Move to Berlin
Germany · Expat Guide for Tech Workers
Rent (1BR)
$1,200
Rent (2BR)
$1,700
Transport
$49/mo
Expat Community
5/5
🌟 Why Berlin?
- ✓ Europe's startup capital with affordable cost of living for a major city
- ✓ Incredibly diverse and international - English widely spoken in tech
- ✓ Famous nightlife and cultural scene with clubs, galleries, and events
- ✓ Affordable compared to London, Paris, or Amsterdam
🏠 Best Neighborhoods
Kreuzberg
Alternative, multicultural, nightlife, street food
$1,400/mo
Mitte
Central, museums, galleries, tourist area
$1,600/mo
Prenzlauer Berg
Family-friendly, beautiful buildings, brunch culture
$1,500/mo
Neukolln
Diverse, up-and-coming, affordable, vibrant bar scene
$1,100/mo
✈ Airport
BER (Berlin Brandenburg)
☔ Weather
Continental: warm summers (24C), cold winters (-2C). Grey in winter. Long summer days.
🎓 Schools
Many options (Berlin International School, Berlin Cosmopolitan)
💻 Coworking
Abundant (Factory, Betahaus, WeWork, rent24)
✅ First Week Checklist
- Do Anmeldung (address registration) at Burgeramt within 14 days
- Get a BVG monthly pass (49 EUR Deutschlandticket for all public transit)
- Open an N26 or Vivid bank account (or traditional bank after Anmeldung)
- Register for health insurance (TK, AOK, or Barmer)
- Join Berlin tech Slack channels and attend meetups
🏗 Top Industries
Tech/Startups
Creative Industries
Science
Tourism
💰 Berlin Salary Insights
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Top tech salaries in Berlin