Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Aurora, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Aurora, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,434 per month in Berlin vs $2,094 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,675 per month in Berlin vs $3,430 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,916 per month in Berlin vs $4,767 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

Berlin costs about 16% more than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Berlin and Aurora, IL sit above the global median – Berlin by 82%, Aurora, IL by 57%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.42 €15.24

$14.95 $14.95

16.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 €70.2

$63.0 $63.0

27.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.96 €11.34

$10.95 $10.95

18.36%

Cappuccino

$4.38 €3.84

$5.18 $5.18

-15.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 €2.88

$2.76 $2.76

19.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 €2.53

$2.25 $2.25

28.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.34 €4.68

$5.05 $5.05

5.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 €3.98

$7.14 $7.14

-36.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 €1.17

$0.84 $0.84

59.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 €1.74

$3.57 $3.57

-44.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.82 €3.34

$4.85 $4.85

-21.24%

Eggs

$3.92 €3.43

$3.97 $3.97

-1.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 €12.70

$7.31 $7.31

98.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 €9.46

$12.85 $12.85

-15.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.88 €16.52

$13.97 $13.97

35.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 €2.79

$4.49 $4.49

-28.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 €1.92

$1.51 $1.51

45.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 €2.50

$3.90 $3.90

-26.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.87 €3.38

$3.15 $3.15

22.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 €1.69

$1.83 $1.83

5.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 €1.44

$2.74 $2.74

-39.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 €1.53

$1.85 $1.85

-5.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 €0.91

$1.63 $1.63

-36.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.21 €8.93

$8.64 $8.64

18.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.42 €5.62

$13.90 $13.90

-53.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 €1.00

$2.28 $2.28

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 €1.65

$2.29 $2.29

-17.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.17 €3.65

$2.31 $2.31

80.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.8 €57.6

$98.7 $98.7

-33.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.68 €4.97

$4.40 $4.40

29.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 €2.04

$1.75 $1.75

33.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.30 €37.01

$41.65 $41.65

1.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 €1.77

$0.98 $0.98

106.12%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.8K €27.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

30.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.6K €32.9K

$25.8K $25.8K

45.80%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$359 €315

$177 $177

103.33%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.15 €17.63

$50.9 $50.9

-60.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.43 €41.49

$65.6 $65.6

-27.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 €33.17

$34.55 $34.55

9.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.63 €25.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.19 €12.42

$11.12 $11.12

27.61%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$193 €169

$1,363 $1,363

-85.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K €9,162

$24.4K $24.4K

-57.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.4 €81.7

$49.44 $49.44

88.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.80 €39.20

$49.12 $49.12

-8.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €90.3

$68.6 $68.6

50.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 €116

$81.3 $81.3

62.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 €1,259

$1,382 $1,382

4.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 €917

$891 $891

17.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,712 €2,373

$2,137 $2,137

26.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,890 €1,654

$2,218 $2,218

-14.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,985 €7,861

$9,836 $9,836

-8.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,966 €5,220

$3,253 $3,253

83.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,328 €2,912

$3,857 $3,857

-13.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.68

6.52

-43.56%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Berlin: July 11, 2026

Last update for Aurora, IL: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,439 in Berlin versus $1,382 in Aurora, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 16% higher in Aurora, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Berlin versus $63.0 in Aurora, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $329 in Berlin vs $352 in Aurora, IL – so Berlin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Berlin vs Aurora, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Berlin costs about 16% more than Aurora, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,651 per month in Berlin and $3,141 in Aurora, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aurora, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Berlin and $63.0 in Aurora, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,434 in Berlin and $2,094 in Aurora, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Aurora, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,094, than in Berlin at $2,434. In Aurora, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aurora, IL costs $2,094 versus $2,434 in Berlin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Aurora, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Berlin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.