Overview
- In the seven largest metros—Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Stuttgart—living costs in 2024 averaged about 11% above the national level.
- Housing drives the difference most strongly, with average rents in those metros nearly 50% higher than the federal benchmark.
- Many rural and eastern districts, including areas such as Vogtland and Görlitz, come in roughly 10% below the national average.
- The city–country gap has barely shifted through recent inflation, as price increases hit regions broadly in similar ways.
- The IW/BBSR index draws on publicly available online prices from retailers and comparison portals, including Rewe and Verivox.