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Berlin
#66 of 124
Europe

Berlin

Germany

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Berlin compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Berlin is 45% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Berlin compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$98,943
-$174K (-64%) vs San Francisco
Based on 1604 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$58,376
-$114K (-66%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 41%

Community Insights

New

Berlin remains a top-tier European tech hub that offers a unique trade-off: lower net salaries and higher taxes in exchange for a vibrant cultural life, strong social safety nets, and a relaxed work atmosphere. While the median SWE salary of ~$98k provides a comfortable life, the days of Berlin being "cheap" are over. The city has matured into a serious economic powerhouse, but its infrastructure—specifically housing and administration—has failed to keep up with the influx of talent.

For software engineers, the barrier to entry is low due to the English-speaking job market, but the barrier to settling is high due to the housing shortage and bureaucratic hurdles. It is a city that rewards resilience and those who value "living" over "earning."

Resident Sentiment

Bittersweet Love: Most resident engineers express a deep affection for the "Berlin vibe"—the freedom, the parks, the beers by the canal, and the open-mindedness of the people. There is a strong sense of community among expats who bond over shared struggles.

Administrative Trauma: However, sentiment turns sharply negative when discussing Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) and landlords. Discussions are filled with horror stories of visa delays and housing scams. Many long-term residents admit they would leave if they lost their current "old contract" cheap apartment, as moving within the city is now seen as a nightmare.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Community Events

Top 5%

#6

of 124 cities

25 events on luma

Current value

Pollution Score

Middle of the pack

#44

of 124 cities

38.4/100

Current value (lower is better)

Net Income

Middle of the pack

#54

of 124 cities

$58,376/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Berlin compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$7,421 / m²
26% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Berlin to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
39% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Berlin

Wayfair logo
Wayfair
Wolt logo
Wolt
Amazon logo
Amazon

The Good

  • English-first professional environment: Berlin's tech scene is exceptionally international, with English being the primary working language in almost all startups and major tech companies, removing the immediate need for German fluency to get hired.
  • Vibrant startup ecosystem: Home to over 30 unicorns (like HelloFresh, N26, Personio) and a massive density of early-stage startups, offering diverse career opportunities from fintech to delivery.
  • Strong worker protections & work-life balance: Expect 25-30 days of vacation, strictly enforced working hours, generous parental leave, and virtually no "at-will" employment culture once past probation.
  • World-class public transit: A comprehensive network of U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses makes living car-free entirely standard and convenient, even for families.
  • Cultural & nightlife capital: Unmatched access to techno clubs, art galleries, history, and a generally "alternative" lifestyle that is far more relaxed and permissive than other German cities like Munich.

The Bad

  • Severe housing crisis: Finding a long-term apartment is arguably the single biggest stressor; competition is fierce, queues for viewings are massive, and finding a place can take months.
  • Crushing bureaucracy: The infamous German bureaucracy is slow, paper-based, and often requires German speakers to navigate. Getting your Anmeldung (registration) is a prerequisite for everything else (bank account, tax ID) but appointments are scarce.
  • High tax burden: With a tax rate around 41%, high earners see a significant portion of their gross salary deducted for taxes and social contributions (pension, health insurance, unemployment), reducing net purchasing power compared to the US or Switzerland.
  • The "Grey" Winters: From November to March, the city is notoriously dark and grey, with very few sunshine hours (ranked #112/124), which frequently leads to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) among transplants.
  • "Berliner Schnauze" (Rudeness): The local service culture and general demeanor can be perceived as cold, direct, or downright rude by those used to American or Southern European friendliness.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

The Culture-First Technologist: If you value a dynamic social life, underground music scenes, and diverse history over maximizing your savings rate, Berlin is ideal. It matches well for engineers who want to work on cutting-edge products in an English environment but live in a non-English culture.

Families seeking stability: Despite the housing struggle, once settled, the city offers free childcare (Kita), safe streets, and excellent work-life balance that allows parents to actually spend time with their children.

Skip it if...

The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) Chaser: If your primary goal is to accumulate wealth rapidly, the high tax wedge and lower net salaries compared to the US or Switzerland will frustrate you.

The Sun Seeker: If you rely on sunlight for mental health, the long, dark Berlin winters can be genuinely debilitating without active management (e.g., escaping south in winter).

The Efficiency Lover: If you have zero tolerance for inefficiency, paper forms, and waiting weeks for government appointments, the German administrative state will drive you crazy.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather3.8/10-56% vs San Francisco
Safety56+41%
Pollution38-22%
Events25-51%
3.8/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
14°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
6°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
1,626h/yr-1436h/yr(-47%)
Hottest Month High
24°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
-2°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
78/yr+29/yr(+61%)

Community & Quality

Berlin community pulse

Berlin has 25 Luma events listed.

51% fewer events than San Francisco.

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#63

of 124 cities

55.5/100

Current value

Purchasing Power

Middle of the pack

#66

of 124 cities

Cost of Living

Middle of the pack

#68

of 124 cities

54/100

Current value (lower is better)

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#75

of 124 cities

38/100 weather score

Current value

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#81

of 124 cities

≈10.2 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Tax Rate

Bottom 9%

#114

of 124 cities

41%

Current value (lower is better)

SWE Affordability
10.2 years
5.5 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
1/yr(same as San Francisco)
Cloud Cover
57%(vs 34% in San Francisco)