Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Hamm Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Hamm

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,611 per month in Berlin vs $1,493 in Hamm, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,930 per month in Berlin vs $2,243 in Hamm, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,249 per month in Berlin vs $2,994 in Hamm, rent included.

Berlin costs about 75% more than Hamm, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Berlin and Hamm sit above the global median – Berlin by 91%, Hamm by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.12 €14.84

$13.76 €11.93

24.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 €70.2

$70.0 €60.6

15.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.82 €11.98

$18.70 €16.20

-26.10%

Cappuccino

$4.47 €3.88

$4.69 €4.06

-4.69%

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

$3.66 €3.17

$2.81 €2.44

30.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 €2.72

$2.57 €2.23

22.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.63 €4.88

$2.96 €2.56

90.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 €4.08

$4.03 €3.49

16.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 €1.09

$1.27 €1.10

-0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 €2.19

$2.08 €1.80

21.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 €3.02

$3.98 €3.45

-12.56%

Eggs

$4.51 €3.91

$3.62 €3.13

24.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.68 €14.45

$14.62 €12.67

14.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.57 €10.89

$10.93 €9.47

15.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 €15.93

$26.35 €22.84

-30.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 €3.16

$3.51 €3.04

3.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 €1.84

$2.29 €1.99

-7.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 €2.53

$2.35 €2.04

24.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.79 €3.28

$4.26 €3.69

-11.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 €1.77

$1.52 €1.31

34.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.77

$1.25 €1.08

63.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.42 €1.23

$1.79 €1.55

-20.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 €0.89

$1.03 €0.89

-0.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.01 €9.54

$9.46 €8.19

16.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.02 €6.08

$7.05 €6.11

-0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 €1.15

$1.09 €0.94

21.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 €1.72

$1.39 €1.20

42.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.58 €3.97

$3.22 €2.79

42.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.8 €64.0

$61.3 €53.1

20.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 €4.72

$5.12 €4.44

6.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.31 €2.87

$2.29 €1.99

44.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.74 €32.70

$34.43 €29.83

9.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.27 €1.96

$2.19 €1.90

3.65%

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

$33.8K €29.3K

$33.4K €28.9K

1.32%

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

$40.4K €35.0K

$40.0K €34.7K

0.91%

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

$390 €338

$470 €408

-17.20%

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

$19.11 €16.56

$26.04 €22.56

-26.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.95 €43.29

$42.76 €37.05

16.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.71 €36.15

$28.69 €24.87

45.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.76 €31.85

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 €13.71

$13.75 €11.92

15.05%

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

$160 €138

$172 €149

-6.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K €14.3K

$26.1K €22.6K

-36.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.2 €82.5

$100 €86.9

-5.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.81 €40.56

$50.9 €44.10

-8.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 €91.3

$115 €99.6

-8.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 €119

$199 €173

-31.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 €1,344

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,141 €989

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,673 €2,317

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,125 €1,842

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,949 €7,755

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,610 €4,862

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,482 €3,018

$2,102 €1,821

65.71%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Hamm: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 66% 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 $81.0 in Berlin versus $70.0 in Hamm. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Berlin vs $352 in Hamm – 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 Hamm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Berlin is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,917 per month in Berlin and $2,239 in Hamm. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,611 in Berlin and $1,493 in Hamm. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% less in Hamm. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hamm, where all-in costs run around $1,493, than in Berlin at $2,611. In Hamm it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hamm – 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 Hamm. 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.