Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-08
Cost of living i'm Germany.


A correspondent of the Chicago Tribune
writes to that paper from Munich:
81 have been living here since the latter
part of October, in company with my wife
and brother-in-law., We are stopping at
tirst-class hotel, and occupy four large
front rooms, consisting of two parlors and
two bed-chambers. They are on the second
floor, fronting on fine street, and very
well furnished. The parlors are even car
peted-an unusual thing in Germany. For
the four rooms we pay just one dollar and
forty cents day. The same accommoda-
tions at leading American hotel would
cost at least fifteen dollars a day. For
fires we are charged no more than two
dollars, and for lights ninety cents per
week. For breakfast (tea, coffee, or cho-
colate, with beefsteak or fried fish, or any,
thing we may Order), we average twenty
five cents each; for dinner, OF six courses,
forty cents; and fer tea, twenty cents each.
Washing is charged at the rate of about
thirty cents a dozen. The total expenses
for all three do not average m IRE than ten
florins, or four dollars day, or one hun
dred and twenty dollars month. l am
convinced that the same entertainment
would not have been furnished by first
class American hotels for less than six hun
dred dollars a month"
In the summer months the rates are
somewhat higher, but still much less than
in this country. The writer adds:
The cost of housekeeping at Munich
appears almost incredibly low to one ac-
customed to American prices. Nineteen
twentieths of the population live in hired
apartments, according to the universal Eu-
rOpean custom. Whole floors, containing
the very finest suites of rooms (ten to
twelve). can be rented, unfurnished, for
from $400 to $3.50 year; but $3.50 year
is already high price, more than which
fpy fo M
good sized families. meet all their current
household expenses with one hundred and
twenty-five flOrins, or 500 month, enjoy
ing for this small sum all the 'delicacies of
the season. the year round. A household
that costs $1,000 a year is already con-
sidered an expensive one. Good cooks md
chambermaids can be had for 500 to $50
year.
For calf-skin eastern made dress boots,
[ have paid So. and for pair OF patent
feathers So so. The best merchant tailor in
the city will make the finest beaver over
coat for $19, and the finest broadcloth suit
for $24. NV wife was asked but 50 for the
best custom-made CATERS. The other day
she paid the bill of fashionable dress
maker for making four dresses and mend
ing and altering several others. The charge
for everything was about thirty tiorins, or
$12. She wears a winter cloak costing SO,
which could not have been bought for $35
in the United States. Very good kid gloves
manufactured here, can be had for 45 cents
apair."
Amusements of every description can be
enjoyed at equally moderate rates. At the
ROYAL Opera House and Theater, the Or
chestra and stock singers and actors of
which are not inferior to those of any other
institutions of the kind in Germany, the
average admission for first class perform
ances Of operas and dramas is seventy cents
for the former and fifty cents tor the latter.
Stuttgart prices are even lower than
those Of Munich. At Frankfort-on-the-
Main and some watering places in the
neighborhood OF that city, they are higher.
Amusements are dearer at Dresden. Prices
in the north German cities range from ten
to twenty-five per cent. higher. The max
imum of expense is to be found at the sea-
ports, Hamburg, Lubee and Bremen.