🙂A single person spends $2,641 per month in Berlin vs $3,141 in Philipsburg, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,948 per month in Berlin vs $6,026 in Philipsburg, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,256 per month in Berlin vs $8,911 in Philipsburg, rent included.
🙂Berlin is about 16% cheaper than Philipsburg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Berlin and Philipsburg sit above the global median – Berlin by 92%, Philipsburg by 129%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.10€14.70
$15.42ANG 27.52
10.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8€69.5
$71.3ANG 127
13.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.70€11.78
$8.03ANG 14.34
70.61%
Cappuccino
$4.44€3.81
$4.24ANG 7.57
4.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54€3.04
$2.85ANG 5.08
24.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19€2.74
$3.98ANG 7.10
-19.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.54€4.76
$3.07ANG 5.47
80.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55€3.91
$6.33ANG 11.30
-28.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.08
$2.95ANG 5.27
-57.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43€2.09
$2.70ANG 4.82
-10.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.46€2.97
$2.54ANG 4.53
36.22%
Eggs
$4.33€3.72
$6.27ANG 11.19
-30.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.59€14.26
$18.23ANG 32.54
-9.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.92€11.11
$14.06ANG 25.10
-8.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.40€15.82
$14.92ANG 26.63
23.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58€3.08
$5.31ANG 9.47
-32.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$5.26ANG 9.38
-61.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.05€2.62
$9.03ANG 16.12
-66.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72€3.20
$7.47ANG 13.34
-50.20%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$4.03ANG 7.19
-50.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.84
$3.99ANG 7.12
-46.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.21
$5.14ANG 9.17
-72.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05€0.90
$1.31ANG 2.33
-19.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.51€9.03
$7.92ANG 14.14
32.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.09€6.09
$11.19ANG 19.98
-36.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$4.88ANG 8.70
-72.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.78
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.54€3.90
$2.30ANG 4.11
97.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.5€63.2
$1.46ANG 2.61
4936.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.42€4.66
$15.21ANG 27.14
-64.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.28€2.82
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.72€33.29
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24€1.92
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K€28.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€34.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$422€363
$151ANG 269
179.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.27€16.56
$33.03ANG 59.0
-41.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6€43.50
$66.1ANG 118
-23.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.37€36.42
$61.6ANG 110
-31.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.13€32.78
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.61€13.42
$10.96ANG 19.57
42.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158€136
$246ANG 438
-35.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6K€14.3K
$11.9KANG 21.3K
39.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.4€80.3
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.07€39.60
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.2
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138€119
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,567€1,347
$2,154ANG 3,845
-27.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,174€1,010
$2,040ANG 3,642
-42.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,744€2,359
$6,454ANG 11.5K
-57.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,188€1,881
$6,591ANG 11.8K
-66.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,126€7,845
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,748€4,942
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berlin
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,398€2,921
$1,126ANG 2,009
201.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
5
-24.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Berlin: August 31, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,567 in Berlin versus $2,154 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 202% 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 $81.0 in Berlin versus $71.0 in Philipsburg. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Berlin vs $496 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 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $3,961 per month in Berlin and $4,712 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Berlin and in Philipsburg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,641 in Berlin and $3,141 in Philipsburg. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 4936% less in Berlin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Berlin or in Philipsburg?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,641 in Berlin and $3,141 in Philipsburg. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
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.