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Amsterdam vs Berlin

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Berlin, DE, you'd need

$64,862 / year

Berlin, DE is 14% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Berlin, DE vs Amsterdam, NL)

  • Housing-26%
  • Food & groceries-4%
  • Transport-11%
  • Utilities+8%
  • Healthcare-5%
  • Goods & services-9%

Full comparison

Amsterdam, NLBerlin, DE
Cost of living
Overall cost index127110
Housing165122
Food112108
Transport9585
Utilities122132
Healthcare10095
Goods & services116106
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$2,100/mo$1,400/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,500/mo$1,000/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$4,000/mo$2,800/mo
Buy price / m² centre$9,000$8,500
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$787$910
Inexpensive meal$20$15
Monthly transit pass$100$55
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)49.5%45%
VAT / sales tax21%19%
Social security (employee)20%
Corporate tax25.8%30%
Capital gains26.4%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$3,100/mo$2,900/mo
Minimum wage$2,100/mo$2,200/mo
GDP per capita$61,000$52,000
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyHighHigh
Coworking spaces90120
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+1
Quality of life
Safety index6860
Healthcare index8078
Pollution index4055
Internet speed160 Mbps120 Mbps
Walkability9088
Public transport8890
Family-friendly7068
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Life expectancy82 yr81 yr
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Climate
January avg+4 °C+1 °C
July avg+18 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year6060
Rainfall / year840 mm570 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1.5 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Netherlands vs Germany. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

? Frequently asked questions

Is Amsterdam cheaper than Berlin?

Berlin is about 14% cheaper than Amsterdam overall — its cost-of-living index is 110 versus 127 for Amsterdam.

How much do you need to earn in Berlin to live like in Amsterdam?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Amsterdam is worth about $64,862 in Berlin. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Amsterdam or Berlin?

Germany has the lower top income-tax rate — 45% versus 49.5% in Netherlands.

More comparisons from Amsterdam

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.