Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Hamm

For one person, living is cheaper in Hamm: $1,475 a month against $2,547 in Berlin, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Berlin, Germany
Hamm, Germany
Berlin
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,547
/mo nomad
Hamm
🇩🇪 Germany
$1,475
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Berlin and in Hamm

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Berlin and in Hamm actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,547 per month in Berlin vs $1,475 in Hamm, rent included.

  • Berlin $2,547
  • Hamm $1,475

A couple spends around $3,875 per month in Berlin vs $2,214 in Hamm, rent included.

  • Berlin $3,875
  • Hamm $2,214

A family of three spends $5,204 per month in Berlin vs $2,954 in Hamm, rent included.

  • Berlin $5,204
  • Hamm $2,954

Berlin costs about 73% more than Hamm, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Berlin and Hamm sit above the global median – Berlin by 87%, Hamm by 8%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berlin
Hamm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.64 €14.90
$13.36 €11.96
24.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.0 €69.9
$67.1 €60.1
16.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.38 €11.98
$17.82 €15.96
-24.92%
Cappuccino
$4.24 €3.79
$4.35 €3.89
-2.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 €3.06
$2.71 €2.42
26.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 €2.83
$2.38 €2.13
32.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.45 €4.89
$2.77 €2.48
96.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 €3.89
$4.01 €3.59
8.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berlin
Hamm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 €1.08
$1.25 €1.12
-3.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.34 €2.10
$2.02 €1.81
15.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.34 €2.99
$3.80 €3.40
-12.11%
Eggs
$4.45 €3.98
$3.39 €3.03
31.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.11 €15.33
$14.53 €13.01
17.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.12 €10.86
$10.39 €9.31
16.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.59 €15.75
$24.98 €22.37
-29.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.63 €3.25
$3.42 €3.06
6.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 €1.75
$2.24 €2.01
-12.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.31 €2.96
$2.30 €2.06
43.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 €3.33
$4.15 €3.71
-10.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 €1.92
$1.46 €1.31
46.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.88
$1.20 €1.08
74.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 €1.26
$1.79 €1.60
-21.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 €0.90
$1.06 €0.95
-5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.60 €9.50
$8.95 €8.02
18.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.75 €6.04
$6.55 €5.87
3.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 €1.16
$1.07 €0.96
21.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.84
$1.40 €1.25
47.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Berlin
Hamm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.60 €4.12
$3.20 €2.87
43.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.3 €62.1
$61.3 €54.9
13.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.35 €4.80
$5.05 €4.52
5.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.15 €2.82
$2.22 €1.99
41.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.94 €33.08
$33.01 €29.56
11.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.07
$2.15 €1.93
7.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.2K
$32.2K €28.9K
4.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K €34.8K
$37.3K €33.4K
4.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
Hamm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$378 €338
$465 €416
-18.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.42 €17.39
$25.78 €23.08
-24.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.13 €43.11
$40.16 €35.96
19.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
Hamm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.30 €35.20
$28.47 €25.50
38.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.65 €31.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.44 €12.93
$13.25 €11.86
8.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berlin
Hamm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 €130
$169 €151
-13.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K €14.2K
$25.7K €23.0K
-38.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
Hamm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.6 €85.6
$97.9 €87.6
-2.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.53 €42.57
$48.25 €43.21
-1.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €94.0
$111 €99.2
-5.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 €128
$197 €177
-27.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berlin
Hamm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 €1,260
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 €1,000
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,718 €2,434
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,172 €1,946
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,339 €7,468
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,319 €4,764
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berlin
Hamm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,507 €3,141
$2,082 €1,865
68.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
3.96
-4.04%

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

Last update for Berlin: October 27, 2026

Last update for Hamm: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Berlin
$1.1K
Hamm
- * 100%
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
$445
Hamm
$531 19.1% $85
Groceries & Markets
Berlin
$345
Hamm
$340 1.5% $5.1
Eating Out
Berlin
$286
Hamm
$255 11% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
$176
Hamm
$204 16.2% $28
Getting Around
Berlin
$109
Hamm
$90 17.1% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
$68
Hamm
$55 19.4% $13

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 68% higher in Berlin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Berlin versus $67 in Hamm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $340 – making Hamm the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Berlin
🇩🇪 Hamm
🕒 Local time
20:38 8:38 PM
20:38 8:38 PM
Same time as Berlin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,769,962 Capital
180,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Berlin Hamm 390 km
From you
  • Berlin
  • Hamm

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hamm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamm cheaper than Berlin?
Yes – Berlin is pricier by about 73%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,820 per month in Berlin and $2,213 in Hamm. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Berlin or in Hamm?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Berlin and $67 in Hamm. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 12% less in Hamm. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Berlin or in Hamm?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hamm, where all-in costs run around $1,475, than in Berlin at $2,547. In Hamm it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Berlin or in Hamm?
It depends on your priorities. Berlin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,475 in Hamm to $2,547 in Berlin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Berlin or Hamm?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Hamm. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Berlin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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