London vs Berlin: Cost of Living & Salary Comparison
How do London and Berlin stack up for professionals? We compare salaries, rent, taxes, and overall quality of life to help you make an informed decision.
London
Berlin
Detailed Cost Comparison
| Category | London | Berlin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 85 | 62 | +37% (lower is better) |
| Median Salary | $52,000 | $50,000 | |
| Rent (1BR) | $2,300 | $1,400 | (/month) |
| Rent (2BR) | $3,200 | $2,000 | (/month) |
| Groceries Index | 82 | 65 | +26% (NYC=100) |
| Transport Monthly | $180 | $100 | |
| Effective Tax Rate | 31% | 35% | (at median income) |
| Purchasing Power | 78 | 76 | +3% (higher is better) |
Salary Comparison by Role
| Role | London | Berlin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $72,000 | $70,000 | +3% |
| Product Manager | $72,000 | $68,000 | +6% |
| Data Scientist | $72,000 | $68,000 | +6% |
| DevOps Engineer | $75,000 | $72,000 | +4% |
| Frontend Developer | $62,000 | $60,000 | +3% |
| Engineering Manager | $102,000 | $95,000 | +7% |
London Offers Better Purchasing Power
While London may have higher costs, its purchasing power index of 78 vs 76 means your money generally goes further. Higher median salaries ($52,000 vs $50,000) help offset costs.
Common Questions
Based on cost of living indices, London (85) is more expensive compared to Berlin (62), where NYC = 100.
To maintain the same standard of living, you would need approximately $73,000 in Berlin to match $100,000 in London.
London has a tech hub score of 9/10 while Berlin scores 8/10. London generally offers more tech opportunities.
Based on purchasing power, London offers better value. This accounts for both salary levels and cost of living.
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Last updated: 2026-02-19 | Data sources: Numbeo, OECD, Glassdoor, and local government statistics.