🙂A single person spends $2,490 per month in Berlin vs $3,079 in Philipsburg, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,662 per month in Berlin vs $5,825 in Philipsburg, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,834 per month in Berlin vs $8,571 in Philipsburg, rent included.
🙂Berlin is about 19% cheaper than Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Berlin and Philipsburg sit above the global median – Berlin by 86%, Philipsburg by 130%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19€14.78
$14.89ANG 26.57
15.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.0€70.5
$76.5ANG 136
7.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.90€11.10
$7.84ANG 13.99
64.54%
Cappuccino
$4.36€3.75
$4.27ANG 7.62
2.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43€2.95
$3.07ANG 5.48
11.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.49
$3.69ANG 6.59
-21.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.32€4.57
$2.94ANG 5.24
80.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$4.86ANG 8.68
-5.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34€1.15
$3.01ANG 5.38
-55.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$3.19ANG 5.69
-36.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.65€3.14
$3.08ANG 5.50
18.51%
Eggs
$3.92€3.37
$6.24ANG 11.14
-37.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.87€12.79
$18.64ANG 33.28
-20.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.86€9.34
$17.11ANG 30.55
-36.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.71€16.10
$19.55ANG 34.90
-4.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37€2.90
$6.13ANG 10.94
-45.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19€1.89
$6.07ANG 10.83
-63.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86€2.46
$9.28ANG 16.56
-69.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.91€3.37
$6.45ANG 11.51
-39.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03€1.74
$3.98ANG 7.11
-48.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$4.04ANG 7.22
-58.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.75€1.51
$4.42ANG 7.89
-60.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.94
$1.96ANG 3.50
-44.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89€8.51
$7.89ANG 14.08
25.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13€6.13
$11.02ANG 19.67
-35.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20€1.04
$3.32ANG 5.93
-63.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.62
$2.77ANG 4.94
-32.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.93€3.38
$1.54ANG 2.75
155.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.3€57.1
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.83€5.01
$14.78ANG 26.38
-60.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.34€2.01
$4.88ANG 8.72
-52.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.82€35.98
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96€1.69
$1.43ANG 2.56
37.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K€28.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6K€31.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$361€310
$225ANG 401
60.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.21€17.38
$32.45ANG 57.9
-37.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.28€39.81
$69.9ANG 125
-33.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.96€32.65
$61.6ANG 110
-38.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.13€25.06
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.73€12.67
$12.97ANG 23.16
13.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$196€169
$376ANG 670
-47.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€8,831
$11.4KANG 20.3K
-9.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7€79.7
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.10€38.80
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.4
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€114
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,410€1,213
$1,978ANG 3,530
-28.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,038€893
$1,897ANG 3,385
-45.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,702€2,325
$5,747ANG 10.3K
-52.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,879€1,616
$5,638ANG 10.1K
-66.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,825€7,591
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,803€4,992
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,451€2,969
$1,109ANG 1,980
211.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.68
5.75
-36.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Berlin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,410 in Berlin versus $1,978 in Philipsburg. 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 211% higher in Berlin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Berlin versus $76.0 in Philipsburg. Groceries tell a different story – $334 in Berlin vs $541 in Philipsburg – 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 Philipsburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Philipsburg cheaper than Berlin?
Yes – Philipsburg is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,734 per month in Berlin and $4,619 in Philipsburg. 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 Philipsburg?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Berlin and $76.0 in Philipsburg. 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 Philipsburg?
Groceries cost about 62% more in Philipsburg, 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 Berlin or Philipsburg?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Berlin, where all-in costs run around $2,490, than in Philipsburg at $3,079. In Berlin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Philipsburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Berlin or Philipsburg 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 Philipsburg?
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, Philipsburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.