Berlin
Berlin, Germany
The capital and the centre of the country’s startup and creative economy, with more English-language workplaces than anywhere else in Germany. Salaries are lower than in the southern cities and the rental market is severely constrained.
- Population
- 3,880,000
- Climate
- continental
- Typical download speed
- 140 Mbit/s
- One-bed, city centre
- €1,100 – €1,700
- One-bed, outside centre
- €800 – €1,200
- Monthly budget, one adult
- €1,900 – €2,900
Indicative
Getting around
U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram and bus under one fare system, with the nationwide Deutschlandticket valid throughout.
What people work in here
- Technology
- Creative industries
- Public sector
Cost of living
We do not hold a Berlin cost series, so this is the Germany country-wide estimate. Use the rent figures above for the local picture.
| Category | Monthly range |
|---|---|
| Housing | €800 – €1,500 |
| Food | €280 – €450 |
| Utilities | €150 – €280 |
| Internet | €30 – €55 |
| Transport | €58 – €120 |
| Healthcare | €200 – €450 |
| Everything else | €200 – €450 |
| Total | €1,718 – €3,305 |
| Suggested monthly buffer | €3,966 |
Modelled from a baseline for one adult and scaled, not sampled from households. Figures are shown as ranges because that is the honest shape of the data.
Worth knowing. Modelled estimate. The healthcare line is unusually high because German health insurance is a mandatory income-linked contribution rather than an optional premium. Childcare is heavily subsidised and free in some states.
Immigration
Immigration is decided nationally, not by city. Which routes are open to you, what they require and how long they take are all on the Germany guide.
Worth knowing. Modelled estimates, not survey data.