Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Turku Cost of Living Comparison Between Berlin and Turku

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,443 per month in Berlin vs $1,830 in Turku, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,612 per month in Berlin vs $2,876 in Turku, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,780 per month in Berlin vs $3,922 in Turku, rent included.

Berlin costs about 33% more than Turku, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Berlin and Turku sit above the global median – Berlin by 84%, Turku by 38%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.69 €15.42

$15.37 €13.40

15.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 €70.7

$110 €96.0

-26.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.55 €10.94

$11.74 €10.24

6.90%

Cappuccino

$4.36 €3.80

$4.96 €4.32

-12.10%

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

$3.34 €2.91

$2.21 €1.93

51.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 €2.62

$1.87 €1.63

60.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.36 €4.67

$8.76 €7.64

-38.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 €3.92

$7.60 €6.62

-40.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 €1.21

$1.23 €1.07

13.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.09 €1.82

$2.43 €2.12

-13.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 €3.18

$2.79 €2.43

30.82%

Eggs

$3.78 €3.30

$3.14 €2.74

20.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.75 €12.86

$7.03 €6.13

109.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.09 €9.67

$15.26 €13.30

-27.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 €16.81

$19.76 €17.23

-2.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 €2.78

$2.12 €1.85

50.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 €1.82

$1.95 €1.70

7.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 €2.41

$1.89 €1.65

46.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.83 €3.34

$3.96 €3.45

-3.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 €1.75

$1.52 €1.33

32.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 €1.45

$1.68 €1.47

-0.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 €1.47

$2.07 €1.80

-18.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 €0.91

$1.85 €1.62

-43.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.21 €8.90

$12.24 €10.68

-16.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.85 €5.97

$16.37 €14.27

-58.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 €1.00

$3.38 €2.95

-66.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 €1.62

$4.00 €3.49

-53.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.11 €3.58

$3.49 €3.04

17.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 €58.8

$63.4 €55.3

6.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.89 €5.13

$8.86 €7.73

-33.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 €2.13

$1.57 €1.37

55.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.88 €36.51

$52.0 €45.29

-19.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 €1.71

$2.04 €1.78

-3.92%

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

$32.4K €28.2K

$37.9K €33.0K

-14.60%

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

$36.8K €32.1K

$37.5K €32.7K

-1.96%

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

$363 €316

$170 €148

112.98%

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

$20.27 €17.67

$29.67 €25.87

-31.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.49 €41.40

$22.80 €19.88

108.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.82 €32.97

$47.74 €41.62

-20.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.55 €25.76

$26.29 €22.92

12.40%

Cinema Ticket

$14.61 €12.74

$17.45 €15.21

-16.28%

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

$198 €172

$317 €276

-37.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K €9,072

$4,062 €3,541

156.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.4 €81.4

$82.6 €72.0

13.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.44 €39.61

$34.78 €30.32

30.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 €92.7

$94.2 €82.1

12.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 €114

$106 €92.5

23.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,424 €1,241

$783 €683

81.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 €914

$629 €548

66.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,697 €2,351

$1,256 €1,095

114.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,924 €1,678

$975 €850

97.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,904 €7,762

$4,228 €3,686

110.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,995 €5,226

$2,808 €2,448

113.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,324 €2,898

$2,712 €2,365

22.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.68

3.97

-7.30%

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

Last update for Berlin: July 26, 2026

Last update for Turku: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,424 in Berlin versus $783 in Turku. 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 23% 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 $110 in Turku. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $363 – making Berlin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Turku: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Berlin is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,746 in Turku. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Turku, 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 $1,830 in Turku. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% less in Turku. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Turku, where all-in costs run around $1,830, than in Berlin at $2,443. In Turku it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Turku – 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 Turku. 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.