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Paris 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

$67,864 / year

Berlin, DE is 10% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Berlin, DE vs Paris, FR)

  • Housing-19%
  • Food & groceries-6%
  • Transport-11%
  • Utilities+10%
  • Healthcare+12%
  • Goods & services-8%

Full comparison

Paris, FRBerlin, DE
Cost of living
Overall cost index121110
Housing150122
Food115108
Transport9585
Utilities120132
Healthcare8595
Goods & services115106
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,600/mo$1,400/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,150/mo$1,000/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$3,200/mo$2,800/mo
Buy price / m² centre$14,000$8,500
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$824$910
Inexpensive meal$18$15
Monthly transit pass$90$55
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)45%45%
VAT / sales tax20%19%
Social security (employee)22%20%
Corporate tax25%30%
Capital gains30%26.4%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$2,600/mo$2,900/mo
Minimum wage$1,600/mo$2,200/mo
GDP per capita$46,000$52,000
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyModerateHigh
Coworking spaces150120
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+1
Quality of life
Safety index5860
Healthcare index8078
Pollution index6555
Internet speed150 Mbps120 Mbps
Walkability9088
Public transport8890
Family-friendly6068
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Life expectancy82 yr81 yr
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Climate
January avg+5 °C+1 °C
July avg+20 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year6260
Rainfall / year640 mm570 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1.5 h

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

? Frequently asked questions

Is Paris cheaper than Berlin?

Berlin is about 10% cheaper than Paris overall — its cost-of-living index is 110 versus 121 for Paris.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Paris is worth about $67,864 in Berlin. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Paris or Berlin?

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

More comparisons from Paris

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