Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Setubal

For one person, living is cheaper in Setubal: $1,634 a month against $2,551 in Berlin, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Berlin
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,551
/mo nomad
Setubal
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,634
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Berlin and in Setubal

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

A single person spends $2,551 per month in Berlin vs $1,634 in Setubal, rent included.

  • Berlin $2,551
  • Setubal $1,634

A couple spends around $3,845 per month in Berlin vs $2,343 in Setubal, rent included.

  • Berlin $3,845
  • Setubal $2,343

A family of three spends $5,139 per month in Berlin vs $3,052 in Setubal, rent included.

  • Berlin $5,139
  • Setubal $3,052

Berlin costs about 56% more than Setubal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Berlin and Setubal sit above the global median – Berlin by 89%, Setubal by 21%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berlin
Setubal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.81
$12.33 €10.97
35.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.7 €68.2
$47.13 €41.92
62.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.47 €11.98
$9.15 €8.14
47.21%
Cappuccino
$4.37 €3.89
$2.01 €1.79
117.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 €3.09
$2.03 €1.81
71.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 €2.77
$1.52 €1.35
105.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.34 €4.75
$2.19 €1.95
143.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 €3.91
$3.31 €2.94
32.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berlin
Setubal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.13
$1.06 €0.95
19.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 €2.08
$1.48 €1.32
57.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.40 €3.02
$1.70 €1.51
100.00%
Eggs
$4.50 €4.00
$3.26 €2.90
38.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.78 €14.93
$11.73 €10.43
43.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.91 €10.59
$7.43 €6.61
60.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.90 €15.92
$14.71 €13.08
21.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.46 €3.07
$2.31 €2.05
49.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 €1.73
$1.37 €1.22
42.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 €2.90
$1.76 €1.57
85.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 €3.30
$2.79 €2.48
32.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.64 €1.46
28.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.86
$2.02 €1.80
3.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 €1.27
$1.48 €1.32
-4.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.84
$0.72 €0.64
31.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.44 €9.29
$5.68 €5.05
83.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.58 €5.85
$4.35 €3.87
51.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 €1.13
$0.92 €0.82
38.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 €1.85
$2.17 €1.93
-4.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Berlin
Setubal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.34 €3.86
$4.33 €3.85
0.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.6 €63.7
$45.52 €40.49
57.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.26 €4.68
$3.70 €3.29
42.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.09 €2.75
$1.36 €1.21
127.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.34 €32.32
$14.10 €12.54
157.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.05
$2.12 €1.89
8.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K €28.8K
$33.9K €30.1K
-4.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €34.3K
$37.8K €33.6K
2.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
Setubal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$382 €340
$100 €89.2
280.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.83 €16.75
$20.39 €18.14
-7.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.57 €43.20
$32.54 €28.95
49.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
Setubal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.21 €35.76
$30.94 €27.52
29.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.90 €31.04
$15.90 €14.15
119.50%
Cinema Ticket
$15.73 €14.00
$7.95 €7.08
97.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berlin
Setubal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$142 €126
$575 €511
-75.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K €14.0K
$10.6K €9,430
48.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
Setubal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.4 €84.8
$66.8 €59.4
42.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.32 €41.20
$37.46 €33.32
23.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €92.4
$70.3 €62.5
47.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 €128
$94.9 €84.5
50.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berlin
Setubal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,469 €1,306
$993 €884
47.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 €991
$814 €724
36.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,751 €2,447
$1,586 €1,411
73.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 €1,875
$1,159 €1,031
81.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,454 €7,520
$4,100 €3,647
106.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,435 €4,834
$2,343 €2,084
131.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berlin
Setubal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,543 €3,151
$1,246 €1,109
184.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
3.85
-1.30%

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

Last update for Berlin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Setubal: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Berlin
$1.1K
Setubal
$814 27% $301
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berlin
$449
Setubal
$153 65.9% $296
Groceries & Markets
Berlin
$343
Setubal
$244 28.9% $99
Eating Out
Berlin
$288
Setubal
$182 36.8% $106
Clothing & Footwear
Berlin
$175
Setubal
$121 30.7% $54
Getting Around
Berlin
$110
Setubal
$73 33.1% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Berlin
$72
Setubal
$47 34.6% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,469 in Berlin versus $993 in Setubal. 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 184% 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 $47.00 in Setubal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $343 vs $244 – making Setubal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Berlin
🇵🇹 Setubal
🕒 Local time
04:35 4:35 AM
03:35 3:35 AM
1 h behind Berlin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,769,962 Capital
123,519
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Berlin Setubal 2,310 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Berlin
  • Setubal

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 Setubal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Setubal cheaper than Berlin?
Yes – Berlin is pricier by about 56%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,826 per month in Berlin and $2,451 in Setubal. 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 Setubal, 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 Setubal?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,551 in Berlin and $1,634 in Setubal. That's a gap of about 56%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Setubal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Berlin or in Setubal?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Setubal, where all-in costs run around $1,634, than in Berlin at $2,551. In Setubal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Berlin or Setubal more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Setubal – 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 Setubal?
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 Setubal. 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.

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