Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Oak Park, IL

For one person, living costs are similar in Berlin and in Oak Park, IL: $2,553 and $2,585 a month, rent and utilities included.

Berlin
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,553
/mo nomad
Oak Park, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,585
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Berlin and in Oak Park, IL

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 Oak Park, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,553 per month in Berlin vs $2,585 in Oak Park, IL, rent included.

  • Berlin $2,553
  • Oak Park, IL $2,585

A couple spends around $3,856 per month in Berlin vs $3,781 in Oak Park, IL, rent included.

  • Berlin $3,856
  • Oak Park, IL $3,781

A family of three spends $5,159 per month in Berlin vs $4,977 in Oak Park, IL, rent included.

  • Berlin $5,159
  • Oak Park, IL $4,977

Berlin is about 1% cheaper than Oak Park, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Berlin and Oak Park, IL sit above the global median – Berlin by 88%, Oak Park, IL by 91%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berlin
Oak Park, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.97 €15.09
$19.82 $19.82
-14.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.5 €68.9
$75.3 $75.3
2.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.47 €11.98
$11.41 $11.41
18.05%
Cappuccino
$4.35 €3.87
$5.47 $5.47
-20.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 €3.14
$2.72 $2.72
29.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 €2.81
$1.96 $1.96
61.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.60 €4.98
$6.04 $6.04
-7.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 €3.95
$7.18 $7.18
-38.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berlin
Oak Park, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.09
$1.02 $1.02
20.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 €2.17
$3.54 $3.54
-31.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.41 €3.04
$4.22 $4.22
-19.19%
Eggs
$4.55 €4.05
$4.12 $4.12
10.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.23 €15.33
$14.11 $14.11
22.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.24 €10.89
$11.34 $11.34
7.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.98 €15.99
$16.89 $16.89
6.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 €3.13
$4.97 $4.97
-29.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 €1.81
$1.57 $1.57
29.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 €2.91
$4.41 $4.41
-25.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.72 €3.31
$4.47 $4.47
-16.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 €1.82
$2.72 $2.72
-24.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 €1.95
$2.75 $2.75
-20.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 €1.26
$1.92 $1.92
-26.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 €0.87
$2.54 $2.54
-61.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.37 €9.22
$9.26 $9.26
11.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.78 €6.03
$14.83 $14.83
-54.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.17
$2.23 $2.23
-40.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 €1.86
$3.46 $3.46
-39.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Berlin
Oak Park, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.52 €4.02
$1.71 $1.71
164.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.8 €62.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.19 €4.62
$2.68 $2.68
93.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.23 €2.87
$1.98 $1.98
63.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.61 €33.46
$33.26 $33.26
13.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.33 €2.07
$1.04 $1.04
124.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.5K
$25.9K $25.9K
27.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.8K
$24.1K $24.1K
62.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
Oak Park, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$384 €342
$198 $198
94.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.27 €17.14
$59.2 $59.2
-67.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.17 €43.74
$70.7 $70.7
-30.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
Oak Park, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.54 €35.17
$37.92 $37.92
4.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.56 €30.74
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.37 €12.78
$12.41 $12.41
15.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berlin
Oak Park, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 €130
$1,458 $1,458
-89.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K €14.4K
$23.2K $23.2K
-30.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
Oak Park, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1 €84.6
$53.1 $53.1
78.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.83 €42.54
$43.71 $43.71
9.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €92.6
$87.5 $87.5
18.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 €127
$124 $124
15.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berlin
Oak Park, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,398 €1,244
$1,575 $1,575
-11.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 €984
$1,312 $1,312
-15.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,727 €2,426
$2,550 $2,550
6.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,104 €1,871
$2,168 $2,168
-2.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,578 €7,630
$3,118 $3,118
175.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,545 €4,932
$2,251 $2,251
146.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berlin
Oak Park, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,451 €3,070
$5,703 $5,703
-39.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
6.57
-42.16%

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

Last update for Berlin: October 17, 2026

Last update for Oak Park, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Berlin
$1.1K
Oak Park, IL
$1.3K 18.6% $206
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
$453
Oak Park, IL
$328 27.7% $125
Groceries & Markets
Berlin
$349
Oak Park, IL
$403 15.3% $53
Eating Out
Berlin
$292
Oak Park, IL
$322 10.2% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
$176
Oak Park, IL
$139 21% $37
Getting Around
Berlin
$109
Oak Park, IL
$19 * 82.2% $90
Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
$68
Oak Park, IL
$63 8.1% $5.5

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,398 in Berlin versus $1,575 in Oak Park, 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 65% higher in Oak Park, IL, 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 $77.0 in Berlin versus $75.0 in Oak Park, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $349 in Berlin vs $403 in Oak Park, IL – so Berlin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Berlin
🇺🇸 Oak Park, IL
🕒 Local time
20:30 8:30 PM
13:30 1:30 PM
7 h behind Berlin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,769,962 Capital
54,583
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Berlin Oak Park, IL 7,090 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Berlin
  • Oak Park, IL

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 Oak Park, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oak Park, IL cheaper than Berlin?
Yes – Oak Park, IL is pricier by about 1%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,829 per month in Berlin and $3,877 in Oak Park, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Berlin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Berlin or in Oak Park, IL?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Berlin and $75.0 in Oak Park, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Berlin and in Oak Park, IL?
Groceries cost about 15% more in Oak Park, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Berlin or in Oak Park, IL?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Berlin, where all-in costs run around $2,553, than in Oak Park, IL at $2,585. In Berlin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oak Park, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Berlin or Oak Park, IL more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Berlin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Berlin or Oak Park, IL?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Berlin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oak Park, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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