Living in Berlin
Germany's capital: international, English-friendly and creative, with a fast-moving rental market and a huge startup and culture scene.
€1,150
Rent (1-bed)
€880
Other costs
€2,030
Total / mo
Berlin is the most international city in Germany — you can get by in English in many jobs and daily situations, and the startup, tech and creative scenes are huge. The trade-off is a competitive, fast-moving rental market.
Neighbourhoods internationals like
- Prenzlauer Berg — leafy, family-friendly, cafés
- Neukölln & Kreuzberg — young, multicultural, nightlife
- Friedrichshain — students, startups, riverside
- Charlottenburg — quieter, classic west Berlin
Getting started
- 1Secure (even temporary) housing — Berlin Anmeldung slots are notoriously scarce, so book early.
- 2Do your Anmeldung, then tax ID, bank account and health insurance.
- 3Get a BVG / Deutschland-Ticket for U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram and bus.
Watch out: Anmeldung appointments in Berlin fill up fast. Check the booking portal early in the morning and consider any district's Bürgeramt.
Tip: Rents have risen sharply. Beware listings that ask for money before a viewing — that's a classic scam.