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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,490 per month in Berlin vs $1,665 in Decatur, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,662 per month in Berlin vs $2,517 in Decatur, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,834 per month in Berlin vs $3,368 in Decatur, IL, rent included.

Berlin costs about 50% more than Decatur, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Berlin and Decatur, IL sit above the global median – Berlin by 86%, Decatur, IL by 24%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.19 €14.79

$19.46 $19.46

-11.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.0 €70.6

$66.3 $66.3

23.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.90 €11.10

$8.76 $8.76

47.26%

Cappuccino

$4.36 €3.75

$5.03 $5.03

-13.32%

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

$3.43 €2.95

$2.20 $2.20

55.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.50

$1.67 $1.67

73.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.32 €4.58

$5.07 $5.07

4.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 €3.97

$6.15 $6.15

-25.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 €1.16

$0.83 $0.83

61.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 €1.75

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 €3.14

$2.04 $2.04

78.92%

Eggs

$3.92 €3.37

$3.56 $3.56

10.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.87 €12.80

$8.92 $8.92

66.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.86 €9.35

$7.53 $7.53

44.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 €16.11

$13.22 $13.22

41.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 €2.90

$4.44 $4.44

-24.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 €1.89

$2.16 $2.16

1.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 €2.46

$4.38 $4.38

-34.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 €3.37

$3.33 $3.33

17.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 €1.75

$0.92 $0.92

120.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 €1.45

$1.12 $1.12

50.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 €1.51

$1.46 $1.46

19.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 €0.94

$2.53 $2.53

-56.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 €8.52

$7.20 $7.20

37.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.13 €6.14

$14.92 $14.92

-52.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 €1.04

$1.82 $1.82

-34.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 €1.62

$2.01 $2.01

-6.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.93 €3.38

$2.04 $2.04

92.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.3 €57.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 €5.02

$3.04 $3.04

91.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 €2.01

$1.41 $1.41

65.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.82 €36.01

$28.85 $28.85

44.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 €1.69

$0.81 $0.81

141.98%

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

$32.6K €28.0K

$29.6K $29.6K

10.06%

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

$36.6K €31.5K

$25.4K $25.4K

43.79%

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

$361 €310

$85.5 $85.5

321.60%

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

$20.21 €17.40

$61.0 $61.0

-66.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.28 €39.84

$62.9 $62.9

-26.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.96 €32.68

$75.6 $75.6

-49.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.13 €25.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 €12.68

$11.80 $11.80

24.83%

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

$196 €169

$1,297 $1,297

-84.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.3K €8,838

$23.5K $23.5K

-56.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.7 €79.8

$57.0 $57.0

62.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.10 €38.83

$42.79 $42.79

5.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 €91.5

$76.3 $76.3

39.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 €114

$193 $193

-31.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,410 €1,214

$875 $875

61.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 €893

$571 $571

81.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,702 €2,327

$1,018 $1,018

165.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,879 €1,617

$825 $825

127.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,825 €7,597

$956 $956

823.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,803 €4,996

$940 $940

517.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,451 €2,971

$4,486 $4,486

-23.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.68

6.56

-43.90%

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

Last update for Berlin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Decatur, IL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,410 in Berlin versus $875 in Decatur, 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 30% higher in Decatur, 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 $82.0 in Berlin versus $66.0 in Decatur, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $314 – making Decatur, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Decatur, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Berlin is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,734 per month in Berlin and $2,498 in Decatur, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Decatur, 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 $82.0 in Berlin and $66.0 in Decatur, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Berlin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Decatur, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,665, than in Berlin at $2,490. In Decatur, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Decatur, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Decatur, 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.