Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Passau Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Passau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,443 per month in Berlin vs $1,721 in Passau, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,612 per month in Berlin vs $2,842 in Passau, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,780 per month in Berlin vs $3,964 in Passau, rent included.

Berlin costs about 42% more than Passau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Berlin and Passau sit above the global median – Berlin by 84%, Passau by 29%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.69 €15.42

$11.51 €10.04

53.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 €70.7

$62.9 €54.8

28.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.55 €10.94

$9.41 €8.20

33.37%

Cappuccino

$4.36 €3.80

$3.95 €3.44

10.38%

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

$3.34 €2.91

$3.12 €2.72

7.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 €2.62

$2.82 €2.46

6.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.36 €4.67

$4.54 €3.96

18.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 €3.92

$5.27 €4.59

-14.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 €1.21

$1.21 €1.06

14.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.09 €1.82

$2.04 €1.78

2.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 €3.18

$3.25 €2.84

12.31%

Eggs

$3.78 €3.30

$3.69 €3.21

2.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.75 €12.86

$14.25 €12.42

3.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.09 €9.67

$17.23 €15.02

-35.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 €16.81

$18.91 €16.49

1.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 €2.78

$2.97 €2.59

7.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 €1.82

$1.78 €1.55

17.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 €2.41

$2.24 €1.96

23.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.83 €3.34

$4.82 €4.21

-20.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 €1.75

$1.57 €1.37

28.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 €1.45

$1.64 €1.43

1.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 €1.47

$1.83 €1.59

-7.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 €0.91

$1.09 €0.95

-3.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.21 €8.90

$9.62 €8.39

6.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.85 €5.97

$5.79 €5.05

18.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 €1.00

$1.02 €0.89

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 €1.62

$1.75 €1.53

6.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.11 €3.58

$2.66 €2.32

54.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 €58.8

$54.7 €47.68

23.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.89 €5.13

$4.43 €3.86

32.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 €2.13

$2.31 €2.02

5.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.88 €36.51

$38.45 €33.52

8.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 €1.71

$2.02 €1.76

-2.97%

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

$32.4K €28.2K

$33.4K €29.1K

-3.06%

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

$36.8K €32.1K

$37.1K €32.3K

-0.74%

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

$363 €316

$279 €243

30.06%

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

$20.27 €17.67

$19.62 €17.10

3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.49 €41.40

$55.3 €48.20

-14.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.82 €32.97

$39.81 €34.71

-5.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.55 €25.76

$11.70 €10.20

152.56%

Cinema Ticket

$14.61 €12.74

$10.26 €8.94

42.40%

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

$198 €172

$707 €617

-72.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K €9,072

$20.0K €17.4K

-47.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.4 €81.4

$100 €87.2

-6.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.44 €39.61

$46.41 €40.46

-2.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 €92.7

$93.3 €81.3

13.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 €114

$80.6 €70.3

62.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,424 €1,241

$704 €614

102.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 €914

$486 €424

115.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,697 €2,351

$1,736 €1,514

55.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,924 €1,678

$1,409 €1,228

36.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,904 €7,762

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,995 €5,226

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,324 €2,898

$2,865 €2,498

16.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.68

-8.00%

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

Last update for Berlin: July 26, 2026

Last update for Passau: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,424 in Berlin versus $704 in Passau. 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 16% 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 $63.0 in Passau. Groceries tell a different story – $332 in Berlin vs $353 in Passau – 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 Passau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Berlin is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,665 per month in Berlin and $2,581 in Passau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Passau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,443 in Berlin and $1,721 in Passau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 23% less in Passau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Passau, where all-in costs run around $1,721, than in Berlin at $2,443. In Passau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Passau – 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 Passau. 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.