In many nail and cosmetic studios in this country, in addition to the well-known manicures, pedicures are offered. However, the price can vary greatly. STYLEBOOK therefore examined the prices for a cosmetic pedicure throughout Germany and calculated them for 29 cities. The result is the “Pedicure Index 2023”.
Pedicure is considered very important for many. Because well-groomed feet not only look good on the outside, but also hygienic. Furthermore, the pedicure is a versatile and beneficial treatment dedicated to the care and beautification of the feet. It is one of the most important routines and contributes significantly to overall well-being. Numerous studios offer this service. But prices in Germany can vary greatly.
For this reason, STYLEBOOK looked at 29 German cities and compared the prices of pedicures in each of them. It is important to remember that the price is cosmetic and not medical pedicure.
Information on the methodology of the “Pedicure Index”
STYLEBOOK has chosen the two largest cities per federal state, including the three city states, for the analysis of the “Pedicure Index” in order to be able to draw a Germany-wide ranking. As a basis, the numbers of Federal Statistical Office taken. With 13 federal states, each with two cities and three city-states, the result is a total of 29 cities.
We also looked at more than 200 online price lists of medium-sized nail and beauty studios to calculate average pedicure prices. The average price was then determined from at least six online price catalogs. Location was also a criterion: all prices come from shops located in the center of a city or in lively and popular areas. The selection was subjective, therefore the “Pedicure Index” should in no way be considered representative or official. Podiatry centers or practices were not included because the focus was on cosmetic rather than medical pedicures.
Important: The city-state of Bremen is a special case. City-states, as the name suggests, usually consist of only one city. However, the Bremerhaven exclave is part of Bremen. This is a two city state. To show this as a whole, STYLEBOOK has decided to evaluate and summarize the pedicure prices of both Bremen and Bremerhaven. The average price shown here therefore comes from both cities, but is only shown here under the designation “Bremen” because it is a city-state.
These are the 10 cities with the highest pedicure prices
A pedicure is not just about trimming and beautifying your toenails. This service also includes a foot bath, toenail filing, callus removal, membrane push back on the nail, and also lotion application and foot massage. One thing is clear: a pedicure can take a long time. Depending on the city, the price can also vary greatly. The service in these ten cities costs between 40 and 35 euros.
| Place from 1 to 10 | |
|---|---|
| 1. Munich | €40.17 |
| 2. Stuttgart | €38.75 |
| 3. Mannheim | €37.33 |
| 4. Bremen | €36.83 |
| 5. Hanover | €35.63 |
| 6. Brunswick | €35.25 |
| 7. Cologne | €34.88 |
| 8. Dusseldorf | €34.75 |
| 9. Hamburg | €34.50 |
| 10.Berlin | €34.38 |
Southern German cities occupy the top three places in the “Pedicure Index”. On average, you have to pay 40.17 euros for a cosmetic pedicure in Munich. It’s not surprising, because according to Monaco Market Research Institute GfK (Growth for Knowledge) as one of the highest income urban and rural districts in Germany. Stuttgart is also considered quite “rich”. So it’s also not surprising that the Swabian metropolis is among the best.
From the south it rises rapidly to the north of the republic. With Bremen, Hamburg, Braunschweig and Hanover, four northern German cities are in the top 10. There you have to spend more than 35 euros for a pedicure. Furthermore, both the North Rhine-Westphalian cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf are in the top third.
Eight out of ten cities in the pedicure rankings are, according to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) also in the top 10 in Germany – the most recent data is from 2020. Only Braunschweig and Mannheim are slightly lower. This leads to the conclusion: the higher the GDP of a city, the higher the price of a pedicure.
GDP simply explained
Gross Domestic Product, or GDP for short, is a measure of the economic performance of a region (or country) over a specific period of time. Basically, it measures the production of goods and services after deducting all intermediate consumption. The increase in GDP can also be seen as economic growth. As a result, you have more disposable income and can therefore spend more.
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Color mix in the center of the “Pedicure Index”
The midfield of the pedicure ranking is not particularly significant. This means that cities from all regions of the country are represented in this third. In places 11 to 20, the prices for a pedicure are between 33.75 euros and 30.83 euros.
| From 11th to 20th place | |
|---|---|
| 11.Dresden | €33.75 |
| 12. Nuremberg | €33.50 |
| 13. Lubeck | €33.00 |
| 14. Jenna | €32.58 |
| 15. Mainz | €32.50 |
| 16. Potsdam | €32.33 |
| 17. Leipzig | €32.13 |
| 18. Keel | €32.00 |
| 19.Wiesbaden | €30.92 |
| 20. Saarbrücken | €30.83 |
Moreover, something in between: manicure and cosmetic studios offer not only pedicures, but also other services. THE VCP Cosmetic Association (Cosmetic Professional Association) conducted a survey in 2022 and asked women and young people which treatment options they use the most. The most common reason for a visit was a facial, followed closely by manicures and pedicures, and in third place were medical pedicures.
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Sharpest image in the lower third
It becomes much clearer in the lower third of the “Pedicure Index”. Only cities in southwestern or (north)eastern Germany are represented here. Cities in eastern and northern Germany are Rostock, Schwerin, Erfurt, Cottbus, Erfurt, Halle/Saale and Magdeburg below. In the southwestern cities, however, around Neunkirchen an der Saar, Frankfurt am Main and Ludwigshafen/Rhein.
| From 21st to 29th place | |
|---|---|
| 21. Neunkirchen an der Saar | €30.50 |
| 22. Cottobus | €30.25 |
| 23. Frankfurt am Main | €30.17 |
| 24.Rostock | €29.83 |
| 25. Ludwigshafen/Rhine | €29.25 |
| 26.Erfurt | €28.75 |
| 27. Halle/Saale | €28.00 |
| 28. Schwerin | €27.50 |
| 29. Magdeburg | €25.83 |
Among other things, the placement of Frankfurt is surprising. The main metropolis is considered to be a city with a high GDP. It is all the more surprising that the average price for a pedicure is around 30 euros. Ludwigshafen is also somewhat surprising. While the sister city Mannheim on the other side of the Rhine is in third place in the ranking of pedicures, Ludwigshafen is far below. That’s why it’s also surprising, because both cities actually form a contiguous urban area. So if you want a cheaper pedicure, you should quickly cross the Rhine to Ludwigshafen.
It is also interesting that the bottom third (usually two) includes cities from boroughs that are far below in terms of GDP. The pedicure ranking includes Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saarland, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg, which according to the “Federal and state statistical offices“ they have a very low GDP and are among the worst.
Differences between a cosmetic and a medical pedicure
In summary, the cosmetic pedicure is aimed at beauty and relaxation, while the medical pedicure is focused on the care and health of the feet. Both pedicures are foot care treatments, however there are some important differences between the two:
- Lens and focus:
- Cosmetic pedicure: This type of pedicure mainly focuses on the aesthetic improvement of the feet and nails. The main goal is to make the feet look beautiful and well-groomed. Nail polish, nail designs and similar cosmetic products are used to beautify the nails.
- Medical pedicure: This type of pedicure is more health oriented. The focus here is on foot care and health. Medical pedicures are often performed by professionals such as podiatrists or medical podiatrists. They can treat problems like ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, fungal infections, severe calluses, and other foot conditions.
- Education and Expertise:
- Cosmetic pedicure: Individuals who perform cosmetic pedicures typically require an education in cosmetology or similar training. The focus is on aesthetic techniques, nail art and relaxation techniques.
- Medical pedicure: Medical podiatrists or chiropodists have specialized medical training. They understand the anatomy of the feet, know various foot problems and are able to treat them professionally.
