Cost of Living in Berlin: A Complete 2021 Guide for Expats

Are you considering moving to Berlin but want to know more about the cost of living? Let us help you calculate how much you need to pay each month to survive in Berlin.

To reflect the majority of the population, we compare prices for a student, an employee earning around €3,000 per month, and an employee earning €8,000+ per month.

2021 Cost of Living in Berlin Overview

Monthly Rent for an Apartment

How much you pay depends largely on the size and location of the apartment. The cheapest option is to rent a room in a shared apartment, known as a WG or Wohngemeinschaft. This is also a great way to meet new people and start a social life in Berlin from day one. A single room in a shared apartment starts at around €400 per month and can go up to €800. For a 50m² two-room apartment in a decent neighborhood and good location, you need to pay at least €800, including additional costs for water and heating. However, you should also budget an extra €50 for internet and TV plus €60 for electricity. For a 3-4 bedroom apartment or small house on the outskirts of Berlin, you should expect to pay €1,500 or more. Continue reading here on how to find a place to live in Berlin.

Monthly Cost for Internet Provider

In addition to monthly rent, you need to sign up with an internet provider in Berlin. If you mainly use the internet at home to browse some favorite websites and write emails, we strongly recommend a contract with 10-16MBits. 1&1 Internet currently offers some very cheap options, around €10/month for 16MBits in the first year. If you work in the tech industry or work from home occasionally, we strongly recommend a contract with around 50MB. Looking at the full 24-month contract, 1&1 Internet offers the best value for 50MBits at around €23 per month. Note that internet prices usually increase after the first 12 months. Continue reading here about the best internet providers in Berlin.

Monthly Cost for Mobile Phone Provider

Similar to internet providers, which mobile provider we recommend depends largely on how much you use your phone and mobile data. If monthly cost is the most important factor for you, we strongly recommend o2 as a mobile phone provider. Mobile contracts start at around €18/month. Do you use your phone frequently and even stream videos on the go? If so, we strongly recommend a contract with at least 4GB of mobile data. The best option right now is 1&1 Internet with their 5GB contract at around €20 per month. Continue reading about the best phone providers in Berlin.

Monthly Cost for Electricity Provider

Your monthly electricity cost depends largely on how much power your devices, lights, etc. consume. Obviously, if you only use LED lights and an energy-efficient laptop, you will consume less energy. But generally, you can calculate around 3,500kWh for a 3-person household. That means you need to budget about €80 per month for electricity. A single-person household should be around 1,000kWh and €30 per month. Continue reading here about the best electricity providers in Berlin.

Monthly Cost for Health Insurance

Your health insurance cost depends mainly on two factors. Factor one is whether you have private insurance, which is not possible for most employees. Factor two is how high your monthly income is. If you are self-employed, work for the government, or earn more than €59,400 per year as an employee, you can choose private health insurance. The monthly cost of private health insurance depends on many factors, but expect around €400 for good coverage. For employees with a salary below that threshold, you are required to have public health insurance. The contribution is 14.6% of your gross salary, split equally between you and your employer. For a gross salary of €3,000, your share is around €261 per month. Students can get a special rate of around €90 per month. Continue reading about health insurance in Berlin.