Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Saku

For one person, living is cheaper in Saku: $1,099 a month against $2,551 in Berlin, rent and utilities included – about $17,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Berlin
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,551
/mo nomad
Saku
🇪🇪 Estonia
$1,099
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Berlin and in Saku

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

A single person spends $2,551 per month in Berlin vs $1,099 in Saku, rent included.

  • Berlin $2,551
  • Saku $1,099

A couple spends around $3,845 per month in Berlin vs $1,717 in Saku, rent included.

  • Berlin $3,845
  • Saku $1,717

A family of three spends $5,139 per month in Berlin vs $2,335 in Saku, rent included.

  • Berlin $5,139
  • Saku $2,335

Berlin costs about 132% more than Saku, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Berlin sits 89% above the global median, while Saku is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berlin
Saku
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.81
$16.76 €14.91
-0.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.7 €68.2
$70.7 €62.9
8.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.47 €11.98
$11.11 €9.88
21.24%
Cappuccino
$4.37 €3.89
$3.97 €3.53
10.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 €3.09
$2.23 €1.98
56.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 €2.77
$2.24 €2.00
39.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.34 €4.75
$6.54 €5.82
-18.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 €3.91
$6.87 €6.11
-36.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berlin
Saku
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.13
$1.13 €1.00
12.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 €2.08
$1.40 €1.25
66.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.40 €3.02
$2.38 €2.11
42.86%
Eggs
$4.50 €4.00
$2.88 €2.56
56.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.78 €14.93
$11.22 €9.98
49.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.91 €10.59
$8.72 €7.76
36.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.90 €15.92
$14.88 €13.24
20.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.46 €3.07
$2.03 €1.81
70.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 €1.73
$1.44 €1.28
35.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 €2.90
$2.54 €2.26
28.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 €3.30
$2.92 €2.60
27.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$0.74 €0.66
183.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.86
$0.76 €0.68
175.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 €1.27
$1.87 €1.67
-24.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.84
$0.97 €0.86
-2.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.44 €9.29
$6.54 €5.82
59.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.58 €5.85
$9.88 €8.79
-33.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 €1.13
$1.86 €1.66
-31.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 €1.85
$2.12 €1.88
-1.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Berlin
Saku
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.34 €3.86
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.6 €63.7
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.26 €4.68
$3.51 €3.12
49.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.09 €2.75
$0.98 €0.87
215.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.34 €32.32
$26.71 €23.75
36.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.05
$2.01 €1.79
14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K €28.8K
$27.7K €24.6K
17.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €34.3K
$30.6K €27.2K
26.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
Saku
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$382 €340
$301 €268
26.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.83 €16.75
$17.48 €15.55
7.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.57 €43.20
$32.69 €29.07
48.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
Saku
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.21 €35.76
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.90 €31.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.73 €14.00
$11.71 €10.42
34.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berlin
Saku
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$142 €126
$438 €390
-67.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K €14.0K
$9,942 €8,844
58.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
Saku
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.4 €84.8
$100 €89.0
-4.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.32 €41.20
$48.96 €43.55
-5.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €92.4
$103 €91.9
0.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 €128
$121 €108
18.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berlin
Saku
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,469 €1,306
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 €991
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,751 €2,447
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 €1,875
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,454 €7,520
$4,013 €3,570
110.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,435 €4,834
$2,700 €2,402
101.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berlin
Saku
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,543 €3,151
$1,813 €1,613
95.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
3.44
10.47%

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

Last update for Berlin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Saku: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Berlin
$1.1K
Saku
- * 100%
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
$449
Saku
$352 21.7% $97
Groceries & Markets
Berlin
$343
Saku
$268 21.9% $75
Eating Out
Berlin
$288
Saku
$279 3% $8.6
Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
$175
Saku
$168 4% $6.9
Getting Around
Berlin
$110
Saku
$8.4 * 92.3% $101
Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
$72
Saku
$23 * 67.3% $48

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 95% 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 $77.0 in Berlin versus $71.0 in Saku. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $343 vs $268 – making Saku the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Berlin
🇪🇪 Saku
🕒 Local time
23:25 11:25 PM
00:25 12:25 AM
1 h ahead of Berlin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,769,962 Capital
4,548
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Berlin Saku 1,030 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Berlin
  • Saku

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 Saku: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saku cheaper than Berlin?
Yes – Berlin is pricier by about 132%, 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 $3,826 per month in Berlin and $1,648 in Saku. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Berlin or in Saku?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Berlin and $71.0 in Saku. 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 Saku?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Berlin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Berlin or in Saku?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saku, where all-in costs run around $1,099, than in Berlin at $2,551. In Saku it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Berlin or Saku more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Saku – 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 Saku?
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 Saku. 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.

Berlin vs other spots: cost of living compared

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