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Cost of living: It's a bargain in Lower Saxony!
Find out why Hameln-Pyrmont and neighboring districts offer a cheaper cost of living compared to large cities.
Cost of living: It's a bargain in Lower Saxony!
With the rising cost of living in our fast-moving world, it is becoming increasingly important for many consumers to keep an eye on prices. As the District newspaper reported that the cost of living in large cities in Germany is significantly higher than the national average. In the seven largest cities, including Cologne, these were around 11% above the national average in 2024.
Research carried out by the German Economic Institute (IW) and the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR) shows that housing costs in particular are largely responsible for the differences. In economically strong regions, high incomes and high demand drive up prices, while rural areas are often cheaper to manage.
Cost pressure in big cities
In the urban centers, which include Cologne, rents are on average almost 50% higher than the national level, while additional costs are 22% higher. These price increases make it difficult for many residents to maintain their standard of living. Life in the countryside, however, remains more attractive as rents and additional costs there are often up to a third below average.
Particularly good news comes from Lower Saxony: The Holzminden district, in 7th place out of 400 districts, has a particularly low cost of living at -9.6% below the national average. The neighboring districts such as Northeim and Goslar also do very well in a nationwide comparison, while other districts such as Diepholz or Verden miss the top 100.
Regional price differences and housing strategies
IW expert Ralph Henger emphasizes that the price increases have a nationwide effect and that the affordability of a city depends largely on housing costs. In order to make life in big cities more affordable, municipalities have the opportunity to reduce the pressure on rental prices through accelerated housing construction projects.
A look at the living conditions and housing conditions in Germany shows that the demand for consumer goods is crucial for economic well-being. Like the data of the Destatis To illustrate, surveys on consumer spending and cost of living are essential to obtain a clear picture of the income and expenditure of private households and to assess the quality of life.