Living in Stuttgart
Engineering money in a valley of vineyards.
City at a glance
| Population | 613,000 |
| Founded | ~950 |
| River | Neckar |
| Airport | STR |
| Local dish | Maultaschen |
Source: Destatis Gemeindeverzeichnis — Bevölkerung am 31.12.2024 (Zensus-2022-Basis) · 21 July 2026
Cost of living
| 1-bed, city centre | €1,200/month verify
(Source: Editorial estimate,
Last verified 21 July 2026)
|
| 1-bed, outside centre | €900/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
Mercedes-Benz and Porsche (both have superb museums here), precision engineering, mineral springs, and steep vineyard hills right inside the city.
Neighbourhoods to know
West (Stuttgart-West: dense, popular, café-lined), Süd (young, lively), Bad Cannstatt (spa springs, the beer festival), Degerloch (up the hill, quieter), Vaihingen (near the university and IBM/Allianz campuses).
Getting around
S-Bahn and a Stadtbahn (light rail) that climbs the hills, plus the historic rack railway 'Zacke' and funiculars. STR airport is ~30 min. The terrain is hilly — a car or e-bike helps in the outer districts.
Food, drink & culture
Swabian soul food: Maultaschen (giant ravioli), Spätzle with lentils, and local Trollinger wine. Classical music, ballet and a strong maker/engineering culture; wine festivals fill the squares each autumn.
How far English gets you
Large multinationals use English, but Stuttgart is more German-speaking day-to-day than the big metros; the local Swabian dialect surprises even Germans.
The expat scene
Engineering- and finance-driven, comfortable and family-oriented. Quieter nightlife than Berlin or Cologne, but a very high standard of living.
Job market
Automotive and mechanical engineering (Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Bosch), plus a solid IT scene.
Honest watch-outs
The valley traps air, and traffic/air-quality debates are a local topic. Rents are high and housing tight. Swabians value thrift, order and Kehrwoche (the shared cleaning rota) — take it seriously.
Did you know?
- There are around 500 public staircases (Stäffele) linking the hillside streets.
- The city grew from a stud farm — the name means 'stud garden'.
Newcomer note
German is more essential here than in Berlin; engineering roles are plentiful.
Last verified: 21 July 2026