How much does it cost to live in Stuttgart, Germany?

Thinking of moving to Stuttgart? See the latest rent, food, and lifestyle costs for students and professionals—plus tips to save while enjoying city life.

Bas

8 minute read

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Updated on 16 Sep 2026

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Living

The cost of living in Stuttgart is €1,015 per month excluding rent, which makes it one of the better-balanced cities in Germany once you weigh prices against local salaries. Moving to Stuttgart and curious about how much it would cost to live in the 6th largest city in Germany? Compared to the rest of Europe, the balance between prices in Stuttgart and the average salary is quite good.

Still deciding on a city? See how Stuttgart stacks up by comparing Stuttgart with other German cities before you commit.

Here's what you need to know before you budget for your move:

Key takeaways

• Students: budget around €1,545/month (excluding tuition) for a student room, discount groceries, and a student transport card.
• Young professionals: budget around €2,575/month for an apartment, groceries, leisure, and a full transport subscription.
• Housing: rent runs from €530 for a room to €860 for a studio and €1,560 for a 1-bedroom apartment, utilities included.
• Food: groceries average €303/month per person; eating out adds roughly €15 for lunch up to €72.50 for dinner for two.
• Transport: a single ticket costs €3.30 per zone; monthly passes start at €39.42, or €58 for students aged 27+.
• Comparison: Stuttgart's cost of living sits close to Berlin's and stays clearly below Munich's, against an average local salary of €3,860/month after tax.

After you have a sense of the numbers, remember: costs are one thing—what expat life in Stuttgart is like is another. Social life, settling in, and practical realities all matter too.

The cost of living in Stuttgart for a student is approximately €1,545 per month. This budget is for students who live in a student room, drink and eat out a few times, own a student public transport card, and do groceries from discount stores. It does not include tuition fee costs. If you're looking to reduce your overall student expenses, see scholarships for international students in Germany as a way to cut your student budget.

If you're a non-EU student, add tuition on top: public universities in Baden-Württemberg, including the University of Stuttgart, charge international students €1,500 per semester plus a semester contribution of around €184–€191.50.

The cost of living in Stuttgart for a working professional is approximately €2,575 per month. This includes living in an apartment, groceries, leisure costs, monthly public transport subscription, and dining out frequently.

To get a real feel for daily life in Stuttgart, read our blog What's expat life in Stuttgart like.

Use this table for a quick-glance monthly budget, then read on for the full breakdown by category:

The rent prices in Stuttgart are closer to prices in Berlin than to prices in Munich. Especially if you consider that the average salary in Stuttgart is €3,860 per month after tax.

Here're the average rental prices for furnished rooms, studios, and apartments in Stuttgart with utilities included.

If you're trying to land the best deal, check out the best neighbourhoods in Stuttgart for your budget before making a decision—neighbourhood choice can swing your monthly rent by hundreds of euros.

Like in many German cities, Stuttgart's rental market is seeing a surge in popularity among locals and expats. This is resulting in housing shortage issues, which is driving up rental prices across several neighborhoods in Stuttgart. Take time to read about the different neighborhoods and start your search early to find something within budget.

Rents in Stuttgart have risen by roughly 4% over the past year, in line with the national trend. Waiting for prices to drop isn't a realistic strategy, so start your search early instead.

Rooms in Stuttgart

The average price for a furnished room in Stuttgart is around €530 per month. Room costs in student dorms (WGs) might be even cheaper. But they tend to fill up quickly, making sharing a room in an apartment more popular.

If you're a student in Stuttgart, then a furnished room is an excellent option. While not self-sufficient, rooms are considerably more affordable than studios in Stuttgart.

Studios in Stuttgart

The average price for a furnished studio in Stuttgart is around €860 per month.

Independent housing is very popular in Stuttgart, so the increased privacy of a furnished studio comes at a steep price, especially if you're not working and earning in Stuttgart. Either way, looking for a studio well before your arrival will help you find a studio in a nicer spot in the city!

Apartments in Stuttgart

The average price for a furnished 1-bedroom apartment in Stuttgart is around €1,560 per month.

Apartments are where the housing market gets competitive in Stuttgart, and this is reflected in the pricing. But, if you've got the salary to match, scoring a decent apartment shouldn't be too much of an issue!

Food prices in Stuttgart can be divided into grocery costs and eating out costs.

Cost of groceries in Stuttgart

Supermarkets in Stuttgart tend to be cheaper than the average supermarkets in Germany. All in all, the monthly groceries for 1 person is €303. For more on what to expect and how to save, see how grocery shopping works in Germany.

If you want to lower your grocery costs, try shopping in discount stores like Lidl or Aldi. And if you plan to shop vegan, biological, or international products, prepare an additional monthly grocery budget of €50–€70 per person.

