Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Maharagama

For one person, living is cheaper in Maharagama: $131 a month against $2,535 in Berlin, rent and utilities included – about $28,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

122

Cost of Living Index in Berlin
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Berlin Living Index

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Berlin

🇩🇪 Germany

$2,535

/mo nomad

Maharagama

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$131

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Berlin and in Maharagama

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 Maharagama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,535 per month in Berlin vs $131 in Maharagama, rent included.

Berlin $2,535
Maharagama $131

A couple spends around $3,888 per month in Berlin vs $246 in Maharagama, rent included.

Berlin $3,888
Maharagama $246

A family of three spends $5,241 per month in Berlin vs $361 in Maharagama, rent included.

Berlin $5,241
Maharagama $361

Berlin costs about 1839% more than Maharagama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Berlin sits 88% above the global median, while Maharagama is 90% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.50 €14.70

$5.30 LKR 1,761

211.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 €70.4

$20.24 LKR 6,731

290.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 €12.46

$6.67 LKR 2,219

109.60%

Cappuccino

$4.38 €3.90

$2.11 LKR 702

107.58%

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

$3.20 €2.85

$0.64 LKR 213

400.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 €2.74

$0.29 LKR 95.2

962.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.38 €4.79

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 €3.90

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.11

$0.87 LKR 288

42.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 €2.23

$0.23 LKR 76.0

991.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.36 €2.99

$0.50 LKR 167

572.00%

Eggs

$4.68 €4.16

$1.42 LKR 473

229.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.28 €16.29

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.25 €10.91

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.10 €16.13

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 €2.99

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 €1.76

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 €3.02

Tomato (1kg)

$3.61 €3.22

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 €1.80

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 €1.71

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 €1.32

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 €0.81

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.48 €9.33

Wine (Bottle)

$6.68 €5.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 €1.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.53 €4.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.2 €62.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 €4.32

$0.44 LKR 146

1002.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.11 €2.77

$0.46 LKR 154

576.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.21 €33.15

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.33 €2.08

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

$33.3K €29.7K

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

$39.4K €35.1K

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

$390 €347

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

$19.74 €17.59

$4.55 LKR 1,513

333.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.03 €43.68

$13.38 LKR 4,449

266.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.21 €35.82

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.15 €31.31

Cinema Ticket

$15.36 €13.68

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

$145 €130

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K €16.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$100.0 €89.1

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 €42.66

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €91.7

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 €126

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 €1,271

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,082 €964

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 €2,421

$198 LKR 65.9K

1271.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,170 €1,933

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,523 €7,592

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,436 €4,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,543 €3,156

$240 LKR 79.7K

1379.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

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

Last update for Berlin: November 1, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Berlin

$1.1K 42.7%

Maharagama

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Berlin

$459 18.1%

Maharagama

–

Groceries & Markets

Berlin

$351 13.8%

Maharagama

–

Eating Out

Berlin

$287 11.3%

Maharagama

–

Clothing & Footwear

Berlin

$176 7%

Maharagama

–

Getting Around

Berlin

$109 4.3%

Maharagama

–

Sport & Entertainment

Berlin

$71 2.8%

Maharagama

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Berlin are about 15 times higher, 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 $79 in Berlin versus $20 in Maharagama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $19 – making Maharagama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇩🇪 Berlin

🇱🇰 Maharagama

🕒 Local time

04:06 4:06 AM

08:36 8:36 AM

4 h 30 min ahead of Berlin

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,769,962 Capital

196,400

💱 Currency

Euro EUR €

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

1 EUR = 1.12 USD

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇪🇺 Euro (€)

Euro exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 373 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

USD to EUR in detail →

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Berlin Maharagama 7,830 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

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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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Berlin is pricier by about 1839%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,803 per month in Berlin and $196 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 1783% more in Berlin, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Berlin and $20 in Maharagama. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $131, than in Berlin at $2,535. In Maharagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maharagama costs $131 versus $2,535 in Berlin. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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