Cost of Living Comparison Between Krefeld and Berlin Cost of Living Comparison Between Krefeld and Berlin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,007 per month in Krefeld vs $2,490 in Berlin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,069 per month in Krefeld vs $3,662 in Berlin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,131 per month in Krefeld vs $4,834 in Berlin, rent included.

Krefeld is about 19% cheaper than Berlin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Krefeld and Berlin sit above the global median – Krefeld by 50%, Berlin by 86%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krefeld
Berlin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €14.66
$17.19 €14.78
-0.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €58.1
$82.0 €70.5
-17.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.66 €10.89
$12.90 €11.10
-1.86%
Cappuccino
$3.63 €3.12
$4.36 €3.75
-16.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 €2.47
$3.43 €2.95
-16.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 €2.44
$2.90 €2.49
-2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.68 €4.89
$5.32 €4.57
6.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12 €3.55
$4.61 €3.97
-10.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krefeld
Berlin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.34 €1.15
0.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 €2.00
$2.03 €1.75
14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.59 €3.09
$3.65 €3.14
-1.64%
Eggs
$3.88 €3.34
$3.92 €3.37
-1.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.65 €12.60
$14.87 €12.79
-1.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.44 €12.42
$10.86 €9.34
32.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.66 €16.91
$18.71 €16.10
5.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 €2.79
$3.37 €2.90
-3.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.19 €1.89
-11.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 €2.02
$2.86 €2.46
-17.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.72 €4.06
$3.91 €3.37
20.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 €1.33
$2.03 €1.74
-24.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 €1.27
$1.69 €1.45
-13.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 €1.60
$1.75 €1.51
6.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.93
$1.09 €0.94
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.70 €8.35
$9.89 €8.51
-1.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.98 €5.14
$7.13 €6.13
-16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.94
$1.20 €1.04
-9.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.88 €1.62
-9.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Krefeld
Berlin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.68 €3.17
$3.93 €3.38
-6.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.8 €52.3
$66.3 €57.1
-8.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.80 €4.99
$5.83 €5.01
-0.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 €1.85
$2.34 €2.01
-8.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.80 €35.09
$41.82 €35.98
-2.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 €1.77
$1.96 €1.69
4.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K €27.3K
$32.6K €28.0K
-2.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K €31.1K
$36.6K €31.5K
-1.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krefeld
Berlin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$349 €300
$361 €310
-3.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 €31.09
$20.21 €17.38
78.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 €46.67
$46.28 €39.81
17.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krefeld
Berlin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.15 €35.39
$37.96 €32.65
8.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.77 €19.58
$29.13 €25.06
-21.83%
Cinema Ticket
$13.84 €11.90
$14.73 €12.67
-6.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krefeld
Berlin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$418 €360
$196 €169
113.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.2K €20.0K
$10.3K €8,831
126.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krefeld
Berlin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.9 €79.9
$92.7 €79.7
0.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.65 €40.99
$45.10 €38.80
5.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €89.9
$106 €91.4
-1.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166 €143
$133 €114
24.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krefeld
Berlin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$753 €647
$1,410 €1,213
-46.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$598 €515
$1,038 €893
-42.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,424 €1,225
$2,702 €2,325
-47.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,258 €1,082
$1,879 €1,616
-33.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,433 €2,953
$8,825 €7,591
-61.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,726 €4,065
$5,803 €4,992
-18.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krefeld
Berlin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,074 €1,784
$3,451 €2,969
-39.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.98
3.68
8.15%

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

Last update for Krefeld: June 1, 2026

Last update for Berlin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $753 in Krefeld versus $1,410 in Berlin. 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 66% 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 $68.0 in Krefeld versus $82.0 in Berlin. Groceries tell a different story – $351 in Krefeld vs $334 in Berlin – 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
Krefeld vs Berlin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berlin cheaper than Krefeld?
Yes – Berlin is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $3,010 per month in Krefeld and $3,734 in Berlin. 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 Krefeld, 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 Krefeld vs Berlin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,007 in Krefeld and $2,490 in Berlin. 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 9% less in Krefeld. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Krefeld or Berlin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Krefeld, where all-in costs run around $2,007, than in Berlin at $2,490. In Krefeld it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Krefeld or Berlin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Krefeld – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Krefeld or Berlin?
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 Krefeld. 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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