Going out to eat in Stuttgart

As long as you don't go out to eat more than a few times a week, you should be able to keep your food expenses under control while living in Stuttgart.

If you're hitting the town for some entertainment, you should be able to see the latest film in the cinema for around €11. This might be cheaper, depending on which day you're visiting and if you're a student. If you prefer a live performance, decent tickets at the StaatsTheater Stuttgart will set you back anywhere from €65. For concerts specifically, tickets tend to cost between €40-€80 for local and international artists.

One of the best ways to get to where you need to go in Stuttgart is the public transport system. For a single ticket, you'll pay around €3.30 per travel zone.

If you travel every day for work or studies, a seasonal ticket is more affordable. A personal monthly subscription starts at €39.42 and if you're working in Stuttgart, you can ask your company if they'll reimburse you. Students aged 27 and over pay €58 per month for a full access ticket.

For a detailed breakdown and tips on saving with transport, check the public transport costs in Stuttgart guide.

Money-saving tips for newcomers

Cut your monthly costs with a few simple habits:

• Shop at discount chains like Lidl, Aldi, Netto, or Penny instead of Rewe or Edeka; it can trim your grocery bill noticeably.
• Get a student ID or youth card for discounts on cinema, museum, and theatre tickets.
• If you travel beyond Stuttgart regularly, the Deutschlandticket (€63/month) covers unlimited regional and local transport nationwide, not just within the city.
• Cook at home on weekdays and save eating out for weekends; a home-cooked meal costs a fraction of a €15 restaurant lunch.
• Buy furniture and appliances second-hand through platforms like eBay Kleinanzeigen instead of buying new.
• Book a furnished room or studio so you skip furniture costs altogether.

Hidden and one-off costs to budget for

Beyond the monthly basics, plan for these one-off or easy-to-miss expenses:

• Security deposit: landlords can legally ask for up to 3 months' rent upfront when you sign a lease.
• Rundfunkbeitrag (TV/radio license fee): a mandatory €18.36 per month per household, regardless of whether you own a TV.
• Registration (Anmeldung): free, but you must register your address at the local Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in.
• Agency or broker fees: renting through a private agency can add 1-2 months' rent in commission. Booking through HousingAnywhere skips this, since tenants don't pay listing fees to use the platform.
• Internet setup: contracts typically run €30-40 per month, plus a one-time installation fee.

Stuttgart's cost of living sits closer to Berlin's than to Munich's, which tracks with the rent data across all three cities.

Source: HousingAnywhere average listing prices, see the full cost of living in Germany guide.

Yes. Stuttgart pairs a strong job market, home to Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Bosch headquarters, with a cost of living that stays manageable relative to local salaries.

For cheaper rent, look outside the city center in districts like Bad Cannstatt or Feuerbach. Both are well connected by public transport and popular with students and young professionals. Read the full Stuttgart neighbourhood guide before you commit to an area.

Now that you've got a clear picture of the monthly costs, the next step is figuring out where to live. Make sure to start your search for homes for rent in Stuttgart, it is best to start your search early!

Book your room, studio, or apartment before you arrive: HousingAnywhere lets you complete the entire process online, verify the landlord's ID upfront, and hold your first month's rent in escrow through Tenant Protection until 48 hours after move-in, so your booking stays secure even if something doesn't match the listing.

Before you go, don't miss the pros and cons of living in Stuttgart to help decide if this city is the right fit for you.

Is Stuttgart expensive to live in? Not compared to Munich. Stuttgart's costs sit close to Berlin's, and the city's high average salary of €3,860 per month after tax keeps the balance between prices and income favorable.

How much does it cost to live in Stuttgart as a student? Around €1,545 per month, covering a student room, discount groceries, a student transport card, and occasional meals out. This excludes tuition, which non-EU students in Baden-Württemberg pay separately at €1,500 per semester.

What is the average rent in Stuttgart? €530 for a furnished room, €860 for a studio, and €1,560 for a 1-bedroom apartment, all with utilities included.

Are there affordable neighborhoods in Stuttgart for students and young professionals? Yes. Districts like Bad Cannstatt and Feuerbach sit outside the city center, offer lower rent, and stay well connected by public transport.

What hidden costs should I expect when moving to Stuttgart? Budget for a security deposit of up to 3 months' rent, the €18.36 monthly Rundfunkbeitrag, and, if you use a private agency, 1-2 months' rent in broker fees. Registering your address at the Bürgeramt is mandatory but free.

Is Stuttgart a good city for international students and young professionals? Yes. It combines a strong job market with manageable living costs, making it a solid choice for both groups, especially compared to more expensive cities like Munich.