Living and working in Idar-Oberstein
As a fully developed medium-sized center, the city of Idar-Oberstein is one of the 15 largest cities in Rhineland-Palatinate with a population of around 30,000 and is the economic center of the upper region thanks to its large number of authorities, educational institutions and local companies.
Life in Idar-Oberstein is attractive and very affordable for families. Relatively inexpensive building land and low rents make it possible to dream of owning your own home with a garden. The cost of living is low compared to the rest of Germany.
Location advantages:
- Family-friendly environment
- Very good medical care
- Excellent infrastructure
- Low trade tax rate, low property tax rate
- Very business-friendly policy and administration
- Proximity to universities and research institutions (such as Trier University of Applied Sciences, Neubrücke Environmental Campus, Idar-Oberstein site)
- Comprehensive range of childcare facilities and schools
- diverse cultural offerings
- Wide range of sports and leisure activities, lively club life
- Good shopping facilities
- green location
Infrastructure
Energy supply
Through a subsidiary of Westenergie AG, OIE AG (Oberstein-Idarer Elektrizitäts-AG) is an energy supply company based directly in Idar-Oberstein. OIE AG is the local basic supplier of electricity and natural gas in the Idar-Oberstein urban area and contributes its experience and expertise in the areas of generation, technology, sales and energy efficiency to the region: For the grids of the future, for renewable energies, smart grids for DSL, electromobility, LEDs in street lighting and increasing efficiency in energy use.
Water supply and wastewater disposal
The water supply and wastewater disposal in the city area is the responsibility of Stadtwerke Idar-Oberstein. Stadtwerke Idar-Oberstein is also responsible for the operation of the two municipal swimming pools, the Staden natural swimming pool and the municipal indoor swimming pool. The water requirements are covered by its own reservoir and by the cooperation with the Primstalsperre reservoir.
Waste disposal
Waste disposal is the responsibility of the Birkenfeld district waste management company. The district landfill site is 12 km away.
Broadband supply
The city of Idar-Oberstein has good to very good broadband coverage. Thanks to various expansion projects, some private households, companies and, above all, schools can now enjoy a future-proof high-speed fiber optic connection. The strategic goal is to expand further fiber optic connections.
Transport links
Road traffic
- Coming from Frankfurt/Mainz (A61): Bad Kreuznach junction via the well-developed B41 approx. 50 km.
- Coming from Karlsruhe/Mannheim (A6/A62): Birkenfeld or Freisen junctions via the B41 approx. 20 km.
- Coming from Saarbrücken/France (A1/A62): Birkenfeld or Freisen junctions via the B41 approx. 20 km.
- Coming from Trier/Koblenz/Luxembourg (A48/A1/A62): Birkenfeld junction via the B41 approx. 20 km.
- Coming from Cologne/Koblenz (A3/ A61): Rheinböllen junction via the B50 approx. 68km.
Rail transport
Idar-Oberstein has a train station centrally located in the city center.
Since December 2014, vlexx has been operating fast regional express trains from Frankfurt/Main and Mainz to Bad Kreuznach, Idar Oberstein and Saarbrücken and regional trains between Mainz, Idar Oberstein and on to Baumholder.
The two cities of Mainz and Saarbrücken can be reached every hour and offer connecting trains to the Deutsche Bahn ICE network.
Airports
Well-known international airports can be reached from Idar-Oberstein in a short time. These include Frankfurt/Main Airport (approx. 120 km), Saarbrücken Airport (approx. 90 km), Luxembourg Airport (approx. 120 km) and Hahn Airport (approx. 35 km).Local public transport (ÖPNV)
Local public transport is provided by Nahverkehrsbetriebe Birkenfeld GmbH and Scherer Verkehrs GmbH. Both transport companies are part of the Rhein-Nahe Naheverkehrsverbund and connect all 13 districts and the Birkenfeld National Park district. The Birkenfeld National Park district is responsible for local public transport.