Living in Frankfurt
Germany's only real skyline — and its most international square mile.
City at a glance
| Population | 756,000 |
| First mentioned | 794 |
| River | Main |
| Airport | FRA (largest in DE) |
| Local drink | Ebbelwoi |
Source: Destatis Gemeindeverzeichnis — Bevölkerung am 31.12.2024 (Zensus-2022-Basis) · 21 July 2026
Cost of living
| 1-bed, city centre | €1,300/month verify
(Source: Editorial estimate,
Last verified 21 July 2026)
|
| 1-bed, outside centre | €950/month verify
(Source: Editorial estimate,
Last verified 21 July 2026)
|
| Monthly transport (Deutschlandticket) | €63/month
(Source: Bundesregierung — Deutschlandticket kostet seit Januar 2026 63 €/Monat,
Last verified 21 July 2026)
|
What it’s known for
Banking and the European Central Bank, the skyscraper skyline, the world's biggest book fair, Frankfurt Airport (Europe's key hub), and a surprisingly good apple-wine and museum culture.
Neighbourhoods to know
Nordend & Bornheim (leafy, popular with young professionals), Sachsenhausen (apple-wine taverns, Museum Embankment), Westend (elegant, near the centre), Bockenheim (student, lively). Offenbach next door is cheaper.
Getting around
Compact and superbly connected: U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and FRA airport ~15 min by train. The ICE high-speed rail puts Cologne, Stuttgart and beyond within a couple of hours.
Food, drink & culture
Apple wine (Ebbelwoi) served in ribbed glasses, Grüne Soße (green herb sauce) and Frankfurter sausages. The Museumsufer lines the river with world-class museums; the Christmas market is one of Germany's oldest.
How far English gets you
Probably the most English-functional workplace city after Berlin — finance runs in English, and a quarter of residents are non-German nationals.
The expat scene
Very international and finance-heavy, with strong consulting, IT and logistics communities. Transient but easy to plug into.
Job market
Banking, finance, consulting, IT and the ECB. Strong demand for finance and tech professionals; many English-speaking roles.
Honest watch-outs
It can feel corporate and quiet at weekends when bankers leave. The area around the main station (Bahnhofsviertel) is edgy. Rents are high for the city's size.
Did you know?
- Goethe was born here — his house is a museum.
- Roughly one in four residents holds a foreign passport, among the highest shares in Germany.
Newcomer note
A very international city — English-speaking services are widely available.
Last verified: 21 July 2026