are sure to say that Dresden is one of the most splendid cities in Europe.

This is not compared to New York or Beijing, but this city on Elbe has the same flow of tourists.

The oldest residents of this city claim that their motherland has always been so cozy and beautiful.

It is full of historical objects, as well as numerous activities for teenagers and kids.

You can skate, bike, run and walk, sail in a boat or watch an open-air concert in Dresden.

There are places for an active lifestyle and silent escape to the nature.

Cost of Living Index:
65.92
* Based on Research & User Data
Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

A big part of restaurants in Dresden feed visitors with the national dishes.

This is a special Saxon cuisine where the meals of beef, potato, and spices are dominant.

The candy men will love the local pastry, cakes, and cookies.

The prices are really attractive.

Markets

MARKETS

If you want to do shopping in Dresden, you can either go to the open-air markets or to the impressively big shopping malls in the city center.

Numerous shop assistants are given jobs in the covered markets to sell the freshest organic farmer products.

Among the most popular items are cheese, meat delicacies, and wine.

Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

The public transportation is very well developed in Dresden.

You will feel most comfortable on the tram, bus or the city train.

The tickets can be bought at lots of places from the ticket machines outside and inside the trains to the hotels and kiosks to the bus drivers.

Utilities

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

To connect to the world web in Dresden, you will have to pay $32.86 monthly.

This sum seems really small if you live in a shared apartment and split the bill for three or four.

Mobile providers charge $0.11 per minute.

The utilities are more expensive than in Bremen, Bonn or Cologne.

Sports and leisure

SPORTS & LEISURE

Outdoor and indoor activities in Dresden are mostly loved by teenagers and young people.

Although the German culture and way of life are to involve people of all the ages into sports and an active passing the time.

Biking, alpinism, athletics, fitness clubs and tennis are a few to be named.

Clothing and shoes

CLOTHING & SHOES

The best shopping places in Dresden can be found in all the districts of the cities, either you are in the New Town area or in the Old Town.

Apart from the weekly market places in the city, you can find clothes and shoes to meet your taste in the shopping malls, second-hand stalls, large stores, and boutiques.

Rent per month

RENT PER MONTH

As the largest city in Eastern Germany, Dresden has a lot of business areas and living premises to work or settle down in.

Still, most of the city is covered with parks and recreational zones.

At first, finding a decent place to live seems difficult but knowing where to search for makes life in Dresden a pleasant journey.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Dresden

*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.
Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant)$8.96
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter)$3.67
Water (0.33 Liter)$2.02
Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter)$0.79
Loaf Bread (500g)$1.46
Eggs (12)$1.72
Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket$2.58
Monthly Pass$67.49
Gasoline$1.55
Average Utilities Prices
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling)$260.02
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local$0.11
Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)$32.86
Average Leisure Prices
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult$32.98
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour)$19.04
Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release$10.08
Average Clothing Prices
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable)$87.75
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...)$44.81
1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range)$95.21
Average Rent Prices
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center$591.19
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center$466.11
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center$1400.19

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Dresden?

An average Dresden resident spends money on food.

Even though they eat low-cost meals and cook at home most of the time, they will not refuse to have a glass of good French wine in a restaurant, watch football at a glass of beer or a filling three-course meal for two.

In Dresden, you will pay more for the utilities that you would pay in Cologne or Bonn, but you can still afford to buy more clothes and shoes.

Sports and leisure are paid 5.6% money monthly.

Transportation takes 13.6% of the income.

The reasons why people can not save money on some positions are an impossibility to haggle.

Shops, restaurants, fitness clubs, and restaurants have fixed prices and you cannot bargain there.

Some special discounts and sales save the day.

Average Costs Breakdown

13.4%
30.1%
13.6%
9.6%
5.6%
3.4%
24.3%

Dresden: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

Those average citizens of Dresden who are the Germans or got the work permit in Germany, are really lucky guys who earn well to enjoy work and leisure.

The best-paid jobs in Dresden are for software developers and engineers, researches and technicians.

The average monthly salary after tax makes $2349.57 for a qualified employee while the young workers receive only $1782.8 of the minimum wage which is fixed for the entire country.

Dresden’s local economy is one of the best developed in Germany.

The more you earn the more of the tax you pay.

This is similar to most of the EU countries but this doesn’t make the life of the Dresdeners any tougher.

Average Salary$2349.57
Minimum Wage$1782.8
Mortgage Interest Rate1.91%

Dresden Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Dresden Safety Review

Safety Index:
75
  • OVERALL RISK: LOW
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
  • MUGGING RISK: LOW
  • TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
  • SCAMS RISK: LOW
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Cost of Living by City in Dresden

CityCost of Living Index
Aachen67.33
Berlin67.75
Bonn69.14
Bremen68.93
Cologne67.36
Dusseldorf73
Frankfurt71.64
Hamburg72.15
Hanover64.57
Heidelberg70.82
Karlsruhe69.26
Leipzig66.04
Mannheim68.35
Munich73.79
Nuremberg66.44
Stuttgart67.46

Where to Next?

See these related locations:

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

Cost of Living - Country Index Cost of Living - City Index

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