Berlin … is worth it!
Berlin is the biggest city in Germany. It's also one of the most visited by tourists, who come from all over to experience Berlin's history and culture. For budget-conscious travelers and expats seeking a long-term place to live, renting an apartment in Berlin can be affordable if you know where to look for good deals. Brandenburg gate, pretzels, Rammstein ... Yep, this is one happening city. They say Paris is always Paris, but Berlin is never Berlin. What does that mean? That Berlin reinvents herself daily. You can be sure of never a dull moment.
Onwards…
Berlin is a super-mega-cool-über-ultra-urban-hip hub.
Thanks to the killer public transport, cool areas like Lichtenberg that seem remote are accessible. Awesome news if you’re on a budget. Find your place here. You won't want to leave. Where else in the world can you take a tour of the Reichstag, climb to the top of the Fernsehturm tower then enjoy lunch at one of more than 1,000 restaurants all for less than you would spend on a Big Mac meal back home? Berlin is an amazing place to visit and an even better place to call home. If you have been thinking about moving here then why not start searching today with our apartment listing? We also have many cheap furnished apartments for rent in Berlin, be sure to check these out.
Cost of living in Berlin is comparatively cheap. Like, Living in the Capital Berlin is around 15% cheaper than Munich and around 35% cheaper than in London. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Berlin is within the range of €800-€1200 depending on the neighbourhood, which is pretty affordable by European standards.
The city also offers plenty of delicious options when it comes to food: a combo meal at McDonald’s costs €8.50; restaurants offer cheaper lunch menus (which can range between €8-€12); and street food ranges from €3 to €7 per meal. You will get 1L of milk at €0.98, 1Kg apple at €2.47 and bread from your local bakery at €1.27.
Plus, public transportation is very accessible throughout the city—one-day pass costs €3 for a one-way ticket, and a monthly pass at €86.
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Berlin ranges from €800 to €1200. A one-bedroom apartment is €1,150 per 72 square meter in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin. The average rent for a 59 sq m apartment in Mitte and Wilmersdorf is more than €1,200 per month. More affordable areas like Steglitz and Rosenthal have average prices that are below €900 per month. According to data from property portals, rents have increased in Berlin by 36% over the past five years.
There are plenty of areas in Berlin that are safe and cheap to rent, but it depends on what you want out of your apartment. Historically, renting in Berlin has always had lower house prices than other major European capital cities, although this depends on which Berlin neighborhoods you choose.
Neukölln
Neukölln is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Berlin. It has a large Turkish population and is one of the most affordable areas in the city. The area is safe, with some very good public transport links to other parts of the city. If you are looking for an affordable place to rent in Berlin, this could be a great option for you.
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
This area has become increasingly popular over the past few years and there are now plenty of apartments available for rent here. It is a safe area with lots of bars, cafes and restaurants as well as shops, supermarkets and other amenities. You’ll also find some excellent parks in this area which makes it perfect for families with children or those who want to live near nature. Kreuzberg has always been one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Berlin, but especially so now that rents have been skyrocketing in other parts of the city.
It is cheaper to rent a furnished apartment in Berlin than in other European cities. One of such reasons why it is so is because it is quicker to find a furnished apartment than an unfurnished one due to its high demand. In addition, if you plan to stay for less than a year, it is not worth investing in furniture since you are not going to amortize it.
The best way to find an apartment or any type of accommodation in Berlin is to use an online rental platform like Spotahome. Spotahome will help to find your apartment 100% online and take care of everything from the paperwork to helping you translate your housing contract into English if you're not fluent in German.
There are other ways like Facebook groups, online listing agents etc. But the downside to this is locating their offices or having to go all the way to their office to see them, plus you should watch out for scams!
The best time to start looking for an apartment is at least three months before you arrive in Berlin. This gives you plenty of time to write down what kind of place and price range you're looking for so that when the right one comes along, it's pretty much guaranteed that there won't be another waiting for you later on down the road.
The city of Berlin offers so much comfort, and of course, you can live in Berlin for cheap. First of all, get a cheap apartment in a remote district close to the center of Berlin or one on the outskirt. With Spotahome, you can find your new home easily and 100% online. Check out our local listing of cheap apartments for rent in Berlin.
Pay yearly insurance, not monthly. Most membership insurance is cheaper if you pay one year in advance. You get the same service, but pay cheaper.
Lastly, pay less for health insurance. Health insurance is usually the second biggest expense after rent in Berlin, and as such, finding ways to pay less will help you live on a budget whilst enjoying the scenery of Berlin. If you come from another EU country, try using your European Health Insurance Card in Germany, which means that if you’re getting healthcare in Germany, your home country pays for it. You can also join the Kunstlersozialkasse if you are a freelance artist or publicist. They’ll pay half of your health insurance contributions and half of your public pension contributions. You keep the same health insurance and same coverage, but you pay half the price. However, it is not an easy feat to get accepted because it takes a lot of time and paperwork, but if you get accepted, you will save hundreds of euros monthly.
