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Düsseldorf vs Stuttgart

Germany flagDüsseldorfGermany flagStuttgart

Düsseldorf and Stuttgart are compared across affordability, safety, healthcare, career, culture and food, and public life. Düsseldorf has the broader all-round edge, while Stuttgart leads on safety. The better fit depends on which of those relocation priorities matters most.

How they compare

AffordabilitySafetyHealthcareCareerCulturePublic life
  • Düsseldorf
  • Stuttgart
Affordability
66
65
Safety
76
83
Healthcare
75
73
Career
68
68
Culture & food
68
64
Public life & spaces
78
70
Overall
69
67

Objective 0–100 scores from source-backed CrossBorders data. Green marks the category leader; gold is the overall leader.

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Category by category

Is Düsseldorf or Stuttgart cheaper to live in?

Düsseldorf 66Stuttgart 65

Düsseldorf has the lower open-market one-bedroom rent on a new lease, at about €866 per month, compared with €1,008 in Stuttgart. Against one typical employee's mean net pay, Düsseldorf is manageable solo at roughly 35%, while Stuttgart is tight alone at roughly 39%.

Is Düsseldorf or Stuttgart safer?

Düsseldorf 76Stuttgart 83

Stuttgart's clear edge. Both report very low violent crime, but Stuttgart's civic orderliness, typical of southern Germany, pushes its sense of everyday security a notch higher.

Does Düsseldorf or Stuttgart have better healthcare?

Düsseldorf 75Stuttgart 73

Essentially level between Düsseldorf and Stuttgart. Both deliver excellent, well-resourced care under Germany's insurance system, with doctor availability solid rather than abundant in either.

Is Düsseldorf or Stuttgart better for your career?

Düsseldorf 68Stuttgart 68

Dead even. Düsseldorf's advertising, fashion and telecoms strength matches Stuttgart's automotive and engineering base — both post very low unemployment, though English-language roles are scarce in both compared with Berlin.

Does Düsseldorf or Stuttgart have a better food and culture scene?

Düsseldorf 68Stuttgart 64

Düsseldorf ahead. Its cosmopolitan restaurant and art scene, with a genuine Japanese quarter, outpaces Stuttgart's more unflashy Swabian cooking and wine-country character, and nightlife stays tame in both.

Does Düsseldorf or Stuttgart have better public spaces and street life?

Düsseldorf 78Stuttgart 70

Düsseldorf's clear win. Its Rhine promenade and Altstadt squares invite lingering; Stuttgart's public space leans on a few good squares but stays car-centric and rarely feels made for wandering.

The verdict

Choose Düsseldorf for the broader all-round balance, especially if affordability matters most. Choose Stuttgart if safety matters more. Compare their rent burden and day-to-day strengths before deciding.

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Germany flagLiving in DüsseldorfGermany flagLiving in Stuttgart

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